The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1891-04-01
WAGES IN UNITED STATES.

WAGES IN UNITED STATES.
They WouhF be Governed By Europe 10
There was No Protection - Americas
Wages Should be, Still HiGher-How to.
Bring It lAbOut.
There. r. no rsason whatever why
every man in the United States should
not be- willing To pay such rates Of
wages and such prices Of commodities
as shall naturally result from the free
and unrestricted Asmpetition Of all our
own people.
Whertrade between people is per-
fectly free, rs in this country. there
can not on the average and in the long
run. be higher wages paid to those en-
ployedin one industry than to those in
another. Wherever any one industry
gives indication that the compensation
paid to those engaged in il is on the
average greater than the compensation
paid in other occupations, the industry
paying the higher compensation is in
valled by men from the occupations
paying less, and -',''' wages constantly
tend to an e9ualiza, On. This invasion
may continue to a point at which, by
the overstocling of the labor marked
in the favored industry, wages may
finally decline to point lower than tho
average rates prevailing in other indus
tries
Under the democratic policy, II wa-ees
fall in Europe our industries stand in
danger of destruction. On the other
hand, while protesting to be the special
&c. 81 10 h.,
cratic party would set on foot policy
which would render impossible any in
crease in the wages of our own people.
A tariff wall should be built so high that
no possible reduction of wages in Europe
would enable the foreign manufacturer
to scale it. It should be so high TINT
absolutely nothing but the competition
of our own workmen with one another
would fix wages in this country. This
is competition enough among sS,oOooo
workers. The people in this country
are entitled to such wages as result from
the unrestricted competition Of their
own producers.
In the debate on the tariff in both
houses Of congress- long discussions were
had as to the exact amount Of du.y
which should be levied on imported
goods to make up for the difference b.,
tween wages in this country and wages
abroad. In these DISCUSSIONS the demo-
Gratis affected to admit that their object
was to keep the duty at such point as
would provide for that difference.
But such an admission presupposes
that wages in this country are now ex-
actly what they should be. This is de-
MED The proper rates Of wages for
American labor is that they should re-
suit from the unrestricted competition
of our own people; and the American
labOrer does not as yet get his full
share of the product Of his industry.
Wages are not yet what they will be.
The true wages that should obtain in
the United States will never be known
until. first, all our workmen shall be
protected absolutely against the squalid
ondly. until they shall receive the
equivalent of the value which they sew
orally contribute to the products of their
industry.
1t is sometimes charged as a reproach
against the protective policy that in
some special protected industry wages
tend to a minimum. Where this occurs
it is an unerring indication Of the vicious
distribution of industries. and one of
the most distressing consequences OF
their maladjustment. The remedy in
dicated is, not n reduction of the tariff,
but wider Investigation and distribu-
ton Of industries, so that all persons
who want employment may not be COM
PEELED to seek it in the same occupation.
1t is obvious that if industries be rel.
atively few, with large numbers Of men
seeking employment, those men must
d stribute themselves as best they may,
and without intelligent adjustment,
among the few industries in operation
If larger number enter into any spe-
cial pursuit than are needed to meet the
demands of production in that pursuit
wages will inevitably decline. The
function of n protective tariff, carried
to its farthest limit, is to obviate the
necessity for this. It's tendency is to
encourage the establishment of va
rietv of industries and SO to- increase
opportunities for employment, not in
one or two but in a great diversity OF
occupations.
No inference injurious to the tariff
can therefore he drawn from the fact
that at times in some occupations wages
tend to a minimum. This is rather D
sign that the tariff is too low to cncour-
age the establishment of a sufficient va
riety of industries to absorb all the la
Dor Of the community.
But whatever the condition of labor
in this country, it is infinitely superior
to the conditions of labor in the home
Of free trade:
How Prices OF Farm Products are Deter.
mined.
The size of the crop is the thing that
determines the size of the price. There