The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-12-02
CHINESE TRADES UNIONS.
Prices Prevailing Among Chinese
WOrkmen in America.

Prices Prevailing Among Chinese
WOrkmen in America.
Gong Han, the president of the Chi
nese Laundrymen's Union of the United
States, has been giving a New York cor
respondent of the Chicago Herald some
information about trades unions among
the Chinese. He says:
"The working classes of the United
States-in fact, the entire American pub
lic-have not yet learned that the Chi
rese are better trades unionists than they
are, and that the Mongolion workman
receives better wages than his civilized
colleague. This statement may seem
strange, yet it is the truth. In a body
that corresponds to the New York cham
Der of commerce we keep labor statistics
in regard to almost every industry in
which our race is interested. On &C.
count of the anti Chinese agitation we
have compiled similar figures in regard
to American industries. In nearly every
instance the Chinese obtain larger wages.
Beside this, Chinese employers usually
give board and lodging to their employees
as we'll as wages. Let US compare notes.
In the grocery trade Americans (and they
are chiefly GermansJ pay from 81 to SIS
a week. Their clerks average S.. 90 a
week. Chinese grocers pay from
So to $22 a week and one per cent.
commission on all goods sold by the
clerk. Their clerks average $12.5 SO
a week. in the Troy laundries the
Irish washcrwoman receive from SIS
to 50 a week and average Sc. The
ironers get q little more, but average
only So. so. Neither washers nor ironers
receive board nor lodging. In the Chi
ncse .laundries washers receive from S.
to S12 a week, and average 50; ironers
from $40 to SCI, and average $13. 80.
Both receive in addition their board and
lodging.
"As to BARRIERS, the Americans have
the Italian shops, where a shave costs
five cents, the ordinary shop at ten, the
nice ones at fifteen, and a few at twenty,
Journeyman's wages run from 81 q week,
which is paid to the Italians, to S19,
which is paid to first. class men. They
average $11 q week. In the Chinese
quarter a shave costs twenty-five cents,
with what you might call a shampoo,
fifty, and with shampoo and massage, 81.
An oriental employer can, therefore,
easily afford to pay the average wages of
SIG a week.
"Nith apothccaries the contrast is far
greater, and in this respect we orientals
can justly style you barbarians. A pro-
fession which involves your health and
life ought certainly to pay high salaries
to its clerks, who arc educated and
trained men. Yet the salaries run from
S. up, and seldom if ever exceed $50,
and average the miserable sum of 50 a
week. A Chinese drug clerk receives
a similar education ard training, but his
salary averages $40 a week, not to speak
of his commissions.
Good native cooks may be obtained in
the intelligence offices of the great cities
at from SO to $40 a mouth. They
average, I am told, SIS a month.
Our cocks run from $50 to $50, and aver
age SIS.
I'm mere manual labor many poor
Chinese have worked for a small com.
pcnsation, but never so small as what is
paid to Italian 'navvies' in New York,
Hungarian coal miners, and S%lavonian
farm hands. Even when my countrymen
do accept employment on such terms it
is merely to save up a little money and
then enter some other industry. Our
cigarmakers work at the same rates as
1irst-class Havana hands. They are en-
ployed in the great factories in Maiden
lane and the Bowery. Not a Chinamar
can be found who will work under the
tenement house system now followed in
the large cities by thousands Of pauper
Europeans.
$50 much for wages. In regard to
trades unions we have q number Of COM
plicatcd systems. One is what we term
the family system. The half-billion
population Of the middle kingdom are
divided into a few hundred families.
These are indicated by the first or family
name. OF this such names as Wong,
Lee, Yung, Lum, and Moy, are fair
examples. A Wong who is in trouble
goes to another Wong, whom he may
never have seen or heard of, and obtains
aid. The thing done may be the loan of
money, the giving of a meal, the OBJ
tanning of employment, intercesslon in
law, or the like. 1t represents an hon
orablc obligation. which at some time
the person obligated is bound to repay.
In this way I have known a poor mar
to travel from Che.Li in the north of
China to New York city. Each trade is
locally organized with us as with Ameri.
cans. Our organizations 60 further, how.
ever, and possess features that in this
country characterize masonic bodies. A
member who falls sick is nursed by his
fellow members, is provided with ,nedi-
cine, diet, and physician by the union,
and when destitute through a lengthy
sickness is ever supplied with food,
raimcnt, and even funds. I question if
Il trades union in Europe or America
does the same. Beyond all this there is
with us a distinct recognition of the
idea of duty. An oriental employer
is morally bound to look after
the wclfarc-physical, pecuniary
and spir.tual-of his employees.
lie should admonish them when
they 20 in wrong courses; teach
them how to use money and accumulate
wealth; see that they arc neat, clean,
and careful in person and dress. lie, in
short, stands in the position of q father.
A similar relation is borne by q senior to
q Junior in q family union and by the
officers of 4 trades union to its members.
Beyond family and trades unions are
other great organizations for men who,
belonging to different trades or callings
have similar tastes, desires, or needs.