The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1889-08-14
AT HOME AND ABROAD.


rFrom the Chicago Journal
The question Of difference between
wages in England and in the United
States is the subject for renewed agi-
tation. But this time the agitation
is in England, not in the United
States. We have no political cam
paign now pending in this country to
create disturbance or the subject. But
in England there is n movement hos
tile to free trade, and those engaged in
the effort TO establish system some
thing like protection as il exists in
this country are contrasting rates of
American wages with the wages paid
in various English industries. A recent
address by II. j. Pettifer, Secretary of
labor committee Of the English Fair
Trade League, shows the progress
that public sentiment is making in that
country. Mr.. Pettifer has made re-
peated visits to the United States for
the purpose of procuring information
as to labor questions, and he is remark
ably well equipped with facts and ar
guments based on his American OBJ
servations.
The story is the same, whether told
by anti-free-traders in England or in
the United States. Mr.. Pettifer Wis
tied thirty leading manufacturing
towns, and says the conspicuous fact
which he learned beyond question was
that the working classes of America
are better housed, better fed, and bet
ter clothed than the working classes
of any other country ON the face of the
earth, and that protection pure and
simple has produced that result. An
opinion of this kind, coming from an
English workingman, is worth all the
mere political theories in creation.
In regard to wages, it appears that
in the United States operatives in cot
ton mills, including men. women, and
children, earn an average of 81 q week,
while in England they earn $3.50 a
week In WOODEN mills American
wages are 81 and English wages $3.50.
Other instances are given, the total
average OF which makes American
wages over double the amount of
English wages.
In regard to the cost of family sup
plies in these two countries Mr.. Petit
fer should tell his own story, and here
it is:
But. then. the actual figures OF wages are
no test at all; what you want is 10 know
what YOU are going 10 buy with the wages.
because IL man gets double wages and
takes it all 10 keep himself alive. ii is no
use having them. will tell you exactly
how they stand. l will give YOU what IL
costs man to live. not in New York. but
all through the country at large. A SOW
ercign or dollar is bound TO buy n little bit
more food there than here because III food
is not cheaper there than here. how can
they afford 10 send it here and sell Ii
cheaper than We can? A sovereign will
buy more -four, more meat more butter.
moro coffee. ten. and lamp-oil there than
here. will buy rs much cotton sheeting.
shifting. as much print. calico. and boots
as here. There is n wonderful thing about
those boots. The pair have on at present
cost S3-12 shilings and pence-in Bos-
ton, America, not in a little shop, but at
the ordinary. good shop. The average
wages in my trade-silversmith and electro
plate worker-in America is So u dav-12
shillings Gpence-and in London 6 shillings,
so IL takes one days wages TO buy my boots
in America. and two days wages in Lon
don. Which country is tho cheapest and
which is the dearest in that particular case?
OF course, the rule as to price does
not follow all through the list. House
rent is cheaper in England than here
but the family of a laboring man there
occupies less room. Wooden goods.
sugar and salt are cheaper in England
than here; but Judging from the facts
produced by this intelligent laboring
man it is evident that the cost of liv-
ing is less here than there. On the
other hand, the American laboring
classes have better schools. newspa-
pers and literature, better society,
better morals, better chances to rise in
life and better homes, with all that
the best home influence produces.
Free trade in England is probably
in many ways beneficial to this coun-
try. There is no reason why Ameri-
cans should wish England TO abandon
the system. But when we have En-
glish testimony to the fact that the
American protective system is the
best it is valuable aud instructive, and
ought to be placed before every Ameri-
can reader.