The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-20
in 1884 no one OF them was elected, and
he only by paltry 1000 majority. Is it
always to be New York;
BLAINE ON WAGES.

BLAINE ON WAGES.
Mr.. Blaine is everywhere repeating the
statement that protection insures the
working people high wages. This is
wholly untrue. Wages are affected only
by tho law Of supply and demand. No
manufactures ever went voluntarily to his
work people and said: "The tariff has
been increased this will increase my prof
its and | will increase your wages" On
the contrary they nowadays form trusts
to control the supply by which the wage
earners are put on half time, and
are compelled TO pay double for
the necessaries Of life controlled by
the Sugar and other Trusts. But Let us
look at some actual figures under this
head. The present duty on cloaks and
wOmon's garments is g. per cent, on other
clothing "a per cent This ought to insure
the cloakmakeB and makers Of women's
garments and other clothing in good
wages. But il does not Mrs Marion
nesscs before the recent Congressional
Commission, sitting at New York, testified
that she learned drcssmaking in England;
for years she was employed in London at
$500 year, with board and lodging. Re-
Gently in New York she was offered $50
cents day TO make children's
dresses" She says that she used
to get $40 to sl2 n week il New
York, but adds: "Wagcs have been re-
duced lower and lower each year until
now II seems almost impossible TO get
ones living" The stories of penury,
paupcrsm and want among the working
women Of Chicago related by The Times,
Of that city, and the reports now running
through The Ns,0 York World us to the
wrelchcd condition OF the working women
Of that city, support and sustain this state
mcnt Of Mrs. Preston. hut let MS take Il
look ai the figures of the iron and steel
trade aud see how the workers in those
metals fare. The census Of 1850 shows
that the product OF the iron ANA steel
mills in this country was valued at 1885,
600 OOO The amount paid tho hands
employed was S6},OOo,OOO or 10 per
cent. Of the value Of the product.
The average price OF steel rails in
1887 was S31lO ton in this country
and S20Gj in England, difference Of
Sl6.l5 ton, all Of which enormous
profit, the direct fruit OF the robhcr war
tarin, goes into the pockets Of lilnincs
friends, the Carncacs, who boast 81 an in.
come Of $4,000 per day. But this h., per.
haps, not sufficiently convincing Tor the
Protcctionisis. Some figures compiled 10y
The Mrdign Mar, which cover the whole
field Of manufactures, may bc. These
show that in 1850 the 253, so manufacture.
ing establishments q the United States,
representing capital Of S2,7Oo, 223, 500
nndcmploying ., 73s, $50 hands, paid S0i7,
9l0GT In wages and S3,&I, 3l0,O.0
for materials, aud turned out total
product valued at $500, CG7. 700. The
wages paid. ii will DO seen, repro.
sontcd IA per cent Of the value Of
the products. and one hand wa employed
Tor every 1900 invested. Doluc,iug tho
cost OF materials plus tao amount paid in
wages from the value OF the products, the
munidccnt sum Of II ,027, losOO3 was left
In tho hands Of the manufacturers. or ID
per cent upon the amount oi capital IN
vested. In brief, cnch hand worked q
year and earned s3lS. Elrh $1,000 In.
vested earned In the same time $3.50.