The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-10-26
GRATIFYING TO the FRIENDS
49, lOF LABOR.

from labor In America, the figures
show that the cost of living has been
for two yesrs past decreasing ia
greater proportion than the rate OF
wages. Strikes occur, 1t is true, in
conse quence Of repeated reductions OF
wages, but the continued fall in
prices more than compensates for the
loss of wages. 1t matters not to a Ia
borer of any kind, of course, whether
his wages be great or small, 80 the
purchasing power Of his money grows
no smaller. IL q dollar be his daily
pay and his wages arc reduced TO rs
cents per day, the serious matter
with him Is whether living has fallen
also? II so, the reduction is not felt.
Ifwages 80 down 25 per cent. and the
cost of living goes down 40 per cont,
clear gain, after all, of 10 per cent. re-
mains TO the wage-workers.
Mr.. EDWARD ATKINSON ia ono OF
tho most pains-taking gatherers of
statistics in this country, generally
impartlally and absolutely correct.
Recent Investigations by MIN haYe,
In the cotton manufacturing industry,
res ulted In the discovery and an
nouncement that since 1888 wages
have gone down but SOP per cent,
while tho cost Of living-food and
clot hipg-has in the same time fallen
70. 80 per cont. In other words, though
in 1888 the average individual earn
ings were 1887, and In 1885 only $3.50.
the latter sum in the latter yoar
will purchase far more, and hence in
sure greater comfort than tho larger
sum Of the former year. The savings
are, or can be greater, as he shows
also, now, by the following illustra-
ton:
| Two persons earning 1881 each, as
| above, In 1888 received .........,.... St7l
This supported three persons at an as
sumcd cost OF. .....,.................... 5pO
Leaving for saving in 1888 ............. s7l
Earnings In 1886, at 500 each ......... $40
The same supply of food, clothing and
shelter could he had in 1885 for ... 1856
Surplus amounted In 1885 to. ........ si0i
What is true In this industry Ia true
In most other lines. The cotton opera
tiyes have probably suffered no moro
nor less than other working people in
the matter of reduction of wages,
while, Of course, reduction in the coats
Of living applies equally to all. The
conclusion, then, from these facts and
figures, is simply that prices o.
products are falling more rapidly than
wages, aud tho w0rkingmen is, after
all. holding his own. rho fact is a
gratifying one to all who desire tho
continued comfort and prosperity Of
the laboring classes. Nor ia the fact
discouraging one to the producer, for
he, too. receives rccompense ia the
added cheapness of living. 1t matters
nothing, in word, how much wages
fall, 60 all other prices and values de-
crease proportionslly, and from these
figures OF ATKINSON, this seems to
have been tho case since 1888, with the
difference, If any, in favor of the wage
worker.
The further conclusion Is TO bo
drawn from the fact that just as free
traders succeed In reducing tho cost OF
living and commodities the purchas-
ing power of tho dollar goes up, and
slight reductions in wages arc neither
disastrous nor appreciable. Thus,
ono Of the biggest bugbears OF the
protectionists IL exploded. There need
be no fear for tho American working
man. The universal and continued
prosperity of the nation, with the con-
atantly decreasing expenditures in the
matter of living, combined with our
laborer'sproverbial Invention, shrewd-
moss and skill, may be depended on to
not only keep him comfortable, but
UNNECESSARILY in advance OF his
European brother.