Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-17
A Picture OF British WOrkinSmen,s
Life.

Life
The following, from an editorial correspondent
OF the Pittsburg Dispatch sent to England to
examine into the wage and labor question, must
nave produced something of a sensation in the
Iron City, where people have been steadfastly
taught that under protection they are vastly
better Off than the operatives Of England:
"A walk from WolverhamptOn, with its
100000 inhabitants, to Birmingham, with its
400 GOO. is through succession of villages,
wh'ch form an almost continuous town
through forest OF chimneys which send
forth pillars of cloud which obscure the sun
by day. and pillars Of fire which outshine
| smoke is outside Of Birmingham, so that it is
less beclOuded than one would anticipate from
Its reputation. 1t is not by any means so en-
shrouded as the Birmingham of America but
It's smoke and SCOT are not hemmed in by high
hills, but are constantly dispersed by the breezes
from the channel and the Welsh mountains.
Yet In this field are manufactured not only in
computabie quantities of raw iron and large
machinery, but thousands Of kinds Of small
articles In immense bulk. guns swords, all
KINDS OF brass and OrmOlu articles, jewelry,
presses, pins. buttons, bicycles, needles. fish
books, money, not only for the home govern
ment. but for dozen other governments, and
lnnumerable other things which one ALWAYS
knew We're made somewhere but never knew
the place.
"And now. let me say briefly. and once for all.
that careful inspection of the localities where
working people most do cOngregate in this
wonderful world of manufactures has proved to
me, as it will prove to any one taking similar
pans, that here. where one expects to find
'pauper labor by comparison with America,
there is condition Of comfort irr habtation.
clothing and food, which cannot be eXcelled in
any American manufacturing locality. This
may De treason. but if it is, my protectionist
friends are at liberty to make the most of it. I
do not assert that the condition Of these work
men is what it ought to be. l only assert that
II it be worse than that Of-Ame lean work
men. then the difference is concealed
with wonderful success. am not
advancing by any means the opinion that it is
time to apply the theory of free-trade to
America. but merelX> reiterating what I have
often said and always believed, that the asser-
ton OF republican politicians that protection
combe, for ii it was of any benefit at all the
wOrklngman got none of it. but the capitalist
all. II l was not altogether certain of my
premises then am now. Twill agree to exhibit
better houses for working people, with just as
ample food and comfortable clothing and as
many bank depositOrs. ain this Birmingham dis
trict. according to ratio of population as can be
found in any manufacturing district of America
it would make the most prejudiced and most
loyal Pittsburger ashamed of his own CITY to
note here the actual superiority in comfort
and cleanliness Of the streets and houses where
live the common working classes. Courts alleys
and domciles are clean, and lack the foul OdOrs
which are smelled everywhere on the back
streets and alleys of Pittsburg. I searched in
vain for plague spot. l asked for the lOcali-
ties where there were the most poor and went
there; prOpOunded all sorts of impudent ques-
lions to the inhabitants; penetrated to the
obscurest courts and alleys, making inquiries
Ior imaginary persons my excuse, and my con-
clusion was that, so long as we must have a
poor ciass-a class which must struggle hard for
bare necessities would be well to have them
live as they do here. If possible. Everything,
too. speaks Of good government Heli-holes,
to be unknown here The gin-mills and tan
rooms are compelled to close promptly at the
hour fixed by law. To judge from the police
statistics, crime is here reduced to O minimum. :"