The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-07-14
WAGES AND PROTECTION.


of labor and capital in this country with
view of arriving at an intelligent apprecia-
ton of the respective claims of the two, the
worse Is the showing for the manufac-
turer or capitalist. We have on several &C.
casions heretofore pointed out the great
disparity and consequent injustice between
the wages of the workman and the per cent
age of his employer in the division Of the
profits Of their mutual labor, but the sub
ject admits Of constant illustrations of the
iniquitous and wide difference. The work
ingmen have themselves begun to APP
preciate this injustice and have
demanded that they should at
least receive fair division of the profits, as
neither labor could do without capital nor
vice versa, and therefore an equity existed
which capitalists and manufacturers should
always respect and regard in the establish
ment OF scale of wages. If the manufac.
turer is realizing 20 or 80 per cent. net on
his investment, certainly those who enable
him to do this should receive more than 20
or 80 per cent. gross of his income. Espe-
cially when more is absolutely nee
essary to obtain the comforts of
life. A deaf ear being turned to
their reasonable and just demands
they have been for some time past striking
in great numbers through the country, but
poorly provided with means and gnawed
by hunger they have had again and again
to bear once more the hurtful burdens.
The fact that the capitalists in these trou-
bles have generally conquered does not add
to the business of their cause, nor the
force of their reasoning, and facts still con-
tinue to accumulate to give the lie to their
statements as to limited and decreasing
profits, and the urgent necessity for more
protection" A valued exchange, which
has been battling nobly and constantly
against this gross evil and never speaks
hastily, has the following useful facts and
figures, which teach their own lessons
There were in 1880. according to the Fed
cral census report in round numbers, $780,
900 persons employed IN manufacturing in
the twenty principal cities of the United
States. There was paid to them $3.50 ;.
600 in wages or 1895 each per annum. The
100000. The value of the product was
81, 100 100000. The net fruits of their labor
therefore was $775, 100000. The amount Of
capital invested was $500, 100000. The net
profit appears to have been nearly ninety
per cent. This is a remarkable showing Of
profit. The average wages were less thar
$50 per week for operatives, while the
apparent profits were thus large. About
one fourth of these laborers were black
smiths, shoemakers, carpenters and
bakers. These are supposed to get wages
something like double the average here
given, which would diminish the weekly
wages of the other three-fourths to only
about IS per week. These seem to DO in
credibly low figures and do not justify The
continual plea Of the projections thai
the enormous tariff put upon all goods il
necessary to keep up the wages of labor
ers." 1t is beyond comprehension how ir
tclligent legislators and men who pro
fcss to be the friends of the peo'
pie, can continue openly an,
vigorously to defend industries, on tn,
pleas of infancy and weakness, which ar
receiving nearly led per cent. net profits
while the Drawn and muscle upon which
they depend and without which they coult
not run for single day are forced to elk,
out a miserable existence on individual al
lowances amounting to only IS per week
The disparity is far too great, is enormou
and equally unjust, and it is the perception
of this fact that is daily intensifying thu
determination oflabor to look more direct
ly to its own interests in the future. If TIN
political parties of the day do not heed thci
demands, the laborers propose organizin
for themselves and we therefore trust tina
in all our democratic conventions of what
ever nature, no attain positions will b
taken on this subject.
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