Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-01-25
British Labour and
Foreign Competition
woRKMEN's MANIFESTO.

tribe committee OF the British Labour Pro-
/ lection League-a society composed Of
working men, which has just been formed-yes
terday issued the following manifesto:
British Labour Protection League, n, Beveu-
donstreet. Hoxton. London n, Jan. 3, 1894.
To the British Public-At this juncture, now
that the employed question is engaging the at
teutlon OF local authorities, philanthropists, and
members Of Parliament Of all shades Of opinion,
we consider the time has arrived for bringing
forward some Of the principal reasons why
thousands of British men and women are unable
TO obtain work.
From long and careful inquiry we lind that the
two chief causes Of want Of employment are the
sale in this country Of foreign manufactured
articles as goods OF British make, mainly by
reason OF the fraudulent evasion Of the Merchan-
disc Marks Act and the annual immigration Of
tens OF thousands OF pauper aliens.
A few facts in relation to some Of the indus
tries affected will prove what we say:
Cal Evasion OF the Merchandise Marks Act
/ Printing trades.-BIitish photographic ar
lists. photographic printers stone preparers,
lsvers-on and takers-off and labourers, compost
tors letterpress printers. (hand and machine),
bookbinders, book-edge gilders, marbelers,
clasp makers, &c. are out OF work in thousands
in consequence OF work being sent abroad, where
low wages and long hours universally prevail.
For instance. photographers on the COntinentwork
from seventy to eighty hours per week, for an
average weekly wage Of from 1853 to rs. Strong
complaints are made by British printers that
the imprint required by the Merchandise Marks
Act is either printed In fugitive ink, and thus
dfsappears on exposure TO the air. or Is cut of
on the arrival of the goods in Great Britain,
or Is hidden from view TO lead the public to
suppose that they are purchasing British printed
goods strange to say. so-called religious and
philanthrophic societies, theatres, music halls.
&C. which have to depend unon the British
pubHc for their maintenance, instead OF support
ing British abour send most OF their work
abroad.
Q Papermakiug trade-Thousands OF tons Of
paper, cards, stationery, &C. are imported into
this country daily, the case or bale in which the
goods are contained only being marked with the
name OF the place OF manufacture, while the
goods themselves bear no mark by which the
public may distinguish them from British goods.
Thousands OF British workpeople engaged in
this industry are starving, and large mills are
lying idle for want OF trade, while the paper
mills abroad are working continuously.
g. Iron and steel Trades Thousands OF tons
OF iron Orders, steel rails, boilers, engines,
machinery, and tools and cutlery OF all descrip-
tions, scientific instruments, &c, made IN Aus
tria Germany, Belgium, and in other Continen-
tai countries and America, by cheap Iabour en-
gagged at long hours. are continually dumped"
on our shores, the Merchandise Marks Act being
repeatedly evaded, TO the great detrtment of
British lapour. To illustrate the chespness OF la
lour in these trades abroad we may mention that
in Germany those engaged in the iron trade only
receive from les to los for seventy hours per
week.
T. Carpentry aud Cabinetnaking Trades
Doors, sashes and mouldings picture frame
monldiugs already gnued, pianofortes, toys, sc.
are imported into this country IN large guam
titles, the Merrh lndlse Marks Act being fro
quently evaded. while British working men
engaged iu these trades arc walking the streets
in search Of work In the pianeforte making
industry thousands Of cheap Instruments are
imported into this country, the case bearing the
name Of the place 81 manufacture, while the
piano itself IS plain The name OF q British firm
is then added. and the piano shipped to the
Cape or other colonies article of British
make. The toy trade. again, once fourishing
industry, has been destroyed by unfair foreign
competition, the toys being made by children in
industrial schools abroad, and sent over here
unstamped. While warehouses are flooded with
German, Austrian, and Bayarlan toys. British
toy makers are carrying sandwich boards or sell.
ing matches, and they-the mstehes-are made
abroad
s. The following trades are also effected in
the same way; Boot and shoe making looking
glass gliding, glass beyelling, glass staining,
glass blowing, pottery hand painting on china,
&C. In The last named industry, We End that
even articles bearing the words in gilt letters
"A present from Brighton" "A present from
BlackpOol," &c, are made in Germany.
One wonders when OH all sides we are sur
rounded by cheap shoddy articles Of foreign
make whether we are in England or some ger,
man colony, FOR one almost searches in vain for 3
Britsh-made article.
(b) Pauper alien immigration
Those interested in the welfare u the British
nation have but 20 spend day or two in the
east end Of London. and they will he compelled
to admit that a race Of foreigners have invaded
our country, and taken possession without firing
shot. Men women and children can be seen
groaning under loads OF unfinished coats, trous.
sers, boots caps, SC, and at all hours or the
night the rattle OF the busy sewing machine can
be heard. British working people engaged Ia the
following trades complain! bitterly Of the compe-