Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-27
WAGES Ar HomE AVN .RRo.p.


nicatiOn from &C. N. E" prominent bust
ness man of Memphis. We have great re
spect for the writer individually but not fol-
his opinions as a protectionist, for it will b,
seen that his figures are fallacious and hi,
whole argument heterogeneous. Our CORE
spondent does not take The broad ground tha
labor is higher and living cheaper in Americs
than in Europe, but his figures are calcu
lated to create such an impression. The ar.
gument that protection to rich monopolies
secures to the working class high wages is
a humbug, pure and simple. A great deal OF
buncombe is found in the writings and
speeches of the protectionists about the
disastrous effect upon the workingmen of this
country coming into competition with
the "pauper labor of Europe" In
the last presidential election placards were
hung up in the shops and factories contain-
ing tabulated statements OF the comparative
rates of wages here and abroad, closing with
the intimation that the balance in favor of
America could only be maintained by pro-
hibitory tariff. These figures used to delude
and brighten the laboring classes were as
fallacious as those used by our correspondent.
According TO the tabulated statement of &C.
NJ E." the average amount paid the laboring
classes is about ST. per week, or $62 per
month. But the facts do not sustain our cor
respondent. A census bulletin has been pub
lished giving the statistics of the manufac-
turing industries of twenty principal cities
of the United States. The number of en-
IL
down at 94s, 494 of which 663, 1927 were men.
IA, 100 were women, and 60,567 were chill
dren. The wages aggregated 1875, 49,, 921,
or, counting 300 working days a year, an
average of 81 So a day for each person
These employees included the most highly
skilled labor in the country, two-thirds of
them were mature men, yet their average
wages did not exceed the average wages of
1nskilled labor on city streets and in
country towns. Without giving the figures
in detail, we may add that accord
ing 10 this same bulletin, the profits
made in these industries after deduct
ing wages and cost of material are thirty-six
per cent. on the capital invested. Deducting
Ten to sixteen per cent. more for miscel
ANhSOAo Ga HOASSo We Sc twenty " INCbty-H14
per cent. as the aversge net profit. When
manufacturers ''getting ahead" at this rate |
claim that they need duties in excess OF fifty |
per cent. to enable them TO pay wages rang
ing from 81 10 to 81 33 a day, go that the |
noble American laborer, forsooth, shall not |
be forced down to the level of the European
'pauper," the claim may as we'll be taken /
oil L.
Is willing 10 see facts as they are, does not
need TO push his investigation any further to
De convinced that the claim that high duties
make high wages cannot be honestly made
10 continue TO make it dishonesty as a
means of influencing uninformed voters will
,rove a most disastrous policy. Sooner or
alter the masses OF workingmen will |
iscover the fraud. In the wave of reac-
ionaTy feeling that must certainly follow,
he whole protective system may be swept
way in single election, with results of
widespread ruin that no calculus could esti-
nate. Owing to the difference in the hours
# work, 10 the efficiency of the laborer, and
n many other respects, 1t is exceedingly diff
ult TO make auy comparison which will
4
ives here and elsewhere. This has been sat
done, however, for the cotton man.
featuring industry, and the result is sur
rising in the extreme. Under directions
rom Blaine, while secretary of state, who
IS always been an enthusiast upon the SUBJ
sct of the extension of our foreign trade,
be United States consuls in various cities of
q l.. II l
they could gather, bearing upon |
lmerican industry compared with foreign. |
.mobg the vast mass of material thus COL
scted, the report of Consul Shaw from Man.
hester, England, contains the follow
lg comparison between the wages of
Primers and weavers IN Lancashire and in |
Massachusetts,. English spinners receive
ON 81 OF TO IS 40 per week; American,
'om OF TO SO 80. English weavers re-
1--WE from IS 81 to IS "a per week, subject,
the date on which these rates were given,
a reduction Of ten per cent, American, q
ON 81 81 to IS rs. The average wages of I
nployes in the Massachusetts, mills accord g
e TO the official returns are, men IS 30,
omen SIS 62. According to Consul Shaw's /
port, the average wages of men employed v
the Lancashire mills, January /, 1880,
ere about IS; and those of women from
40 TO 81 so, each subject TO areduction of l
q per cent. The hours of labor in the Lam t
shire mills are 6fty-six, in the Massachu- c
It's mills, sixty per week. In the mills of =
her New England States, where the wages "
e generally lees than in Massachusetts,, P
e hours are usually sixty-six to sixty
ne per week. There is nothing whatever
discredit these figures, furnished as
ey are by an officer of the United
ates, and incorporated by the secretary 7
state in his Introductory letter. Yet &
ey are surprisingly at variance with il
e general idea of the remuneration Of II
auper" labor abroad. With the exception e.
the higher average rate of wages paid TO n
men, they show that, for the hours he Il
,ors, the American factory operative re- II
yes no more, and In some cases much less, q,
An his fellow-workman abroad. When the \,
greater efficiency of the former B
taken into consideration, the inequalities Il
: more than equslized. What similar in -
stigations would disclose in other lines of Of
iustry is open TO conjecture, but the al
tural presumption is that their results lie
uld not be essentially different. In view I. IN
these facts, 1t is necessary that the pre- ID
ling notions concerning the high rates of e
ges paid in the United States, in manu-.
turing employments, should be very much
aifed. The Manufacturer and Industrial PR
'ette, published in Holyoke, Mass, the tru