The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1884-04-05

cigar makers, (no union) wages about the
same as book binders; candy makers, (no
uniOn wages not known-only one fac
tory; carpenters, (no union) wages from
81 90 to 81. 90 per day. I am informed
by a representative carpenter that out
door workmen lose at least one-third of
their time ON account Of the weather, and
that there are not more than two or three
carpenters who get SO much as 500 per
day. He further says that some of them
do not get paid regularly what little they
do earn, and that others get orders on the
'sstore," and that should he wish beans or
turnip salad for dinner, and the s.store"
has not got either, he has to content him
self with peas! He carries up q little
book for entries of these articles. This is
considered a kind of pass, as it were.
Carpenters stand lowest in the scale.
Painters are about on q par with carpen-
ters, except such men as work for them
selves. Machinists and workers in iron,
range from 81. so to g.. IS per day. l am
told but few receive so much as 81. 35.
Men in the shuttle factory, who manage
the machines, receive from 81 90 to 81 rs
per day.
I interviewed an officer of Raleigh Ty-
geographical Union, in order to find out
something of the printing business, and
found him to be an obliging and intelli-
gent gentleman Their wages ane- en-
phatically $40 per week, or 834 cents
per 900 ems. By the piece some make
more and some make less than $14. 90 per
week. They have a standard of work
manship whereby the proprietors are pro-
tected as well as themselves. Every prac-
tical printer who is proprietor, or who
is out of the business, is an honorary
member of this union. Mr.. G. B. Ed
wards, of the firm of Edwards, Brough-
ton & Co., told me that he would close up
business rather than employ any other
kind of men. Mr.. Edwards and Mr.. N.
B. Broughton have both been delegates to
the International Typographical Union
from Raleigh Union. The printers make
it point to work to the interest of the
employers, knowing that what is to the
interest of the proprietor is also to their
interest. They have even been known to
voluntarily reduce their own wages when
they saw it to be to the material interest
of both parties to do SO. was informed
by Mr.. z. T. Broughton that the printers
of Raleigh had filled every Office in the
gift of the people, from city policeman to
Governor Of the State, (not missing an
Office in between) besides turning out
lawyers, doctors, editors and preachers;
duO tu1U Ul1Cy WCIO 1C6tOCA0 III CVCAy VI
ganization to which they may belong, and
churches, Odd Fellows, Masons, Knights
of Pythias, Red Men and the balance.
There is no other one class or profession
of men in the State who have done this.
At their last International session in
Chicago the Chicago papers spoke of them
as among the most intelligent body of
men who had ever assembled in that city.
The main reason why the printers stand
first in the list of mechanics is the fact
that they are compelled to have certain
amount of education before they can be
worknen at ALL But the school system,
as said before, will bring about changes
that the people of the State do not dream
of. I expect to live to see the day when
the working men of these United States
will run the government. With few
more years of education we can do it in
North Carolina. But that is not what we
desire just now. What we want is living
wages and chance to build up and ele
vate the tone and character of the work
ingmen. The mechanic in the South as
he stands to-day is his worst enemy. Il
mechanic (or any other NAM sits dOwI
and waits for some one to come along anG
elevate him, he ought to be elevated about
ten feet with brOgan. He must work
out his own salvation. This he will learn
Our lawmakers have heretofore done
good deal of legislating against the work
ing-men. 1 will relate case in hand, al
told me to-day by a printer, of which
was cognizant at the time, but had for
gotten. It is in the case of The Code
This piece of work ought properly, and il
all fairness, to have gone to the Stat
Printer, Gas other State work. who ha
labored assiduously for the success of tn
| party in power, or to some other respOnsi
BILE printer within the State. But instea'
of this the Legislature creates Cod
Commission, who acted to the best of thei
knowledge and ability with the lights an
instructions before them, SO the work
taken to New York to be done, thus cut
ting the laboring printers of the State ou
of that work ($18, 900 or $40, 600 worth
at near estimate. I can get the exae
figures, if necessarily Thus the working
men at home are taxed to pay this amour
of money without receiving one cent
worth of benefit But instead, it take
bread out of the mouths of his babies
This is disgrace to every member of th
Legislature, and q stigma upon the goo
name OF one of the most noble Common
wealths in our fair land of liberty
/ am told that the work could hay
been done at home cheaper, with the sam
binding! The printing itself is said to
fair. The binding is q botch, and Of Il
most inferior material. Indeed, SO muc
so, that the Commission has already a
lowed them 81 900 extra to complete an
make good a worthless job, with no en-
of s'incidentals" to be heard from. /
not write this for either party to NAL
political capital Of, but in defence of tt
working men, and to show that there
such thing as running economy in tt
ground, and that this is case in point.
Every bill the State Printer makes O,
against the State has to be examined /
two practical and disinterested workmel
one on the part of the State and one {
the part of the State Printer, and certifs
, to be correct inamount and workmanshi
before it can be even audited; and had II
Code been done at home, no such work
this binding is represented to be wou
| oVyavs hraxy h<a<,p x,r>I o11