The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-23
AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN LABOR.

by Secretary Frelinghuysen, reviewing the re-
ports from consuls Of the United States in re-
lation to the state of labor in Europe. The
prejudice of campais n times having abated it
is probable that this great question may be
considered without partisan bias The re-
ports of the several consuls must be accepted
as trustworthy, for the objection cannot now
be raised that they are colored to promote any
party's election chances. 1t is remarkable
fact that they not only confirm previous re-
ports, but rather seem to increase them. The
Republican party, under the leadership CT
Mr.. Blaine made bold fight for what it CON
ceived to be the best interests of workingmen,
and repeatedly demonstrated that their con-
dition in America was better than in any
other country in the world The facts adj
duced were drawn from consular reports but
these were discredited by the opposition on
the ground that they were partisan and I'M
Trustworthy. Not content with showing from
official resources that labor was better remun-
Grated in America than elsewhere, the truth
was set forth from private sources and every
effort was made to keep the country in line of
fair wages for American labor, despite the de-
termination of the Democratic party to
bring it into competition with that of
England and Europe in general For two
years-ever since the House passed under con
troll Of the Democratic party-the business of
the country has steadily declined, wages have
been reduced, mills closed and men discharged.
The threat Of that party to return to free
trade and open competition with England
has had its inevitable effect, and men en-
gagged in manufacture have been compelled to
anticipate the future. The argument that by
opening our markets to England we should so
enlarge the markets for our own productions
without reducing wages to the same or a lower
level than those paid by competitors, is too
absurd to deserve serious refutation. Yet
just such argument was made during the
campaign.
The vote of the House in May last, when
152 Democrats put themselves on record as
favoring free trade, increased the depression,
and the election of a Democratic administra-
ton naturally intensified the feeling of dis
trust and uncertainty, so that the tendency
among manufacturers has been to save them
selves If they are to be brought into eompe-
tition with the manufacturers of Europe, who
pay very much lower wages than are demand
ed by American workingmen, there is nothing
left to do but to begin the reduction of wages
in America to the same low grade. This has
been undertaken in multiplied instances, and
nearly always with the result of strike as
might have been expected To avoid the
dangers and expense of strike many mills
have been closed until matters shall adjust
themselves under the new and unfavorable
conditions of Democratic policy.
The letter of the Secretary ought to disa-
buse the minds of such as have held that
practically wages were as high in England as
here, for the reason that the cost of living
was SC much lower there. The argument
was that while wages might possibly decline
the cost of the necessities of life would de-
crease in even greater ratio. A few com
parsons selected from the consular reports
now submitted will show how much truth
there was in the Republican argument, and
how far from the real facts were the Demo
Gratis The Secretary saws:
ut appears, comparing the cities of Europe
with those in the United States, that brick
layers and masons in Chicago are paid very
nearly three times the wages, plasterers nearly
four times, skaters three times, plumbers
nearly three times, carpenters twice, black
smiths twice, bookbinders more than twice.
confectioners twice, cigar makers nearly
three times coopers one and one
half as much, draymen, Transfers
and street-railway drivers nearly twice, dyers
more than twice engravels nearly three times
furriers twice. horse shoers three and one-half
times, jewellers more than one and one-half
times, labOrers, porters, ETC., more than twice,
photographers three times, telegraph operators
two and one-half saddlers and harness makers
more than one and one-half times, stevedores
more than two and one,fourth times, tailors
twice and tinsmiths one and three-quarters
the wages paid to similar trades and callings
in London"
Relative TO the prices of necessaries of life,
the Secretary says:
at is frequently asserted that the cheap
ness of living in Europe more than equalizes
the lower wages there paid In a volume on
labor in Eurofe, published by this department
in 1875, it was shown that prices of food in
the United States were actually lower than
in Europe and that the working classes in
the United States could purchase more
and better aliment, dollar for dollar
than the working classes in any
country in Europe. 1t appears
from the reports that the American workman
consumes more and better food than mechan-
les and laborers abroad, and that the cost of
this food is as small as in Europe.