Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-07-27
The High Wages are Paid by the
Earmaru

The High Wages are Paid by the |
Farmers.
The burden OF all protection arguments,
the solar center around which they all re-
volve, is the question Of wages. The high
er wages in this country are parNded with
tiresome monotony as both vindicating
and jusiifying not only tariff but he
tariff. The tariff is the parent OF high
wages upon il aud IL alone rests the
grand and humanitarian work of "crown-
ing with dignity and inspiring with hope"
all our wage workers. Comparative lisls
OF wages paid in this and other countries
are SYSTEMATICALLY paraded as incontroverti-
ble proof Of the correctness aud value of
our present tariff system.
Tariff reformers deny the foregoing
propositions aud cite arguments and sta
tistcs, Use logic and reason in their ,lrni-
ais. But, for the purpose Of this article,
we will admit the truth oi the predictions
ist claim Wages In the skilled industries
-nulhing ia ever SAID about farm or other
laburers-aic high aud the tariff makes
them so. Now, let us analyze the claim
aud see where II logically leads us.
II we pay higher wages TO our skilled
artisans then the products OF their labor
must be correspondingly high. II this
proposition is denied. then the necessity
oil protection il denied. 1t is universally
admitied-becouse 1t is true down to m in
uiest detail that every dollar paid for art
icles bought for use or consumption by our
people is ultimately paid for by tillers ol
the soil. Agriculture is our basis interest
the only way In all the world 10 obtain
something for nothing" is by the tilloge
OF mother earth. Now, does ii not logically
follow that the sustaining of the claimed
higl, wages and the consequent enhanced
cost OF their products rest upon aud are
sustained by agriculture alone?
Assuming the correctness of the reason
ing so far, 1t isnext in order to inquire into
the ability of agriculturists 10 sustain the
bnrden Of high.priced skilled labor. II
the wages in agricultural pursuits are pro
ed lnborers; If the prices of agricultural
products are corrcspondingly as high as the
prices of the products of skilled labor; II
the prices of agricultural products are Ms
distmctively American institutions as are
our high wages; If while showing that we
pay the highest wages in the world we can
also show that our Farmers get the highest
prices in the world for their products, then
our system is all right, prosperity is uni
versal and properly diversified, and none
but demagogues and villins would attempt
to change the system or disturb the stua-
tion.
1t would have been most interesting M
Observation-Disclosures would have been COM
mendable fairness about TIT side by sid,
with the comparative tables of wages il
this country and in England, France nnt
Germany, protectionIsts had exhibited
comparative prices of lirm products il
The same countries. 1ftbe prices of til,
latter were above those ol Europe "a ar,
the prices Of labor, they would have afford
ed an argument before which opposition
would have been annihilated that sucl
exhibit was not made ia the best possible
evidence that 1t would not have afforded
the argument suggested. Proiectionis
never weary OF talking about our magnif.
cent foreign export trade, 80 per cent o
which il agricultural products. Is an,
one foolish enough 10 believe that Europ,
buys all these farm products from us a
higher prices than they can get them fol
body knoirs that our exports are sold q
prices made by the worlds demand, an,
that such exports make the prices of al
consumed at home. Now. here is submit.
ted plain, business proposition TO tn
farmers of the United States. You ar
sustaining the highest scales of wages
outside of your own avocstion-in TN
world you are doing it by raising pro
duce at the worlds price, less the cost 9
getting it to the worlds markets; or, I,
simplify the proposition, you are sustain.
ing the highest wages in the world by rails
ing and selling the cheapest farm product
in the world. Can yon afford il? AR
you satisfied with such II condition?
This IS not question of partisan poll
tics, il should not be decided by partisan
prejudice, hut from the standpoint OF bust
ness, or selfish interest. Nor does
change in the situation necessarily invulv,
free trade. That is, there is abundant
room TO radically change existing cnndi-
lions, 10 the important and lasting adyan-
tage OF agriculture, and yet stop very iol
short OF free lrade-a system. however
which no one is conIending for.
The object Of the foregoing is to call the
attention Of farmers TO the relation Of on
boosted system OF highly paid skilled labo
10 their own condition, and means of sus-
tanning the system 10 ask them # tn,
fact OF high wages-if II is fnct-is IL
their advantage. Is il just, il il safe 10 in,
definitely subject our basis industry 10 thC
strain OF present conditions? Is there
com pensating advantage TO farmers In ou
high wages, and what is there in tn,
claimed lact Of high wages in skilled in
dusIries that should induce farmers I,
hope Tor or work for the perpetualion oi
our present system in its entirety? Will
nntaxing whiskey and tobacco, for instance G
though it mny reduce the government :,
revenue thirty Of forty millions, he even ,
short step towards solving The problem p
Farm, Stock and Home.
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