New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-02
CLINTON ON PROTECTION.
HIS LECTURE AT HE REPUBLICAN CLUB.
.ascUss1xG WAGES AND THE STANDARD OF
LIVING.

.usCuss1NG WAGES AND THE STANDARD OF
LIVING
There ~as another large and attentive audience d,
,. p.,uhlcan C1ub last evening 10 hear the thiro
,ec,ure Mt the clubhouse of George "uhtoh on '"o
philosophy of protection. "Frotechoh anu wages
W.. ,ha subject discussed last night and the lecturer
demonstrated that he capable OF WORKING out So"'
knotty problems. lie said In part ~
The ultimate test OF public policy Is us i""u'"o0
,,o, the condition of the masses. which Is always ~
d;c,tcd by wascs-thc purchasing power OF day "o'
The question ask regarding free trade po''oVo, ,n
silver hours of labor or Whatsoever Is ""'3s' nv"
,hev affect waecsl The influence of protection h'rv.
| nou wage, is the most important phase oil the tafh
controversy. :, ,i,taipod
in America it must command the commence anu '. ~,
port Of the wescreceying class, so thi'' s'"V'
economic significance OF high wages Is not ai"'' 80.
by public men, the political importance "
is thoroughly appreciated - go
hn for the contest has been conducted In very I'M
satisfactory manner. Few persons 'are cohNer"" " P
,,io, nv tho reasons given IT, and the laith o. many
no. ha.n shaken by the wholesale political rather IMAM
economic attacks made upon it. The usua me'nou vi
both sides point TO specific facts r''her ''' " ~
pain them. Thus, PrOtcctonsts compare Tue ""e'' ~
,. standard Of living OF the aborers in America uuer
,o.,tor with those OF similar industries in England
under free trade and ascrbc the higher wages IN A'"
TO our tariff policy Free Traders, on the o'her h'u ~
M ,hot the mere fact that high and high tarns
Q
ample compare the wegcs and standard OF h'I"s VI
aborer. in England under free trade with those III You"
tinental Europe or Asia under proeecuo' az" -
49,. -. bobor WAGES in England are due to free trade
7. I. needless TO say that this mode OF reasoning "
futile as is capuous, and tends TO misicau N' ~
ealiehten the public upon the subject 49,
In order TO ascertain how policy affects wages We
mus, understand how wages are determined and how that
ro,cv affects the influences which operate upon wage
IL Is Just here where the difficulty IN olso"ss"h ~ "
nuence Of protection upon wages arises
Free Traders proceed upon the mistaken s
that all the benefits Of tariff 60 to Ne 'ap'"s "'u
iahore,s on whose product the duty levied ana met
,o,a conclude that lsboers employed in what they cav
non.proteced industries receive no oenent rom inc
This is great mistake and involves mscoheepon nT
merely OF the principles OF prc'ecuoh ou' Vi 'N''
law itself. A., ~ >
~, ornton here demonstrated that the nonpro-
...d carrcn,.rs ETC. receive the full chect OF the
nrotectve tariff. and cited facts showing con"iuo'
tha, the present protection cotton cloth lot eN-
ample IL required entirely to protect the so-c"Ieo
ron.nrotected laborers. Continuing, he sa'd
Tho raal influence which determines wages is mo s'au
- o,I,,ng inst as prices determined by cost I'M"
T. the great force the world where wages are NOV w
terrpined by statutory law. The dlhefehce oeV"oV"
rate OF wages in New-York and in emma j. caus'~ ~ ,
oioI innuences by which are surrounded ana the
80 ., those social forces always comes through III
sustris forces The tariff. therefore, does not pfo' ~
increasing profits. but by guarding the oppoI'u"' .o
doysoninp socalizing industries In Ie-o we De-
$500 rnglsnd But have gained on hei
mil ,he,s is now only difference OF oll0o cents ysu
and At the same time have been increasing our wage
TO unprotected industries 1t Is qu'" c''-' "e", ,'
until We can save still more in improved h'cn'"'S We
nave got TO have protection take care oil the wage
The influence Of protection upon wages theh' 10 mp
70 guard the opportunity for developing
inaus,ries This in turn develops city and social me ~
49,. a. NJ, only gives higher STANDARD Of living ouV u
cves new industries themselves. IT also gives ho
m.rks. which Joins the interests OF the mAnuia''i'
with tina, OF the lsboer in his own country Sno ''
higher they are aud more they consume inc ue''
80. I'd I, is therefore TO his interest 10 keep UP eit
wages 40 thu, they may b. able to buy Inc SUCCESS "
NV, factory depends upon the life OF his own peop's '
luxury OF their homes sustains the PROSPERITY u ~
,,ise This would II he had foreign maiAe',
since one easily that to ieauce ""7'S p'' WV
would be q clear addition 10 his prohtS .,.
general discussion follower. ,n.
Mr. Cunton ready with SATISFACTORY Icpios:
The fourth lecture will be on next frluay e'on"s'