Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-09-14
Cheap Goods Cheap Labor.


wages Of American labor than Robert
B. Porter, now Of the N. Y. Press and
TO man can advocate the interests Of
labor with more 1uency and zeal. In
an able editorial in his paper he says
Point TO a country that is progressive,
prosperous and in which the people
are happy and contented and you will
throughout its domain find labor well
paid, work abundant, homes comforta-
bic, workmen well fed and decently
clothed, children enjoying the adyan-
tages Of free schools and savings banks
plethoric with surplus savings for a
rainy day. On the other hand, point
to country that Is stagnant, prosper
Gus only in spots, where the people are
anxious for the future, where discon-
tent reigns, where the light and shades
Of wealth and poverty constantly
increase, and you will Gud labor poorly
paid, employment uncertain, homes
comfortless, workmen poorly fed and
unsatisfactory clothed, women and
children at work trying to increase the
family earnings and the gloomy shadow
OF the workhouse awaiting life's ltful
end.
Until within comparatively recent
period the United States was admit
tedly country of the first kind. Work
was abundant and well paid. Measured
by other nations the returns for labor
were upon the whole satisfactory.
Nowhere on earth Is labor today more
respected and nowhere has the power
OF labor organizations been more
strongly and more benefcially felt.
Labor organizations, like powerful
corporations, have made mistakes and
both have had to pay bitterly for these
errors OF judgment. The people OF the
United States are willing to pay the
highest wages for the best grade Of
work. They are willing and glad to
see the wage earners comfortable
contented and happy. They are
willing to promote this happiness and
at the same time to advance the
general welfare of the country, to pay
reasonable and living prices for what
they consume. That is the prevalent
American idea.
There has arisen, however, a schoo!
of thinkers who worship the god of
cheapness, aud to their false Arguments
we are largely indebted to the present
uncertain labor outlook. In very in.
terestiDg communication to a morning
newspaper on the lesson of Labor day,
Samuel Corners say!
THE cheapening Of products" says
the political economist, lis but bring.
ing them within the reach of all. !" The
assertion involves a fal!acy. THE
cheapening Of products" is often but a
thinly disguised expression for the
cheapening oflabor. The workingman
has not the slightest objection to the
cheapenng OF products. He has the
greatest possible objection to the
cheapening Of his own labor. might
cheaper coal and cotton and do posi-.
tive am 'uut Of harm. II 900 miners
earn SO aday their wages would be
reduced to So day in consequence of a
reduction in the price of coal from 50
to 80 80 ton. Indeed have known
of wage reductions far more sweeping
rs the result Of exceedingly trininp
reduction IN the price of commodities
Now each Of these miners receives 50 q
week less than he did formerly tb,
priceof one whole ton Of coal. There.
fore, to supply the millionaire, the city
man, the homes of the people. in {
word, with coal at fifty cents ton less
/ 900 men must go without coal en-
tirely, or at least cut down their rat,
OF living to that equivalent. Now, tn,
miners are glad enough that coal Il
cheaper to the people, but they fee
that the cheapening has been very dea
to them. The burden, instead OF
being equally distributed, has Taller
upon one class alone.
1t ISL sound proposition that when
ever you find commodities into which
labor largely enters cheapening il
price II means the reduction OF som,
honest mans or woman's wages. An,
policy that has for its aims cheapnes
Is wrong policy, and the people VIII,
adopt 1t will make a mistake. Tn,
theory upon which the Democrats
party is proceeding now in reducing
the tariff is theory of cheapness
This will, as Mr.. Gompers truly says
come out Of the working people. Ever
reduction Of rate of duty will brinI
us nearer the European rate of wages
Every twist of the screw means tn
depression of some class of wages
Every step on the road to cheapnes
means a step toward the degradation
of labor,
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: Dickinson Democrats.
The convention of the Democracy n