The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-09-18
Plea For Higher Wages.

also differ in the amount of work they can
do, some being physically able to do much
more than others; hence no definite sum-
can be agreed on as an equitable compensa-
ton for them as a class. This article refers
to the subject as it presents itself in st.
Paul. MINI. 1t will be generally admitted
that an able-bodie industrious man should
be paid for his labor sum large enough to
enable him to feed and clOthe himself and
family and leave small margin to lay
aside every year to meet his and their
wants when the infirmitieS of age deprive
him of the ability to perform manual labor.
A few evenings since overlook three labor
ing men on their way home from a days
toll. They seemed tired and worn out by
their days work and dragged their feet
after them as if it was a tiresome labor to
move along. Their clothes had been pieced
and patched so numerOusly that it would
have been difficult to determine the mate
rial and color of the original suit. Entering
into conversation with them learned that
they were married men. Two OF them had,
four children each, while the third boosted
of family composed of himself wife and
six children. In reply to my inquiry l
learned that each one Of these labOrers re-
ceived $1.5O day. l asked them in re-
gard to the rent they were compelled to pay
and one of them said: by doubling up
with other families we get our rent at 81 .
month EACH" The reader can imagine the
home of these people, crowded together in
one or two rooms. where cooking, washing
and sleeping must necessarily be done. Is
it wonder that so many children die when
we remember that the poor little things are
deprived of fresh air and are compelled to,
breathe the impure atmosphere of these
wretched tenementS? Having some knOwl-
edge of the cost of economical living l en-
tered into calculation as follows: A man.,
wife and four children will require the fol-
lowing supplies. each and every month. 1t
will be seen that the bill of fare l provide
for these laboring families embraces no
luxuries and the quantities are limited so
that there will not be a surplus to be wasted.
but every morsel will be consumed, and
even then the supply will be scant indeed:
Flour 81 coffee, 81; sugar, 6Ocents. 50. 60
Meat IS; vegetables. 50. Observation-Disclosures. 700
Eggs, butter and milk Observation-Disclosures. 600
Soap. 80 cents: OIL Is cents; wood, $6...... 7.05
Molasses pepper, salt and vinegar. 80
Rent. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 400
Total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $2S.45
Labor. rs days at 81. so Observation-Disclosures. $500
Deduct living expenses ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 2s.45
Amount over expenses. ...$IO.55
1t will thus be seen that only S1O55 will
be left to the hard wOrkingman with which
to purchase clothing for his family and to
meet all other bills, such as medicines and
medical attendance. If the laborer is sick,
or the weather is such that he cannot work,
the amount of $50 will be diminished by
$1.5O every day of sickness or of unfavora-
BILE weather. asked these men if they or
their families attended church or Sabbath
school and the reply was, "Never. We do
not have clothes good enough to wear to
church and we are ashamed to send our
children to Sabbath school in the scanty
clothing with which we can supply Them"
This offers an inviting field for the earnest
worker who will take the Gospel to these
people, and will not God hold us account
able should we continue to neglect the
great work that He has placed at our very
doors? With the facts as stated can any
one believe that these ''hOrny- handed sons
of toil'' receive a fair compensation for
their labor? Is it not patent to the mind of
every reasonable man that the wages are
not sufficient? A young man without
family dependent upon him might manage
to get along with S1.5o day. But he could
not save enough in an ordinary lifetime to
buy himself wedding suit and the neces-
sary household and kitchen furniture to en-
able him to set up for himself. The young
men of the country should be encouraged to-
enter upon married life, and we should not
place before them insurmountable obstacles
to prevent them from ever reaching finan-
cal status that would justify it. If men
were properly compensated for their labor
there would be less number of young
women throughout the country working for
their own living. There would be more
marriages. more happy wives and more
happy homes. There would be fewer dis
sipated men and fewer young men to pass
their evenings in the saloons and gambling
hOuses.-Gen. r. w. johnson. in the Illus
trated Christian Weekly of New York.
Rochester MINI Lie