Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-08-10
FACTS FOR W0kKINGMEN.
How an English WoTi1tn gman
Lives and What i Costs.

The Providence Or u DiSpatch
says. LAST October Tie Chase Last
ing Machine company sent O. +.
Lewis abroad TO introduce It's ma
chine, and A Z Strickler, who is
well Known in shoe manufacturing
circles, both in this city aud Worces-
ter, accompanied him as mechanic.
The right to n H. and sell the ma
chinc was sold To an English compa-
nv, and Mr.. Srickier was engaged to
run and help INTRODUCES it. He is all
American and a strong Democlaf,
and when he went abroad was also
rabid free trader. But soon after get
ting his family over there he gave in
timations Of wayering on the tariff
question.
G. N. Prouty, Of Spencer, suggest
ed TO Mr.. Lewis that lie write to
Mr.. StricRler and ask him fer an un-
biased, honest opinion Oh the coudi-
tion Of the Workingmen there and
here. This was at the time Con-
gressman Russell made his assault
On Worcester 5 shoe industry. TIE
reply to Mr.. Lewis letter is so good
We give the whole Of it:
LETTER OF AN AMERICAN MECHANIC
FROM ENGLAND.
When | left Boston | was radical
free trader, but ! now see how easy
it is TO be msled by discussing
question that We really know nothing
about, simply receiving our Impress
ions from newspapers that represent
our political party.
| can now see how easily the
Ame, lean workingman can be misled
into voting for 8 measure that simply
means ruin to his employer and con-
sevuently to himself | know he
votes thus nine times out OF ten. be-
cause he let's political feelings over
come his reasoning power. He does
not listen to both sides and calmly
consider what is best for him and
those dependent upon him.
DANGER MENACING THE AMERICA N
WoRKINGMkN.
The great struggle now going on
in America between free trade and
protection is of-the most vital impor
tauce 70 the American wO'kingman,
and as am one OF them who must
earn living ald support my family,
am deeply Interested. | ain having
my eyes opened 70 the dangers we
workingmen have before Us. | can
conceive Of no create calamity hap
peniag to Us than the adoption of free
trade in America In means that the
workingmal in America has got to
come to the level of the European
workingman and lose the many com.
forts which lie now enjoys. The
American is the best dressed. best fed
and best educated, the king Of all
woTkiDgmen at present. Aii these
benefits he would lose under free
trade
HE Is A DEMOCRAT BUT WILL VOTE
FOR THE REPUBLICAN TICKET.
wish | could meet every work
ingman in America and tell nim all
that | know, and have seen, and let
him choose between the mode o. lily.
ing here under free trade and the
way he lives in protected America. l
have no hesitation in saying that
could | do this not one of them would
vote for free trade.
This must sound very strange to
you, especially us it come5 from one
whom you have known as most
radical Democrat aud free trader |
am a Democrat still, but not tariff
reformer or free trader. Were it
necessary would vote for the most
radical and rabid Republican, as long
as be was no free trader. There is
no measure which would injure me or
my fellow workingmen as msch as
free trade Any other could be re-
pealed without loss of independence,
but in my opinion it would take fifty
years to recover lost ground if free
trade were voted.
WHAT TIE ENGLISH woRKINGMAN
EARNS EACH WEEK
will now give you an idea OF how
the average w0rkingman lives here.
A skilled man receives about % shill-
ings week in all the that have
been in, namely: Manchester, Old
ham, Leicester. Warrington, Bir-
mingham and Stafford. These are all
large manufacturing places of from
$4,000 to 1000 inhabitants. Ma
sons, bricklayers, carpenters, cabinet
makers and upholsterers average
from 80 to 80 shillings a week, but it
must be borne in mind that as ap-
prentices they have to pay u premium
of from $40 to 1913 to learn the trade
and this takes from five to seven
years. They frequently receive no
pay for the first year, and only iiye
sbillings a week for the second, with
an increase Of from one TO two shill-
iDgs week each year thereafter.
HOW THE ENGLIsHMAN LIVES
Now, as to the manner of living,
they live alike in all the places l have
been in. Their houses have from four
to six, perhaps seven rooms, and in
many cases there are two families to
"a house, each family having from
to 7 children. There is no parlor
such as the American workingman
has. Only few have room here,
which may contain piece of oilcloth
or home made rag-mat, with few
wooden bottom chairs, and small,
cheap looking. glass. which is their
best room The greater number have
no room to spare, ali the children
sleeping in one room, while the
Youngest sleeps with the parents
Cooking is but little trouble, as no
baking is done. All buy bakers
bread, Tney could not bake at home
if they wanted 10, as their ranges are
not adapted TO It. Besides, Goa costs
money, They Use about ll2 pounds
u week on an average, ald This costs
them about 30 cents | assure you
they don't sweat in their hGuscs in
wittsr, ag over 60 per cent VI the
| naot r,aa rg tho chimney