San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-10-16
EQUALIZATION of Wages.
From the Boston Commercial Bulletin.

EQUALIZATION or wages
From the Boston Commercial Bulletin.
The chronic agitation among opera
tives in shoe shops has lat ely taken
shape i'm the movement by the Boot
and Shoe Makers International Union
to secure the establishment OF un-
form wage list throughout New Eng
land. Agitation Is the hand maid OF
progress, to be sure, but it is to be re-
greGted that III this instance it undei-
takes such an impractical object. The
equalization Of wages when other con-
ditions are unequal is an impossible
ity. There would seem no reason why
the operatives in shoe factories in a
certain city or district should not re-
ceive equal wages. Yet we are in
formed that such Is not the case,
some manufacturers paying more for
certain kinds of work and less for
others than their neighbors. If the
organization of the shoe workers is
not able to secure uniformity under
even conditions in q limited field,
how can it be accomplished over a
large territory under dissimilar con-
ditions? True, among the lasters,
small and close organization, unifor-
nifty of wages is practically attained.
This is due to the special nature o t
the work and to the work tags in the
factory being open to observation,
there being generally in each shop
one who is delegated to receive dues
for the union.
The efforts of the labor Organiza-
tons have apparently been conferred
to great extent on Lynn, and prices
have been forced up there above the
parity of many other places. As.an
illustration, the strike of the cutters
at North Adams was to obtain Soc
for what the Lynn manufacturer pays
S1.3O. The idea of the labor leaders
undoubtedly was, and is, to bring the
level of wages in other towns up near
to the Lynn standard, but this has
not been done. The consequence has
been to force manufacturers out OF
that city, causing them to erect facto-
ries in the country towns of Maine
and New Hampshire especially. The
same thing to q lesser degree Is told
of other Massachusetts, shoe centers,
where labor has been forced so high
as to make it impossible for the local
manufacturer to compete successfully
WIN OGn6r LOCALITIES.
The lower rate wages in the country
is the chief compensation to the man
ufacturer for the added expense O.
conducting his business at distance.
The cost of overseeing the business is
greater, and it is not so we'll under
his control. The chances of poor
work are larger. He must pay more
for superinteudence, and freights are
against him. Republication of wages
was established, it would be for the
interest of the manufacturer to con-
centrate his business in the great
shoe centers, to the disadvantage of
the country operative, who would
either be obliged to leave his home or
lose his occupation.
The lesser rate of wages in the
country involves no hardship. The
cost of living is less and the incentive
to spend is not so great. The estab-
fishing of factories in the country af-
fords the sons and daughters of the
farmers an opportunity to earn money
at home, which they could not other
wise do. They know that the effect
of equalization of wages would be to
deprive them of this employment and
they are not likely to take action
which will deprive themselves of the
benefits they enjoy. The union pro-
poses q conference of manufacturers
and operatives to take measures to Sc
cure its object. 1t is not probable
that it can be brought about and I'M
der the conditions outlined above
could have no result.
The higher the scale Of wages of
the American workman the better for
the country at large and the COM
munity in which he lives. All the
legitimate efforts to raise the standard
are commendable, but to succeed,
circumstances and conditions must
be considered, otherwise the move
ment will react disastrously to all
concerned.
OnlySoluton OF theLiouorQuestion
Mount Vernon Republican