The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1892-09-15

An "Tnfant 1nQustry'' OF the Mckinley
Proteetive InfIlntes. which Consists of
MAnufaetur'nr Campaign Material Out
Of the whole cloth.
The Tariff Reform club has compiled
list of about 800 wage reductions which
have occurred in protected industries
since the Mckinley tariff act began to
boom business and raise wages. The
protectionists last spring thought it
time to begin . demonstrate the good
effect upon wages of their panncea for
all ills and they published what pur-
ported to be a list Of twenty-seven pro-
tected firms which have raised wages
since October. 1890. The American
Economist has published this same list
several times and refers to it nearly
every week with pride. It has been
copied and recopied in thousands of Re-
publican papers. After Senator Aldrich
aud The American Economist had criti-
cised the list Of 800 wage reductions be-
cause there appeared to be several repe-
titions of items and because some of the
reductions had occurred in industries
and states where statistics indicated that
ON the whole average wages had not de-
clined since 1890. the Reform club con-
cluded to see if the protectionist list was
all genuine
IL sent a man over into Brooklyn to in
quire INTO the general advance of per
cent. credited TO the Kings County Knit
ting company. AFTER long hunt the
firm was located on the top floor of a
building in a remote part of the city.
The employees consisted of three men
and from ten to fifteen girls. The first
person met was the employer, who failed
TO remember anything about the said
general advance until reminded of
The American Economist article. But
even this stimulus to the memory could
not make the three factory girls who
were interviewed recall time when
their wages had been advanced; they
could, however. easily remember times
when they We're earning more than now.
The club has since continued its inves-
ngation- IL sent another man to Oris-
kany Falls, N. r., where Langley & Da-
Wis had advanced wages 20 and 80 cents
day. SO 1t was alleged. 1t was learned
that this firm makes skirts for ladies'
dresses and that they employ fifteen
hands-seven weavers, four carders, two
spinner, one dyer and one fnisher. The
boss viewers wages were advanced last
spring srom Sc to $2.2J n day to keep
him from going to other mills. The
others in his department-five women
and one man-were reduced last June
from AZ to cents per cut for weaving.
They were then earning about 81 per
day, though their average for last win
ter did not exceed 10 cents.
The boss card-r was also advanced
from 81 TO -. IN fha
One of the young men in his department
had his wages raised last May from "a. so
to - per week because he was likely to
get tine spring fever" and leave; the
company Thought 1t better to retain a
man who had beel with them through.
the winter at s. rather than to break in
new man. The hnishers' wages We're
reduced last spr;ng from Sl.50 to 81. %
per day. The wages of the other en-
ployees have not suffered from 'McKin-
ley advance, but remained stationary,
rrom 0o cents TO 81 or more per day.
The employees smiled an anti-McKin-
ley smile when they were informed of
the hepubiican material that was being
supplied at their expense. Some of
them suggested that 1T might be
scheme OF Langley q Davis to attract
=. -------'J = ----Hs ~ lAAot CA4c-p
labor could be obtained when the firm
starts its new mill IN a few weeks
Other interesting information was OBJ
tanned IN regard to this firm and the
materials used by it, but it would be
out OF place here, even if there were
space for it.
Two other firms visited were those of
Wilkins & Close, and Close & Christie,
glove manufacturers at Mayfeld, New
York. Mr.. Wilkins said that he had
read the report that wages had been adj
vanced from IS to 20 per cent. in his
factory, but that he did not know how
such a statement had got into print,
as there was really no basis for it. He
said that they employed about 100 men
and 20 girls in their glove and leather
dressing factories, and that wages were
no higher than for several years previ-
GUS. They take on 30 or 40 new hands
a year from the farms round about.
These hands are paid IS cents n day for
the first month, then 81 for some time,
and if they become proficient their
wages are advanced to $1.25. Mr.. Will
kins said: There has been no more adj
vance this year with us, or anywhere in
the county Fulton county, N. Y, which
produces two-thirds OF our glove prod