New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-18
PROTECTION AND WAGES.

$50 protection does not put up wages, as
was promised some persons soberly remark.
Perhaps unconsciously, they imply falsehood.
Common schools are indeed designed to raise
the standard of intelligence, but if some pro-
fessors in colleges know less than they ought
TO know. is that a proof that common schools
have failed The exceptionally wel-paid work
men in special occupations, who receive lar
more than other workmen not only in this but
in other countries do not need wages advanced
they enjoy tremendous advantages in any case.
When if is complained that the tariff has not
raised wages of men earning SO or Ss per
dav. what sense is there in the claim?
The influence of the Protective system upon
wages has been so misrepresented that many
intelligent men fail to understand it. or to ap-
preciatc its necessary limitations. The lifting
force of the tide is tremendous, but 1t does not
lift balloon, or wharf built on piles out into
the sea. Protection increases the demand Tor
all labor and so tends to increase the pay which
labor as whole can get, but it is not at all
intended TO give one set of workers especial
advantages over others. Its sure and constant
effect is that it encourages the opening OF new
mills and mines factories and shops. For all
these the WOrK1ncll nave W NC iOui"' n'N '''''
there results a constantly increasing demand
for labor in this country. If mechanic Is
taken from his bench TO work IN FACTORY
there is vacant place at the bench for another
mechanic. If farm hand goes TO mine the
farmer has TO look for another hand. II man
ont of work finds place in n new establish
ment. those who have been helping him no
longer have that charge upon their labor.
Thus in one way or another every new cstab-
lishment increases the demand for American
labor. and makes new places for workers 20
fiji Now il is one of the most absolute OF all
rules that where several men must compete for
one Mace wages tend downward, but where
several employers compete for one man wages
tend upward. The one man who gets new
lob is not the only one affected. The same
employer may have offered the place to many
and some of them asked and obtained better
wages as an inducement not to leave the places
they are filing. Just as the falling of the first
of a row of bricks knocks down IN succession
MANY others so each new demand for labor Is
likely to affect multitude besides those VINO
enter the new mine or mill. SO, like the rising
tide Protection tends to lift all labor by e1-
banding the demand for all labor.
IL happens at all times that IN some OUT
of many thousand employments business Is
dull or production temporarily exceeds CON
sumption. or excessive competition crowds down
the prices Of products unnaturally. In some
out Of many occupations therefore there must
be state of things tending for time to de-
press wages This cannot be prevented by
any law or policy whatever and it is childish
for men to expect that it can, and knavlSh for
men TO say that the depression in single over
filled industry is proof that Protection does not
helm labor at all. When the tide is rising there
are ripples and waves on the surface, just as
when the tide is falling and depressions appear
as well as foam crested and mounting pillows.
But the ceaseleSs rise and fall OF the rlppleS
and the waves does not alter the fact that the
whole surface is rising, that the lowest de-
preston is not as near the bottom as It was
| while the highest crest climbs above the mark
touched by the highest crest before. So iiuctua-
tions in this or that industry are found IN all
countries, and Under every economic policy
But under Protection alone is the tide always
rising. because the demand for labor is CON
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