The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-08-31
silver QUESTION IN MEXICO
How the Laborer Is Robbed by the
Cheap Dollar.
The Condition OF the Toier in That
SCountrY Is a Warning TO Be Needed.
Wages Merely Pttance, and
Living Is Made Higher by
Free Silver.


tain that it is waste of time to argue
about them. Among these is the contn-
zion of the people of Mexico, which ov-
erybody knows is in every respect in
ferior to that of the people of the United
States. Yet the silverites have cheek
enough to brazenly claim that tho Mex
leans are more prosperous than we are
The following letter, recently published
in the New York sun, shows the real
facts as to Mexico's alleged prosperity:
MEXICO, July 8, 1895.
The fight over the financial question
now on in the United States is watched
with eagerness and interest by mine
owners here. Whenever the United
States throws open her mints to the free
and unlimited coinage of silver the
mining property of Mexico will be en-
HANGED in value in the same proportion
as that in Colorado, though experience
has shown that the salary of tho laborer
will be the same, Mt least SO far as Mex
leo is concerned. The dividend Of the
stakeholder will alone DO increased
The average of wages ranges from l2 Is
to go cents a day in the cities and haci-
endas or plantations OF Mexico, and in
the remote mining districts it is little
more. All laborcrs have to find" them
selves in Mexico. On all plantations
there are stores owned by the landlord.
What is usually earned by labor on tho
land is always spent with the owner Of it.
The question naturally arises, espe-
cially after one has heard tho promises of
the silver men on tho floors Of congress,
Why have wages not risen il Mexicoi
Why, even on II silver basis, are they so
much lower than tho lowest paid in the
United States? 1t must be remembered,
too, that the wages paid hero are in u
appreciated coin, worth only half ms
much as the same amount received for
labor in the United States.
On all sides one hcars tho answer that
the silver basis In Mexico is not respon-
sible for tho low wages. This is partially
true, but still wages have not Increased
OR mado any advance under the FREQ
coinage of silver. The chief argument
of the silver men in the States seems to
be that wages will advance and that
the volume of currency will bo largely
inflated
Nothing which has been promised by
the silver men has come to pass here.
Wages arc lower and living higher.
Since silver has decreased in value to
about one-half, everything produced in
this country which completes with the
markets of the world has increased pro.
portionately. The only products which
nave remained at nominally the old
figure are those which are not grown for
export and which do not come in CON
tact with similar products grown in
countries which have sound currency.
Even coffee. which is one of the staple
products. has risen to such a point as to
practically be beyond the reach of tho
speon and the laborer, while the only
Deer ever IN reach of the peon is that
which is cut from the dead animals aft
or the bull fight.
Butter is SO dear ms to make it n Ink
my to all classes, and it is ordered in
restaurants as dainties are. Beer which
as standard drink here, sells for 10
cents glass, and the only liquor which
as to be had by the lnboring Glasses is
native drink called 'pulque - milk
like looking beverage which produces
some Of the results of the malt product
without possessing any of its virtues.
When these facts are pointed out to
the silver man from the States, he at
once says that such condition of things
could not exist there; that labor is too
wei organized to permit such a state Of
affairs to last. The politician az we'll as
the iaborer knows that there can be no
hctitious value in labor. and, moreover.
that less than Q per cent of the great
mass CT labor in tho United States is or
ganized. Tho low wages hero are not
confined alone to what may be termed
the iaboring class, but all salaries arc
;proportionately small. The best of clerks
in the stores get from 500 to 500 n
month. The most expert bookkeepers
can seldom get more than from 900 TO
$50 month. Yet in this GLASS Of life
tho clothes they wear, the food they eat,
arc bought at gold prices. While his
salary Is higher, yet the bookkeeper's
necessities are SO much the greater.
Argue as they will, there can be but
enc results from silver basis in the
United States which should be made
clear to all who are dependent for their
Living upon their labor. 1t is that wages
would not be perceptibly increased, and
thai the purchasing power Of those
wages would be diminished almoat half
RanSS have been steodily adra1cipo