San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-02-06
AGENTS FOR THE LIGHT
MONDAY, FEBRUARY, 6, 1888.
DON'T WANT THE OLD TIMES.

WAN VII
So much has been sung, and said, and
written and detained concerning the
good old times OF the fathers that it is
refreshing to find man OF the people
telling the bald-headed truth concerning
this matter and speaking frankly and In
telligently concerning the situation half
q century ago as compared with this
present. The effort is continually made
by those who attempt to catch tue ear
OF wOrkingmen and play upon their feel
ings for personal ends or popular effects,
to decry the present condition OF labor
and wages, and by comparison with for
mer conditions demonstrate that the la
borer OF today ia not so advantage
ously placed as was his predecessor OF
forty or fifty years ago. At the recent
semi-centennial of Detroit, James Bart
lett, an old resident of that city, an in
telligent working man, a Massachusetts
maohinist Of experience and recognized
skill before coming to Michigan, made
an address which was published at the
time and which gives Mr.. Bartletrs
views OF the situation as coming within
the range Of his own experience, His
personal reoollectlons were carried back
to 1912 when he was q workman in a
Lowell, Mass. machine shop, which was
turning out cotton machinery. Referring
to that shop and the condition of work.
ingmen then and now, Mr.. Bartlett
said:
"The wages OF a machinist in this
shop were 81 to 81 % q day; one nabob
OF q pattern maker received the sum OF
$l50. They went to work at o'clock
in the morning and worked until 1880
night, with an hour for breakfast and
three-qusrters for dinner. 1t was sever
al years before we obtained eleven
hours day. 1t has now been ten hours
day for twenty-five years or more. and
we grumble at that, though we may get
more than twice the wages we did
forty years ago, and we are hoping to
get the same or higher pay for working
eight hours. | know the condition OF
the machinist Is better then when | first
joined the guild. He has better pay,
better houses, better education, better
living: and l hope he will keep on i'm
proving for the next fifty years. Large
machine shops were started before 1886
One In Lowell employed over 1000 men
on cotton machinery. Now the country
is dotted with them. For my part, |
don't want any more of the good old
times. The present time lie the
beet we have ever had, though
i hope not the best we shall
ever see. In fifty years we have reduced
our hours OF labor from fourteen to eight
hours day, our wages are doubled, snC
the necessities OF life are much cheaper
Ia barrel OF salt, which cost $3.50 year,
ago, has been sold In Michigan for II
cents). The great curse of drunkenness
is very much diminished. We live II
better houses, better warmed ana light
ed, and We are better clothed; higl
school education Is In the reach OF ever
child; books are free TO all; the poores
laborer who meets with an accident il
our streets will receive surgical aid tina
no king could purchase fifty years ago
Onr great railroads distribute the fruit
of labor SO that famines are impossible
Beef killed on the prairie is sent all owe
the country, and supplies the market
OF Europe. Fish from the salt seas an
IOm OuI Bt6hb ihkeS are eaten IIeen a.
over the continent, and tropical fruit
are peddled round all our streets"
These words are worth weighing care
fully and considering seriously. or tn
general facts spoken OF there can be n
doubt. The danger of change lies in tn
dissatisfaction Of workingmen wit
economic conditions which cannot b
lightly changed, and in the greed of car
ital which employs large bodies Of VI
skilled labor. The remedy for this Ia
ter lies wholly In legislation. A legi
lation so restricting immigration an
Furnishing the importation Of foreig
labor by contractors and mill and mir
owners, that the Law Of supply and d.
msnd will compel the employers Of labt
to pay fair prices for the unskilled Sc
vice rendered. The signs OF the tim,
give hopeful promise that this resu
will be reached at no distant day ar
the industrial balances restored, whit
have been disturbed by the volume
immigration from abroad.