New-York tribune., 1884-12-29
MANUFACTURES AND WAGES.

A common argument of free traders, ana one
which is being much used just now, Is that
those industries are paying the higher wages as
n rule that do not have most direct protection
under the tariff. Hence, it is reasoned, II the
manufacture of agricultural machines, for eX-
annie, can pay high wages and prosper greatly
without protection, must we not inier th'l
other manufactures would prosper ms well II let
alone The obvious deception here Is lnat III
stances are selected in which the nature oi IN
dustrial distribution in this country constitutes
a protection of the most powerful sort inc
demand for agricultural implements here Is ~
vast the requirements are sp varied hhl pr'Nl-
ial, aud Tho cost of transporting mem nom
distance IL ~ considerable, mat even u lhp
American could nnl n1eel al oihnr people W
inventive ennins, lhls mannlaflNif hnllh
nnnllHl In lhs rlHniiy beyond hll ullnis many
0lhnr Instances ~ ihn anliiu Fnli may bn Fl''ni
Ia which lhn npil development NJ u nihiinlir
lnto Ia plrnily dun ~ lUoal rnuans,
lnl ngnln II h said, Whpoa pnd Ia lho Rinhl
binnphna oi Manufacture when are 'hirlhllt
puiooind nin not on The whole 49, hlRh 49, ~ the
mechanic arts lol which no proioelon Is poss-
ibln Thus the carpenter, the ilisoih me
plumber. got higher wages rs rnlo Than the
nyetnpe shown In the branches of industry mosl
entelnlly protected Here lholo Is n donblo
deception. ~ the gfont manufactures there
are employed many women ana chlldtoii' hhh
mnny unaltlod hnnds. whose low earnings
greatly reduce tho average rate oi Wngos. Dut
the carpenter or other mechanic must hnYo
trimming and skill which fcw of tho hands en-
ploycd In manufacturing establishments re-
quilc. Tho other deception and the most inn
portant. is that the worker in factories expects
constant employment while the mechanic has
to wait for Jobs Is often unemployed, and In
many trades must expect to be unemployed for
n considerable part of the year. Hence his
wages must be adjusted so rs TO give him fair
subsistence for the whole year, even though he
may be employed only part of tho time
But Il Is reasoned, the wages in tloSo trades
are AS much higher than IN Great Britain rs the
wages IN ans protected manufacture, and this
shdws that tho rt0tectivc system hds NO effect
np8n the thte of waees. 1hosc Vho re1son
thns hate oiten But iittlo attention rs tho
8tsfati8n ~ the ststem thct assiil: Whcr 4
iat,s pE8pattiBn Bf the Observation-Disclosures hss
seenFeA t9 y bY tAe eiieet s8t iAN \ hiPh tats
vi Wases, u lNeYltabV i0N8Wa tNat tAe FATE W
Qther bganehes VI lpAAsip s as8 feiAtYeY
RAISED We're u not theFe W0nld pe eeNeF4i
shifting from the lower to lhQ hiSher emppY
ments This effect Is produced quite as much
upon those branches which, on account of par
tial or uncertain employment, necessarily re
ceiye higher rate of wages as upon those
which have constant employment and u lower
rate. Thus the painter who cannot expect to
be employed in the rainy season, and who re-
quires higher average daily when employed,
if he found the workers in neighborng manu-
featuring establishments getting relatively
higher wages than himself, would be tempted
to seek such occupation. His rate Of wages
must be raised, and that of other painters in
the neighborhood, and that of other mechanics
of all kinds, in order to retain them in their
several employments.
This effect of the tariff is often overlooked,
even by those who advocate it. That it is real
may be readily seen, if we consider what would
follow general suspension of industry in many
protected manufactures. Thousands of men
thrown out of work would at once 90 about
seeking labor in the trades or on the farms
their competition would dcpress the labors of
those previously employed, and general disaster
would result. This has happened in Great
Britain to an alarming extent, in consequence of
the competition of work on the Continent, and
the stOppage of demands from this country. Ii
will happen here, If We strike down manufac-
lures by change of policy.