New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-17

Men who have the best opportunity TO KNOW
through their knowledge Of labor organizations
ami through much investigation. state that the
reduction already effected In wages OF labor
in manufacturing averages III per cent COM
paratycly few establishments have not reduced
wages 10 per cent or more, many IL to 20 per
cent and a considerable number, including
some very large concerns. even more than 20
per cent. Not week has passed FOR about SIX
months without reductions In number OF
works. and though In some cases strikes nave
resisted the reduction they have rarely sue
cccdcd while in the great majority OF cases
the men have voluntarily accepted lower wages
when informed that the works could not get
business enough 10 keep open at all without
meeting the extremely low prices made else
where. The competition has been 80 fierce that
it could not be- resisted There was not enough
work To keep al the establishments in opera
ton. and only those able To make the lowest
prices could give their hands employment
Dcmagogucs withou, dcccncy or conscience
are still trying TO inname labor against capital.
even In this time of sore trial. by Selling upon
every instance IN which apparently excessive
or unnecessary reductions have been asked and
representing that MI are OF the same character.
There IS not Il creature more dcspicablc than he
who tries 10 excite trouble between employers
and employed at Il time when the utmost pa
tience and consideration on all sides Is neceS-
sary I'm order to avoid suffering and loss. Most
Of the worl,ingmcn know how things stand well
enough, nj all events. 10 kick out Of their pres
cncc in these days anybody who tries TO make
more trouble for them The root Of the whole
difficulty is that the millions do not buy ms
much as they did because they cannot. and
therefore their purchases do not suffice to pro-
vide work for all who are anxious TO work.
The millions are forced 10 buy as chcaply as
they can. The shops and mills that get any
thing 10 do are therefore compelled To produce
rs cheapy as they can.
Who is to blame? 1t Is not difficult matter
to determine In October, 1892. most works
were crowded with orders six months ahead.
Workingmcn thought the sun Of prosperity
could never set. Part Of them voted on that
theory, and are paying the penalty. Within a
month Of that day orders began TO decrease.
mills to close and gold to go abroad. The stop
page Of works ut first was rare because so
many had large orders. But ms the winter went
on the slackncss Of new orders became more
noteworthy in many trades. 1t is the nature OF
such trouble to spread. for il one man cannot
buy another cannot find work in making things
for him. Then came the alarm produced by the
outgo OF gold. which was caused by distrust
Of the future and particularly by dangerous
and foolish talk In Administration circles about
rcdccming Treasury notes in gold. Mills closed
then by the hundred, orders by the thousand
were cOuntermandcd and merchants rs well
as consumcrs listening to Democratic promises
Of enormous reduction In prices Of all things,
began to defer purchases as much rs they could.
The fear OF Il change Of National policy has
closed thousands Of works, and keeps them
closed 1t has thrown millions out Of employ
ment, and keeps them out 1t has compelled Il
general reduction OF wages for those who try TO
compete for the greatly diminished business At
the same time the millions out Of work have
struggled to find work and wages in other oc-
equations, and thus by their necessities have
forced down the wages OF those employed. The
convention OF wageearners held In this city
last week, which denounced the proposed
change OF tariff rs the main cause Of their
troubles. was in the right. Nearly three months
ago the Silver bill was repealed, and the men
who predicted instant revival OF business as a
result are hanging their heads In shame.
Lower wages by 10 per cent for 2000OOOO
w0asAW Wo;aA neAR $1,500O00O taken from