Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-10-23
ABOUT WAGES.
Plain Facts About Belgian and American
Workmcn.

RAIN Facts About Belgian and American
Workmcn.
Belgian correspondent Of the Clevs-
land Leader says: The other day went
into the iron works here. The owners
employ 200 men making steel wagon
springs. They are shipped to England,
France and America.
When asked the splendid wOrkmen
what they were getting for their skilled
labor at the forge, they said:
Seventy cents az franes) day, sir"
But how can you live on thatp' l
asked, 'f0r see you eat American -four
and American bacon, which costs more
here in Belgium than in American
well, we don't eat so much as they do
in America" they said. 1--WE never think
of having meat Oftener than twice
week. We live on soups and vegetables.
We live about as badly as the Chinese.
We wear cotton clothes only. Our stOm-
aehs are accustomed to famine. Dry,
black bread tastes good to us. They say
you had DR.. Tanner in America who
lived forty days on water. We do good
deal as DIR. Tanner did"
What the man said was true, for his
20 cents would not buy SO much food III
Belgium as 1t will in Cleveland.
From the workmen went to the mill
owner. He lived in a nice house and
kept carriage. He was a nice Chris
tian man, who loved his men. He had
been forge man himself once.
"Why do you not pay your men higher
wages?" asked. Such men get $3.50 In
Cleveland, Ohio"
The reason is this" he said. II ship
my wagon Springs to America. | have
to paw $40 Ofl1every 500 worth Of springs
sent there. That $40 comes off my mems
wages. If it come off of me l would be
ruined in day."
"But they pay $3.50 day in America"
suggested.
eyes. but they are protected there. The
manufacturer gets $40 more for every
800 worth OF his springs than l do.
That $40 enables him TO pay these high
wages. His men get every cent of it,"
"But suppose they should reduce the
Hurd and the Democratic party general
ly wants them top asked.
well the price of wagon springs would
fall 40 per cent. We would ship our
springs there if springs were higher
than in Belgium and fill the market.
You do not think the Yankees could pay
$3.50 per day for labor and make springs
as cheaply as we can and pay mon 70
cents, do your
"WOuld reduction Of the tariff in
America break up their iron wOrks?"
asked.
NO." said the Belgian. 1T wouldn't
break them up, but they would have to
shut down for WHILE"
"Well, how l0ng?"
"Why, until the American workman
was starved down into working for 70
cents day. Then they'd start up again.
Then Belgium and the United States
would be alike. Both would have the
same priced labor. America Is the only
nation on the face of the globe that pays
$3.50 day for labor. She does it be-
cause she has tariff"
"Then why don't you go over there and
start manufactOryp" l asked.
Because would be no better off than
here. NV men would get almost four
times as much wages as here; but l, as
mill owner, would make no more money
make as much money here as l could
In America. You see live in a nice
house. could do no more in America
1t is the lab0ring man in America thai
is benefited by the tariff, not the mil
owner"
"But there is congressman in Ohio
Frank Hurd, who advocates taking of
this tariff" said.
"There isp"
"Yss; he advocates it publicly"
"And labOring mon listen to himw
eyes,"
"And don't know that this Hurd would
take the bread out of their children's
mouths; yes, starve them down to x
cents dayr
"Oh, suppose he fsols some Of them,
said.
"Wsll," he said, II am an old man. Pyt
worked at the forge for so cents day
myself, and say feelingly that a maj
so ignorant and wicked as to injure thu
wOrkmen of America-why these work
men ought to rise up in their indigna
ton and sweep him from the earth. I'll,
isn't fit to receive the votes of free PEG
ple."