Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-09-18
Protection And The Laborilg
Classes.
Kansas City Journal.

Kansas City Journal
Mr.. Ralph Beaumont, q leading Knight
Of Labor, made speech the other night
at Portland, Me-, in the course OF which
he took occasion to refer to that portion
Of Mr.. Blaine's speech in which reference
was made to the labor question and pro-
lection. Mr.. Beaumont is reported to
have said that it was under protection
that the labor trouble had been growing
worse, and that the laboring Glasses would
have to have something different from
protection before supporting Mr.. Blaine.
It is rather difficult to understand, in
view Of well established facts, how Ia
boring man, or one speaking in behalf Of
their interests, can give utterance to such
q sentiment as the above. It is, therefor,
only reasonable to suppose that either Mr..
Beaumont has not given the subject Of
protection, in reference to its effect upon
the condition of working men in this
country, very much study, or that regard
less of their interests, he is for some cause
seeking to arraign them against the party
that favors the doctrine OF protection.
HMr. Beaumont had given the subject
any consideration be would have found
that under the protective system the pur-
chasing power of wages in this country
has steadily advanced That is, they
have advanced relatively more than have
the commodities of life.
Before Mr.. Beaumont declared protec-
ton an evil to the worhngman he should
have examined the wages which working
men receive in the country under pro-
tective tariff, and those received in the
leading free trade nations Of the globe.
He would have found some very sug-
gestive figures, which might have mndi-
fed his opinion of the system of protec-
ton.
He would have found, for instance, that
the average weekly wages paid black
smiths in Great Britain in 1884 amounted
to $7.38, while in New York they
amounted to S13 and in Chicago SIS. The
average weekly wages paid bricklayers in
Great Britain amounted to $7.55, in New
York $40 and in Chicago 1914. Carpen-
tiers and joiners received in Great
Britain $1.66, in New York $14, and in
Chicago $3.50; coopers received in
Great Britain $3.50, in New York $12,
and in Chicago $12. Drivers and dray-
men in England received 1888, in New
York $40, and in Chicago $12. Laborers,
porters, etc., received in Great Britain
$47O, in New York SO, and in Chicago
$1O.5O. Plasterers in Great Britain 81. 80,
in New York $18, and in Chicago $27.
Plumbers in Great Britain $3.50, in New
York $16, and in Chicago $3.50. Print
ers in Great Britain $7.23, in New York
&13, and in Chicago $18. The average
wages of sixteen leading trades in Great
Britain amounted to $6.75, and in Chic
ago $15.68.
If this is not eloquent enough testi-
mony to convince Mr.. Beaumont that
protection is after all pretty good thing
for the workingmen of this country, then
it is clear that Mr.. Beaumont is not sus-
ceptible to the irresistible logic of facts.
Very few people will be found to accuse
Mr.. Blaine of venturing an opinion upon
subject with which he is not well &C
quainted, but it is very evident that the
same cannot be said of Mr.. Beaumont.