The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-08-31
CooLIE alias CHEAP LABoR-Na a

lcct We hnOWoV Uy several quot8tAOiM HUH 4
the leading political Journals, such ~ the
New York Times and Cincinnati CONNER
cal, that what was wanted was cheap labor
that free labor was cheaper than the AZ
rican, and the Coolie much cheaper than
either. That the Coolie could live on at
least fourth of the food that it would cost
to keep the American or the European.
Having examined the line Of policy adopt
ed by the leading political journals, we
turn now TO the position occupied by the
highest officials upon this labor question
Attorney General Alderman, in his speech
in Representatives Hall, Atlanta, Georgia,
Sept LIST, 1870, said Emancipation has
divorced the interests Of capital from the
interests Of labor" How, we ask Be-
cause capital can now make its levies by
stocks and bonds under the national au-
thority IN the shape of discounts and inter
est. 1t requires no labor to do this--only
such as is required to figure out the amount
wanted from labor, and the national legis-
lation has and will supply the necessary
machinery to obtain the desired amount
by the capitalist Alderman further said
Il" Look at the 'chite population alone, the
cry Of a conflict betlceen tabor ard capital has
generally been the cry ot the densdgogue, for
the reason that capital has seldom been or
ganized against labor and labor has sell
dom, except in small way Of trades I'M
ions, been organized against capital" Both
these statements Of his are untrue, but
they show what is designed. So far is it
from being true that capitalists have sell
dom organized against labor, the history
Of capital in this country and Of legislation
is all organized combined effort against
labor. And as TO the trades unions being
organized in the small way against cap
ltal, 1t is equally false. The laborers of
this country have found it necessary to
organize to protect themselves, to circulate
information and to adopt such rules as will
enable the mechanics to pursue their occu-
patIons ina way more consistent with true
NNph'lhN oiO lily AA5hNS Vi oll4 HpN ObhOh-
wise But why attempt to cast a stigma
upon trades unions by denouncing them
as being an organization against capital in
small way" 1t was, as we shall show,
to create a distrust and contempt of
trades unions, by the other portions Of the
industrial classes
Without quoting more at present upon
the subject Of "Coolie labor, let us turn
our attention a few moments to the con
ditiOn in which labor has been bought in
the more dense portions Of the manufac
turing districts of this country, and for
tins purpose We give the following extract
from a late report of the Massachusetts
Bureau Of Labor Statistics:
- In Boston, a large portion are working in
shops We will take one trade, that of tailor
esses and cloak makers they 90 Ia their work
at seven almost always without any warm
breakfast they work until ten and then per
haps have few minutes rest when the little
teapot is set ON the range and lunch of dry
food eaten. But III most Of the establishments
the girls do not stop work until twelve when
/ Ill all, they are allowed from thirty to sixty
minutes for dinner Work ends at tve D. m
and many OF the girls take work home with
them, work not ceaslng until midnight
Room rent costs not less than TWO dollars to
three dollars each, with often two or more
double beds III a room. In good shops, and
with brisk work, they can earn dollar n day
Some machine girls receive more but the work
ls very wearing, and induces spinal disease
One Of our largest well kindest custom
work merchant tailors testified to q committee
Of inquiry, that few machine girls could
work over two years before leaving so broken
down that they were ever after unit for labor
In shop work shops girls can seldom earn more
than their room rent, except by over-work
la slack times their suffering is extreme girls
have been known to work weeks with only
water and bread or crackers for food, and for
tunate II able TO procure an ounce of tea In
dull times many have lived for weeks on five
cents worth Of stale bread per week, while
seekirg work. The lodging house keepers
charge working women higher rates than men,
and many refuse to have them in their houses
at any prce. Hence they are often obliged to
live and sleep in localities where they would
be ashamed to let any one know they ever
went Yet few ever break down morally or
become untidy IN dress Those women who
take work home from the slOp-shops, provi-
dent and and other charitable societies receive
as follows Shirts, to cents fine bosom
ed shirts, 10 to p cents cotton vests, 20
cents pants, 10 to 20 and 81 cents coats,
70 cents French calico suits, lined sacks,
faced skirts, 20 cents long white night
dresses, 80 cents. OF the 30, 600 women in
and about Boston, who hive by sewing, very
few earn over Sl2 per week the average
wages do not exceed $275 Many poor
women take this slOp and charity work in
quantities, and give it to Others TO do, still
further lessening the receipts Of tlrh actual
workers, who are usually women with small
families dependent upon their labor for sup
port Paper box makers average about $500
per week.
Factory life is much harder on women than
it was twenty-five years ago. Instead of
tending two looms as then, she is required to
tend six while weeks work now will not
produce as much comfort as when she only
tended one loom Very few working women
of any class ever have a good bed, with suth-
cient bed covering. Their wages will not al
low them to purchase warm flannel under
garments or DECENT shoes, er-proofs, etc.
Few are ever exempt from disease caused by
scanty clothing, insufficient and innutritious
food, and long continued labor in deleterious
conditions The coAstant pressure of anxiety
breaks down many girls physically, and too
often morally, before they reach the prime Of
life. All avenues of employment are over.
crowded"
AS it is in Boston, 50 it is TO a greater or
less extent in every large city. 1t is un-
der such conditions of labor that it is pro-
posed to import the Cooley, and every few
days We see notices in different parts Of the
country, Of which the following is a sam
pie
Another carload of Cinnamon has arrived
at Beaver Falls. This cargo consists of 26
men and s women, speaking English very
well. who show decided Yankee proclivity
for making money by exchanging their brass
coin, worth about One-tenth Of . cent, for
our dimee