The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-24

Total............. 1850 s9,OjOlSO SlG9 s2,OOO9iS
You will observe that the totals for
the whole six districts are: Establish
ments, 1850; capital invested, S2,0O0,-
9l3, or less than $3.50 to each for whole
years work. Please note, too, that the
average number OF employees is but
three and one-tifth for each OF these
great manufacturing establishments that
are carried on throughout the six dis.
tricts OF these great American states.
men. In other words these figures in
dictate what the statistics when followed
out in their details show, that the so.
called manufacturing establishments OF
these six districts are nothing but black
smith shops, tailor shops, tin shops,
grist mills, saw mills etc, in which the
employees are paid On the old.time slave
basis. Mr.. Mills, the chairman OF this
distinguished committee, and the leader
OF his party in Congress, and rs such,
the head and front OF the measure, lives
in Navarro county, Tex. The census
tables show that in this county there
are but twenty one manufacture
ing establishments in which are EN-
ployGd seventy-eight hands, all told, or
IN average OF less than four hands for
each manufacturing establishment.
These same tables also show TINT the
total amount OF wages paid to these
seventy.eight employees in these twenty
one manufacturing establishments is but
$9,4S7 per annum, or an average OF but
Sl2l TO each hand for n whole years
work, or about thirty cents per day.
Such is the degrading standard OF com
pensation for wage workers which we
lind at the immediate home OF this
champion OF free trade. In short, there
is not n manufacturing establishment,
properly so-calied, in the whole Of these
districts, neither is there such thing
known there Us a fair, honest compen-
sation OF labor. There is not, in fact,
the one-tenth part as much real manu-
featuring, as much real employment OF
wage workers, us much skill in me-
chanicS, in the whole Of these six
districts us can be found in this
one city OF Richmond, and yet such are
the surroundings and influences from
which come the men who are the Presi-
dents chosen iendersin this great crusade
that he has inaugurated against the pros
perity OF this country. These figures
show that these men have no regard for
labor; that it is still with them but n
badge of servitude and that they repre-
sent constituencies which have taken no
part in the mighty industrial develop.
ment and.the grand business transact
ions Of this country. They proceeded
| like the Justice OF the Peace who refused
to hear the defendants testimony for
fear it might embarrass his judgment.
They decided to consider anything ex-
cept only the Presidents message.
Thousands OF manufacturers, farmers,
mechanics, wage-workers and WOOL
growers stood ready and anxious to give
them hearing. They did not want
knowledge; they wanted only free trade.
They had heard the President; they
could not and would not hear
ANYTHING else. The great question
OF wages was OF no moment as against
the purposes OF such n conspiracy.
Moreover, how could it be posi-
bic for men hailtug from such
sources of light and seats OF civilization
to be told anything anyhow. They
knew all, and from the beginning. No
mechanic or manufacturer could be
wiser than they. The measure they re-
ported to the House and succeeded in
passing is what might have been expect.
ed from such n source. It is grossly and
Intentionally sectional. 1t retains high
protective tariff duties on sugar and rice
they are Southern interests. It puts
wool, lumber, salt, tin plate and mum
Der OF other articles, which they imagine
can only affect the interests OF the North
on the free list, and reduces before the
line Of protection the duties on scores o
others. But this is not the end. 1t il
only the entering wedge. Except foj
the Republican Senate, it would havt
been law ere this. Should CLEVELAND