The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-07-29
A STEADY IMPROVEMENT.

ADOuU UWO Wccho dSO AIoH' oOHh
Dewitt Warner published in the
New York World an article in which
he claimed to have list Of all the re-
auctions of wages and the strikes and
lock-outs that had occurred in this
country for the twenty months since
the enactment of the Mckinley law.
This article, or portions of it, has
been quite freely copied by the Demo
cratic free trade press, with comments
not at all complimentary to the NC
Kinley law. To those who have paid
no attention to the matter, it may
fall upon with a somewhat appalling
effect. That was certainly the inten-
tion of its, promoters. But the Amer
ican Economist has been looking the
matter up little and finds much
therein that is misleading. For in
stance, some of the alleged lockouts
were only the regular shut down OF
the factories in question for the sum-
mer months, as was the case with the
glass factories noted, no trouble OF
any nature having occurred whatever.
In another case the dismissal OF a
number of men is noted because OF
the introduction of new machinery.
Still another case reads as follows:
December 81, 1991.-At Syracuse,
N. Y, $50 coopers, unorganized, were
surprised last week by the announce
ment of a 10 per cent reduction OF
wages. They left the shop. organized
hastily, demanded the same wages and
a nine hour day, and resumed work
within thirty-siX hours, their de-
mands having been granted.
This | oks more like an increase
than decrease in wages, and would
puzzle the most rabid free traders
to figure out how the Mckinley law
has in any way injured these men.
1t would be well to bear in mind
that Mr.. Warmers list was compiled
from the files Of the World, the re-
ports Of which have not always proved
most reliable. Another sample Of his
list reads as follows:
MAY :. 1891 From the formation of
the trust in straw goods the workers
of that trade are expecting a general
reduction of wages throughout the
country aud the dismissal of many
union men. II, 4 black list has been
prepared by the managers Of the trust.
1t will be seen that this was simply
a surmise of what the free traders
hoped would take place in the future,
and Mr.. Warner needed it to make
his list as large as possible, so had no
computations about using it. After
scratching up everything possible in a
search period covering period of 20
months, Mr.. Warner could only find
473 cases that he could by the most
vivid Imagination construe into
strikes, lockouts or wage reductions.
The Economist calls his attention to
the fact that according to the report
of the Bureau of Statistics of Labor,
of New York, there occurred in that
state alone during the year 1889, be-
fore the Mckinley law was heard Of,
1874 strikes in only twelve months.
According to Mr.. Warmers compila-
tion there has been tremendous fall
ling of the strikes under the McKin-
ley law. instead of an increase as the
free traders have claimed.
But while the free traders have not
ed any reduction in wages that may
have taken place, and been quick to
charge it to the Mckinley law, they
have failed to note any increase in
= wages that have been made, and are
careful TO convey the the idea that no
increase has taken place. The Econo-
mist, however, gives list Of some
twenty firms that have come under
it's notice that have increased the
wages of its employees from 5 to 30
per cent, and also reminds the free
traders that they should not forget
the 1000 employees in the Fall River
cotton mills who had their wages in
creased on July II.
In spite of all the free trade ele-
ment may say or do, the fact remains
that the past year or two have been
unusually prosperous ones, wages on
the whole have been as high or higher,
trade brisker and our foreign com
merce much larger, the average of
duties lower and the price of manu-
featured products, as rule, cheaper,
then ever before. The Republicans
have not laid claim that the McKin-
ley law is the sole cause of all this.
There have been several causes for
this prosperity and the Mckinley has
been prominent among them.