Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-16
WAGES TO BE GOOD
The Contention That They Viii
Not Is Dishonest
Individual Cases Of Advance or Decline
Prove Nothing = Ascurass Results
Only Posssble BY Investigation.

oysr ana over again tkAt wages have
allsa since the Mckinley tariff was en-
scsed Is b the one single survivor Of
he maiutuds OF fslsshoods sent abroad
during the campaign OF lying IN 1890.
II Survives. not that 1t was more &c than
tho othsrs-"MeKinley prices for ex-
Ample-eos from the difficulty Of secur-
tng labor statistics complete enough to
ohlissrzse 1t. Mckinley prices" were
disproved BY simply comparing the mar
kst reports As Published before and after
the new law took effect But there are
no regular reports published On rates Of
wages. Tens of thousands OF changes
are annually made IN this country, some
evolving increased, others decreased
sages or hours OF labor. They have oc-
CURED. do occur and viii occur indie
pcndsntly Of any tariff in response to the
varying conditions Of industry. II or
dsrs for goods come lowing in, the labor
IN the industry which makes the goods
VIII be fully employed and wage rcduc-
rons Will DO impossible. But il short
crops curtail the purchasing power Of
consumers or tho demand becomes mad
equats TO the supply because Of over
production or change in fashion even,
or for any other cause. labor in the in
6nstries concerned Will DO injuriously
Affected, and IL tho unfavorable condi-
tons continue wages win fall. The law
Of supply and demand viii continue to
operate inside, and so far independently
Of any tariff law that can be framed.
Thousands Of changes in wage rates,
both mp and down, were made In the
most prosperous years this country ever
Knew; they are made now under the
Mckinley tariff. and viii be made I'M
less Edward Bellsmy or Henry George
mccccds in revolutionizing the existing
Industrial system.
As . rule, changes in rates Of wages
80 not get into tie public press beyond
he local papers n reduction in wages,
seing more unusual IN this country than
m advance. is moro likely to be chron-
cled Ever since the Mckinley law
passed, the Free-trade papers all over
he country have watched like vulturcs
hr instances OF wages reduction and
gloatsd over these misfortunes Of the
working people like birds Of prey. Tho
New York Times in particular has been
IN the ALERT to record and exult over
Svery reduction Of wages in order to as
ribs 1t 10 the Mckinley law. Reading
- editorials On this subject ono would
get tho impression that or 10 per
cent. decrease IN wages was an unknown
sccuxrence before the Mckinley act
Dassd We have before pointed out its
Ihallow dishonesty IN this respect. Il
Sollsco ten or . dozen or q score Of
easss Of reduced wages and proclaims
lat wages generally ere falling. 1t
bseds not tho thousands Of cases OF in
rsassd pay which have occurred under
he nSw law.
Only after . painstaking canvass Of
III the industries Of tho country and Of
he wags changes occurring In them
IAN any one form an intelligent opinion
- 70 whether the general course Of
wages h up or down But your jealous
Free trade "reformer" does not care for
hat He Is bent On making out case
against Protection, and in his desper-
snon ct the lack Of favoring evidence
Ices not hesitate to manufacture it.
In this connection 1t may not be amiss
70 can attention 70 the fact that the an
aual report Of the bureau Of statistics Of
abor Of New York state for 1891 chron-
rles 1,eu cases Of increased wages.
loss cases of decrease in the hours Of
THEORETICALLY increase of wages, also
and only al cases Of reduced wages.
Yet all that year tho New York Times
ras loudly proclaimirg that wages were
Generally falling.
No les instructive il the record of the
rats bureau of labor statistics of ILL.,
sois. which has issued q report on coal
satisfies for that state. Not only has
more coal been mined in the frst year
II the new tariff aud more men been
Employed than ever bsfore, but wages
have averaged higher while coal has
bean cheaper
With = single exception. and that The
most unimportant. wages were higher
IN 1891 than in any Of the three other
years considered. These are the results
arrived at by scientific investigation.
Similar resolss would appear IN every
rate from similar Investigations. Wages
ne going mp under the new tariff.
Low Wsges N BoheDis.