Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-18
LOWER PRICES FOR LABOR INEV-
lITARLE.

From the New York Bulletin, Dec. 3.
The city journals dwell almost every dav
OH the vast numbers Of workmen out of
employment, and the dismal facts Of
the situation are coupled with elO-
quent appeals to the benevolent to
do what they can TO alleviate the result
ing distress, present and prospective. While
we recognize the facts and indorse the
appeal, it is, at the same time, a duty to re-
mind those singularly intractabie bodies,
the Trades Unions, that, but for their per-
sistent declinatiOn to countenance such
reduction Of wages in the various handi-
crafts rs the state of the times renders i'm
perative, there would be no occasion for
thus compelling thousands OF their fellow
men to be, as it were, the forced recipients
Of aims. For that is just what it
is coming to. These people, We have
ample assurance, would be glad:O work, cs-
peCially during the winter months, at any
thing like reasonable compensation, but
wage fear Of inCuTingthe hostility Of this or
that union restraints themtrom accepting the
offers that are made to them by employers
who would only be too happyto accept their
services OnSuch terms rs they can afford. We
desire TO call the attention of all concerned
to the pregnant fact, that wherever 4 reduc-
tiOn of wages has been acceeded to in other
parts of the country, an almost immediate
return to healthtul activity has been the re-
suit. Assurances of this character are COM
ing in to us from nearly all the great manu-
featuring towns of New England and Penn
sylyania. This is especially true Of the
latter State. Only to-day We have a dis
patch stating that the extensive wooden
manufactures in Chester County are now
operating on full time, day and night,
though at reduced wages. The recently
suspended cotton factories, NJ Reading, are
also working, and will continue to do so
all the winter, likewise at reduced wages.
The great hat factories make similar re-
ports. All the rolling mills and furnaces,
we are also notified, are in full blaSt-Gt
reduced lcdgcS. Rewriting TO New Eng
land. the Lowell manufactures have nearly
all returned to full time, lsagcS being re-
duced twelve and half per cent. The list
might be indefinitely extended were ii
necessary; but one would think enough
has been stated to show that if
the hundred thousand mechanics and
worlmen who are said to be going
about the streets of this great city with
nothing to do, will but have the courage to
tons of right, and follow the example Of
their fellOw-wOTllmen in other sections OF
thecountry with reference to the mis-
echievOus trades-union mddlemen, who
stand in an intimidating attitude be-
tween them and the labor market, the
| chances of spending thewinterm0nths in the
| alms-hOuse, or being, what is not less hui
initiating, dependent upon private charity,
would be materially abated. The utter I'M
| reasOnableness, as well as the folly of their
present enforced attitude is painfully oh
| yiOus To the least reflective mind. Values
| Of almost every kind have been re-
duced, and in many eases largely
reduced since the panic Of Septem-
| her Solid merchandise, as we'll as paper
values, have shrunk, and III many cases the
process is still in progress. Most, if not all,
| OF the necesSaries of life. rs 4 rule, are much
| cheaper. In ether words, the purchasable
value of money has increased, SO that less
| wages now will, in most instances, buy as
much, or nearly as much, clothing, or
| fuel, or bread, or meat, as they
would before the revolution. Now,
there is no resisting the logic of these
facts, and the sooner it is recognized and
acted upon by all concerned, the better. 1t
| is only necessary to acduiesce in general
| reduction Of wages in the various city in
dustries to impart new life 10 them, That
| acquiescence must come, in any event,
sooner or later, Itremains with the labOrer
| himself to say when.