The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-02-06
LAROR AND srRIE "a.

The Commissioner OF the New York
Burt an OF Labor Sta.ittics has pub
lisbed a report, which Is Of extreme
interest at this time Ct strikes and
s.ruseles on the part Of working PEG.
ple. He gives many interesting facs
and figures, and among other things
DISCUSSES the subject Of lees being paid
10 women than to men for the same
quality and quantity Of work. When
the public buy an article from a store
they pay the same price whether the
article wss made by a man or
woman. Why, then, should the man.
ulscturer pay one price TO the man
who mfds a portion OF the articles
and lower price to a woman who
made ant Their portion2 On common
senee principles the thing is inexpli-
cable and absurd. Yet the commits
sionei's reTort Informs us that "as
rule, women's wages are very much
less than those of men, while, IN some
kinds Of work, in which 10th men
and women are employed, men can do |
superior work, the difference in wages |
ia out cf sll na'oDable proportion to |
the superiority Of the service" Evil
IDENTIFY such a situation is as unreason-
able a7d stupid as 1t is unjust and
condemnable. How could such an
almost barbrous custom have come
into existence? II looks like rem
nart { I sntiquated custom, mere fol-
lowing of the doiDgs Of psst ages,
when woman snd her work were very
differently thought Of to what they are
to-day. Another very interesting por-
ton Of the report refers to the subject
Of strikes, aud there We find the fol-
lowing very important statement: I'm
very rare instances are ttrikes favored
or encouraged 10y the working people
Of the State; the Officers OF the trades
unions would always prefer u bave
their difficulties settled by other
means; the majority OF the strikes
that occurred in the State lat year
were occasioned by reductions OF
wages made by employers" The
commissioner goes on TO say that on
the occurrence Of depression, or APP
pearance Of depression, tome employ
ers, to increase their profits, reduce
wager, refusing any other explanation
than that they cannot pay more; II
pressed they protest that "they pro-
rose TO conduct their business their
own way" The report adds as to the
employers: "They Iepulse the COM
mittees Of the shop and the officers OF
the unioa which is involved in the re-
duction. They are responsible for the
strike which follows, for the evidence
sbundaptly proves that In most cases
the men are willing and ready to &C.
cept concessions" Yet these are the
men who call for police TO arrest
or soldiers to shoot down men who are
naturally indignant against such OPP
preston aad wrong. The report pro-
ceeds 10 say that the employers com
monty speak OF the tTaies unions with
contempt, which results In bad feeling
being engend cred, and adds: "A iui
explanation should always precede
reduction in wages, but seldom Is any
real or true explanation given. A no
tice is suddenly pottsd up, withou
warning, Of 10, 10 or % per cent. re
duction, and in some ms auces no ap
peal is heard. This barsh trtatmen
has, Of itself, ocCasioned great man!
strikes, ard oniy serves to still furthe
embitter and intensity the hard feel
ings which exist, and to delay an'
make the fiual settlement more dilh
cult" This is no one.sided statement
il comes from an unbiased officer c
the State who has every means OF as
Ger aiming the correctness oil the state
ments he makes and is responsible 10
them. The commissio finds gen
eral conviction among both workme
and employers that the remedy for Ia
evils that exist mutt be scaght In
system OF arbitration. Coming ftor
source 80 authoritative tn
statements! Of the New York con
missioner can neither be whietle
down nor denied. The situation
things between employers and en-
ployed is becoming a danger ID I'll
public welfare. II 1t continue an In
poriant portion OF our population wi
become habituated to riot and disc
der. aud effectual remedies should I
provided before what is now occ
sional shall become habitual, or la
and order must suffer. The Amer
can people rebelled against oppressic
from across the sea, and they will n
submit to it within their own border
and such oppression as this otici
report reveals must be etoppe
The facts revealed in the Ne
York ststl report it IA importa
the public should know, neither Il
workingwomen nor the Workingme
ought to be subjected to oppressiC
any more than permitted to break Il
law. The report also shows the Walt
OF such a State institution as Burei
Of Labor Statistics. The con6ictii
assertions OF employers and employ
, leave in doubt facts which the pub
ought to know for the conservation
law and order. Every State shou
have such bureau, aud il the state
things bttEeen employer aud e
ployed existing in New York is iou
to be general, Congress will know
what direction TO legislate. There