The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-05-18

The judicial principle rests on the fact
that the law7 Of q country are WRITTEN
laws-written for the guidance of the
people; and, 70 be guided by them, the
people must be able to read them. In one
II our cotton miIls more than One-haf Of
its 1,GOO Operatives (they are foreigners)
can neither read NOR write. Now, about
the premises are posted up the printed rules
and regulations, BY which these operatives
are 90 be guided, and the contracts under
which they are held, when they enter the
employ Of the company. What real right,
aside frOm might, has this company TO en-
force CONTRACTS over those who cannot read
themf"
IL is stated that in the United States,
accoruing 10 the last census, there are
millions Of children, of school age, who
never attend any schoolr' That there are
difficulties to be met Is conceded, and
what the chief Of these problems are is
stated.
The English system Of half-time schools
Is explained, and also the methods adopted
in the three schools of this State. The num-
Der of unrchooled children in the State is
given ut g, 275.
The Purchasing Power of Wages in Eng
land covers q period Of several centuries,
with an account Of the wages-earnings and
their purchasing power at various historical
periods, and supplements the historical
sketches given in the first and second Re-
ports Of the Bureau on the laboring people
Of England from the beginning Of the four
teenth century, and in the United States
from the date Of their settlement. They
say:
The study of the subject Of wages
and their purchasing power from the four
teenth to the nineteenth century cannot fail
u impress an unpreiudiced mind that nor
mally-as the general rule, with only ex-
cePtiOns growing out Of peculiarly favorable
clrcumstances-theg great mass of workmen
IN every department of labor have never
been able to earn, over and above the cost
OF living, such an amount-can it capital
gained or whatever else-as would enable
them to accumulate, from simple wage
earnings, such a sum as would by its inter
est enable them to retire, as it is called,
when advanced years shall have rendered
them wholly or partially unable to labor.
Comparisons Of wages, prices, and cost Of
living at different periods are made, and
authorities quoted.
The Purchasing Power of Wages in
Massachusetts covers the period from 1880
to 1870. A table of prices Of labor and ar
ticles of subsistence from 1880 to 1864,
which has been gathered from old papers
preserved among the archives Of the Essex
Institute, is given, followed by tables Of
wages, cost of living, ETC., gathered from
varied, but claimed to be reliable sources.
In the review that follows table of actual
wages and earnings in the principal employ
ments is given, and by this table it will be
seen that the average earnings of a major
ity Of the skilled laborers in this State do
| not reach the average cost of the necessities
Of life, given in the cost Of living table,
pages 254 and 255 or, to state it in another
way, the majority Of wage-laborers must
consume less Of groceries, provisions, fuel,
rent and clothing than In given as the actual
consumption Of workmen whose items of
expenses we have tabulated, to keep out Of
debt.
"The contrast between the laborer Of
800 years ago and the laborer of the pres
ent u but the prophecy of the advance yet
TO be made. There are more people re-
moved each week from want than ever be-
fore; more people better housed, better
fed, and better clothed though there is but
little advance in the MARGIN Of wages, and
wages being continually kept down to the
actual cost of living, the element Of advance
is to be found almost entirely in the su-
periority of their style Of life"
Abiding to the homes Of the unskilled
laborers, and the limited demand this class
of our population make on the products of
our manufactures, the Bureau remarks
Here is a market for the utmost pro-
duction-a market at our doors-waiting
only TO be opened by better distribution
of wealth. distribution 50 natural and
permanent that the increase of means shall
no longer have existence. But against this
Christianizing and economic effort, the cry
for CHEAP LABOR il raised. How to make
the labor dearer without increasing the
cost of production, is the problem this ma
ton II called upon to solve. The distribu-
tion Of wealth, through the wage system,
has gwen the working classes all the wealth
they now possess, whatever that may be-.
Its better distribution must come through
and by the processes that increase wages
without increasing profits upon labor-giv-
ing labor larger and capital smaller margins
this process Of distribution continuing
until the better distribution through CO.
operation shall succeed the wage-system,
a. the wage-system succeeded yillainage."
A brief summary Of the conclusions
drawn from the researches made is given,
and recommendations to this effect That
the commonwealth, in its employing cap
Acity, adopt the Eight Hour Law, for all
manual laborers in her employ. That law
similar to the Factory Law Of Great Britain
be enacted, limiting the hours Of labor to
ten per day In manufacturing, mechanical
and other establishments in the State. and
that no child under thirteen years Of age
shall be employed in any such establish
ment. That the school law shall be en-
forced; the same law to compel protection
against unguarded machinery, etc
A system Of half-time schools is recon-
mended, and an authorization by law Of an
exhaustive system of statistics, to be gath
cred by parties employed in taking the
next State census, on all matters connected
with the subject Of labor in the State.
The subjects treated of in the Appendix
are Agriculture, Cooperative Associations
in Germany, Schools in Germany and other
parts Of Europe, Laborers in Pesth, and the
Truck System in England.
The Cleveland Rolling Mill is now using
in their works 400 tons Of coal per day.
The production il 100 tons Of steel, 40
tons of bar iron, 10 tons steel and iron
wire, 20 tons spikes and bolts and 60 to 70
tons Of pig iron.
The experiment Of employing Swedish