The Globe-republican., 1895-04-26
Where The Wages 60.

LabOring men are bordering oyer the
industrial question. They want 20 know
why there is not SO much of a demand
for labor as three years ago. Some of the
reasons are here set forth in IN interest
ing editorial in the Kansas City journal
There are many thousands of wage
earners who have been wondering for
the past two years where their wages
have gone, and wing there has not been
the usual amount of work for them. A
glance at random over some of the items
in our imports will show why there has
not been enough work for the American
labOrer and where large proportion of
the money that should go in wages to
home wOrkmen has gone. At the same
time, let it be distinctly understood that
the recent sO-called tariff law is to
blame for the reduction of the wage to-
tai, by making it possible to buy in
other countries the same products that
are for sale in the home market.
We imported 3,4lO tons of railroad
iron last year. There is no danger of
the American iron mines becoming ex-
hausted, but the tariff law is just build
ing up industries-Of other countries.
The Democratic party is afraid that
Alabama will go Republican and wants
to make Pennsylvania 60 Democratic.
We spent 100000 for textile machin-
cry last year which could have been
bought in this country just as well. Our
estheticism got the better of our patriot
ism and we bought 100000 worth of
earthenware, though we have plenty of
earth in this country. During the past
five months we bought 1000, 900 pounds
more of tobacco from abroad than we
did during the corresponding period last
year, paying therefor S1,764, 900. We
might have got along with American to-
baccO, some of the domestic imported
brands.
Take tho little item of macaroni. The
Mckinley law put duty of 49, 6 per
cent ad-valOrem upon it aud we import
ed very little until the last tariff law re-
duced the duty to 20 per cent. What
was the result? American wheat was
shipped Overt to Italy, made into maca-
rOni and shipped back here, instead of
being made into macarOni in this coun-
try. The last tariff law caused a tre-
mendOus boom in the macaroni business
in Italy, and since the passage of the
last tariff law So 200. 900 worth of maca-
roni has been made in one district whel
the industry had languished for years.
This accounts for lot more of the |
money that should have gone into the |
pockets of American wOrkmen.
Here are some big items: During jan
nary and February of last year we inn
ported from England $3.50, 900 worth of |
lnbleached cotton, as against s463, O1O
Tor the same two months this year. We
imported S4,OO9, 400 of bleached cottons
Turing those two months in 1894 as
against $3.50 200 this year, difference
# 81 $4,000. We imported 50 1000, 900
more of wOrsted tissue.
From September. 1895, to January,
1874, we bought 36l, 661 pounds of
oreisn hos. but for the same period this
ear we imported l ,933, 719 pounds.
During the three years ending March
f. 1892, our exports were 81 $50. 0OO, 900.
FOR the three years ending March last
hey were 81, $50. OOO. 900, loss of $780,
90 1000. With our imports vastly ex-
eeding our exports. is ii hard to see
rhere the labOrer's wages have gone?
hey have gone into the pockets of for
ign laborers under the fostering care Of
he beneficent tariff law of the recent
ongress.