New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-20
WAGES IND THE TARIFE-XIL

The most foolish Of all arguments against the
protective policy is that 1t cannot help wage
carriers " because the wages of men in me-
chanical trades, who are not protected at all,
have advanced about as much as the wages in
protected manufactures" Those who reason
thus unless they are Intentionally deceiving,
show that they have not comprehended the
first principles of the Protective policy, The
primary aim of that policy is to create larger
demand for all labor and a larger home market
| for all products, by promoting the establish
ment of new industries and the growth of in
| dustries which without it could not thrive.
This it has done; in 1860. the last year of a
Democratic revenue tariff there were 1,311,-
246 persons employed in manufacturing me-
chanica and mining occupations, according 10
the census for the tables headed manufact-
ures'' then included mechanics. miners and
quarrymen. In 1880. the tables of manufact-
ures, mining and quarrying account for 2 992,-
1913 workers. The number was about four
persons for every 100 Of the population in
1860, and about six persons for every 100 OF
the population in 1880 In addition to the
gain resulting from increase in population,
tries, due to the National policy.
The first effect is that for every 100 farm
workers there were about 2 persons engaged
in manufacturing and mining in 1860. but in
1880 about 0 persons for every 90 farmers.
Thus was created double home demand for
food, as respects persons employed in these in
dustries, and far more than double demand
for materials of farm production. In this way,
wages of farm labor were raised in spite of an
enormous immigration.
The workers in new manufacturing estab
lishments need houses. furniture. and all the
products of mechanical works. For every me-
chanic in 1860 there were about two persons
engaged in manufacturing and mining in $50
for every mechanic there were at least three
such persons demanding his services. But
that is not all vast number of the mechanics
themselves found employment in the new
manufacturing works. so that the increased
demand for other mechanical work fell to
smaller part of the whole number. Thus the
demand for mechanical labor not in manufact-
ures and mining was more than doubled and
the wages of mechanics were thus advanced.
Finally, the development of manufactures
and of mining employed 1 700, 900 persons who
were not so employed in 1860, and who, but
for that development, must have sought work
in mechanical trades or in farming. Had half
Of them gone into farming, increasing by more
than tenth the number of farm workers,
must not thai have depressed the wages of
farm labor? Had the other half gone into
mechanical trades, increasing by so per cent
the number of mechanics, must not the de-
preston in wages of such labor have been
severe?
Thus it is that the increased demand and in
creased wages for labor in one department have
affected with incalculabe blessing labor in
every other department Of industry. And so
free-trade policy, by closing thousands of
factories, mills and mines, which protection has
opened, and turning out of employment work.
ers numbering million or more, compelling
them to seek work in farming or in mechanical
trades, must cause frightful depression in
the wages of all labor.
Since 1860, no less than 100000 persons
have arrived in this country from abroad-more
than 3Oper cent of the entire population when
the protective tariff was adopted in 1861.
Most of these immigrants are of the working
age. Hence it is safe to say that the number
Of workers thus added has been fully equal to
half the working population of the country in
1860. This addition has come besides all the
natural growth Of population. is there any
country on earth which could have borne
within so short a period an addition of
100000 persons, mostly workers, besides
the natural growth of population, without
resulting depression in wages? Yet in this
country wages have not fallen but in spite of
this vast increase in the s;U ply of labor have
risen more than in any other country.
Surely so great a migration of workers would
have produced entirely different results but for
the upbuildng of new industries under pro-
lection. Great Britain has been losing wage
earners by emigration at the rate of quarter
of a million yearly That loss of labor has made
ii possible for manufacturing wages there to
advance 6 per cent in twenty years. But this
country has been gaining wage earners by i'm
migration at the rate Of half a million yearly,
and yet manufacturing wages here have ar
vanced 10 per cent in twenty years. Millions
Of farmers have gone from Great Britain. and
yet farm wages have risen only TO per cent
in ten years. Millions have come TO this
country who have found employment upon
farms or have opened new farms for them
selves, and yet the wages Of farm labor have
risen lS per cent. Thus il has come to pass
that the wages in manufacturing and mining
labor average 90 per cent higher than in Great
Britain, and exceed by much greater ratio
as has been shown. the wages in Germany or