Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-14
THE CASE OF THE sHoEMagERs.

The impression prevails at the East that
Chinese skilled laborers are better, or as
good, workmen than white operatives in
like trades. Some time ago we published
an extended report from lutte works com
pany at Oakland disproying this belief, so
far as work in that factory was concerned.
ltwas there found that the better product Of
the labor of the white workman more than
compensated for the increased cost of his
employment. The State Labor Commits
sioner is now engaged in an investigation
upon the same plane, and is taking the
testimony of competent witnesses, under
oath, ON this important point. The in
dustry he is now looking into, is that of
shoemaking. One of the first witnesses
examined was a dealer who has been in
the business in San Francisco for nine
years. Heswore that the white operatives
In the shoe business in that city are but
1000 as against 5000 Chinese workmeu.
That the Chinese workers are steadily in
creaslng in number, and the possibility of
white apprentices gaining places, or eniov-
ing opportunities to learn the trade are as
steadily narrowing. A good white worker
at the trade should earn $2l week. but
he could not possibly live on the ten cents
a day that sutfices for the needs of the
Chlnese operative. He pointed out also
that the White workman does one-third
more work than the Chinaman. and that
the product of his labor is of much bet
ter quality. The witness exclaimed at this
point, There is no comparison between
the work The white work is very much
superior" This sworn statement would
scarcely be made were it not accurate. since
1t is so easy TO controvert it, if exagper-
ated. Another manufacturer. who has
been in the business twenty years, testified
that he employs from IS to 100 hands the
year round, and no Chinese are among them.
But he complained bitterly of the competi-
ton oftheChinese factories, with their cheap
labor. 1t forces him to the figure of Sl4 a
week tor his workmen, though he is anx-
lous to pay more. The Superintendent Of
shoe factory testified also, that in his
place he has both white and Chinese opera-
tives; that the latter earn s. a week. and
the former SIS, and that the white men do
one-third more and a great deal better
work-indeed, the Chinese, he said. are
not ut for fine work
There Was other similar testimony. but
enough has been quoted TO emphasize the
statement that in the shoemaking line the
Chinese are absorbing the business, and
that they cannot, and do not, furnish as
good quality of product as the white
laborers in this industry. 1t was agreed
by all the witnesses that the reintroduc-
ton of white labor in the business is most
desirable, and would result in a better
quality of goods being served to the con-
sumers; but they also agreed that any sud
den discharge Of the Chinese operatives
would result in furnishing the nanufaet-
urers, because the white operatives are not
now on the coast to supply their places.
BY their low wages and their methods of
living, the Chinese have driven them out.
For every such worker kept ont of the
State, California has lost home and cit
izen, an influence that would contribute to
the material prosperity of the State, and
the maintenance of American institutions.
That is the conclusion deducible from the