Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-09-17


ployers-Due Mainly TO Cheap Labor.
Wages 90 Down as Silver Depreciates.
Mexican workman Saves Nothing and
Has No Hopes of Wealth.
An insight into the prosperity" III
Mexico which the silvcrites arc telling
us 80 much about Just now is furnished
in letter in the New York Even
ing Post from man who is big
employer Of labor in Mexico and who
is acquainted with the people there
and their past and present conditions
Speaking Of labor and wages i'll free sill
yer Mexico, he says:
"Thc real reasons of Mcxico's present
prosperity are the great natural re-
sources OF the country, stable gov
eminent free from constant political
changes, President Diaz having been just
elected for his fifth term, and the cheap.
ness Of labor, and of all these factors
cheap labor Is tho greatest.
"Bcforo tho fall in silver the Mexican
dollar was worth in exchange for gold
rather more than 100 cents United
States currency. IL il now only worth
58 u to 81 cents United States currency.
Yet all over Mexico tho workingman
gets today the same wages in silver az
he got when tho silver dollar was mt
par In ono concern in Mexico where |
employ 800 men we are now paying just
tho same amount in silver dollars as we
did years ago, though for our product
wo are getting just tho same price i'll
gold M we did then
Now, though tho workman only gets
dollar worth b3la cents in place Of
the dollar that used to be worth 100. all
articles of commerce hnp risen from 90
to 100 por cent. Who gains by this?
Tho capitalist, Of course.
"A manufacturers u coffee grower or
u minn owner (cxcept silver mine
owncr) can produce an article for which
no gets paid on II gold parity, but he
pays his workmcn in deprecated silver,
or only about one-half he did before.
No wonder on such basis Mexican in
dustrics nro making rapid strides, but
at whose exponsc2 That Of the working
classes. Tho average daily wages i'll
Mexico today for unskillcd labor is rs
to 80 cents, and for skilled labor 90
cents to ~ Mexican currency, or the
equivalent Of about Is to 20 and 26 to
81 cents United States currency.
Nov, these Mexican workmcn are
by no means an unhappy or discontontod
class. On the contrary, thoy 1.-Two with
as much freedom from caro- M tho birds
Of the air. They have no fears, no hopes,
no ambitions Their wants arc fow--a
cotton suit, II scrnpe, IA straw hat and
enndnls for their wardrobe maizo cakes
and beans for their food, and an occa-
sional spree on mcscul or pulquc, with
plenty of tobacco, which no gets dirt
cheap; that IL all,
"Tho Mexican workman as long as
he il punctually paid docs not grumblo
or kick. He asks himself no questions
M to what his employer makes. Strikes
and labor combinations are unknown.
llo never saves anything, so the accro-
ton Of wealth does not trouble him. and
he knows nothing about spring beds.
portcrhOuso steaks or pianos. Az l havo
said, he lives NJ contcntcdly and uncon-
CrrnCd for the morrow aS bird, never
looking forward and never looking back
ward, till the day comes when he is,
coiiinless wrapped in his cotton suit
and srrapo and laid to rest.
"Whcn the American workman is
willing to do likewise, will grant him
all the arguments he likes to pitt for
ward about Mexican prosperity. "
II the hair Is falling out, or turning
gray, requiring stimulant with nour
ishing and coloring food, Halls Veg
etable Sicilian Hair Renewer Is Just