St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-25
WHAT MAKES WAGES HIGH.

WHAT MAKES; WAGES HIGH.
Referring to Mr.. MERRIAM'S paper in
the North American Review in more
serious vein, the GLOBE really wonders
whether the governor Is sincere in his
belief that protective tariff increases
the wages of the employed. He says,
to be sure, that this is the great argu-
ment for protection, and that but for it
the Democratic doctrine of lower duties
wonld have much to commend it. A
good many other writer's and speakers
have expressed similar opinions before,
but they have not in general had his
breadth or fairness CT intellect, and it
would be at once interesting and valu-
able If, with his power and opportunities
for observation, he would state openly
and clearly why he thinks this is true,
if it is his honest conviction.
We may admit that wages are higher
in the United States in many lines of
industry than they are in most European
countries. Statistics can be made to
prove almost anything. but they prob
ably prove this with reasonable trust
worthinesS. We may also admit, be-
cause it is a fact, that the United States
has protective tariff system of an elab-
orateness, compleXity and oppressive
ness such as no European nation toler-
ateS. But is it logical to infer from this
that the difference in taxes makes the
difference in wages? A more super
fetal thinker than Mr.. MERRIAM might
answer yes. But statistics also prove
that wages are higher in England, in
most lines of industry, than they are in
France or i'll Germany or in Italy, or,
for that matter, in any of the other
European states. 1t is fact, too, that
England is the one absolutely free trade
country of the civilized world. Is it
not. therefore, fair Inference that high
wages in England are the direct result
OF its having no protective tariff? Surely
the friends of free trade might argue
this way as plausibly as the friends of
protection do in the other case. Ii the
fact that the United States has pro-
tective tariff and England has none
States are due to the protective tariff.
then also the fact that England has no
protective tariff and Germany has one
shows that high wages in England are
due to free trade.
But the truth Is that taxes have moth
ing to do with wages. Mr.. MERRIAM
did not raise the salary of single en-
ploye when the MCKINLEY bill went
into effect, nor is there laboring man
In the state of Minnesota who can say
that his earnings were increased a
penny per day because the price of COM
moditles was advanced by the measure
The scale of wages is fixed by good
many things. The average English
workman gets more pay than the ave-
rage French workman for one reason,
because his work is more efficient. The
average American workman gets more
pay that the average English workman
because he is more efficient, because
he has few competitors. and because
it costs more to live here than
in England. But the great eXplana-
tion'of larger compensation in England
and America for labor is to be found in.
the character and intelligence of the
English and American workingmen.
American carpenters and masons earn
big pay today, but they do not earn it
| OH account of any tariff law. They get
it because they have had the brains and
the courage to organize. and to demand
their just share of the profits of any en-
terprise in which they may be- hired.
They have been educated in an atmos-
phere of freedom and self government.
They know how to combine for the COM
mon good. They do not cringe before
their employers, nor tremble at the
thought of losing their jobs lest they
starve. They have exacted fair pay by
asking for it. And thus it is in every
other line. The sluggard aud the coward
are oppressed. And where nation is
prevallingly made up of sluggards and
towards its workingmen get but small
returns. But where freemen speak they
are listened to. The GLOBE is conf
dent that Mr.. MERRIAM himself believes
there is good deal in this view.