The Labor enquirer., 1883-02-17
Elevating Labor.


Their whole cry has been, and it is yet,
heard now and again in congress, that
American labor must not sink to the
level of pauper labor in Europe. All the
leading governments of Europe are pro-
tectionists but one, and this one is the
only one that recognizes labor, legislates
for it, and places 1t on an equality with
capital before the law.
With the advent of free trade in En-
gland began at once the elevation OF
labor. In the forty years of its progress
labor has secured recognized standing.
No combination of manufacturers can
meet there and declare that after GER
tain date the. wages of their workmen
shall be reduced. The law would regard
such an act with immediate disfayor,
and such course would be repudiated
at once. Within these forty years the
wages have doubled. They are low
enough in all conscience yet, but they
are twice as much as they were in the
memory of thousands of workmen.
Then the hours were from twelve to fif-
teen for days work, now they are nine
and half. Then a weeks work was six
days, now it is five and half. Then
children Of tender age could be found
working in the factories at whatever
their little hands could find to do, now
none under 10 years OF age are allowed
to work in factories. Surely that is young
enough. There are free schools to 60 to,
and attendance is compulsory.
If the workmen complain that their
wages are not high enough, the leaders
of the trades unions, which organiza-
tons are recognized by the law, appeal
10 the government commissioner, who
investigates the complaint. He can ex-
anime the books of the manufacturer,
and if the complaint of the laborer is
just, he can order d higher rate to be
paid, and capital must pay it or lock up
its business, and this is called pauper
labor.
The leaders of these trade unions are
as able men, with few exceptions, as
the English parliament contains. They
know all the workings of free trade;
they are as well informed of the necessi-
ties of foreign markets as any statesman
of England can be. The profits of each
manufacturer are as we'll known to them
as to the accountant Of the establishment
himself With the advance of foreign
demands they are ready to claim their
proportionate advance of wages, and
they getit, too. In the depression of
foreign markets they are willing to bear
the loss with the capitalist The indus
tries of England never stop, and she
never lives off herself Neither America
nor any of the protected countries of
Europe does this. They tell the people
that the tariff protects them and they,
poor fools, believe it.
Pennsylvania in November shook off
the nightmare of bosses. 1t was of no
political significance, the organs said.
1t did not mean anything. Pennsylvania
was protectionist to the backbone, and
therefore republican. But there are
worse bosses in Pennsylvania than Boss
Cameron. The iron and steel bosses are
as hard as the metal they work, but the
people, by the aid of their new legisla-
ture and governor, are moving against
them. They propose to adopt the law
that protects the pauper labor of En-
gland, in an ultra protectionist state, the
second largest in an ultra protectionist
union Surely high tariff was made to
protect labor. We surely will not bor-
row laws from tree trade country.-Ex-
change.
"My son." said an Indiana man to his
nine-year-old boy, you are about to enter
into the mysteries Of the great world
around you. Before doing 50, it will be
necessary to pass a severe aed> searching
ordeal. Are you ready for the tfial?"
"Yes, sir"
"Where have you been to-dayP"
"Been fshin'."
[Murmurs of applause from his fond
mother -.
'Did you run away from SCHOOL,"
Eyes, sir"
'fHave you been inside the school
house for the past week?"
mo, sir"
"What did you do yesterday"
"Stole some lead pipe and sold it to