The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-15


In order that they might have informa-
ton at first hands and from men in sym
pathy with them, the Chicago Trades and
Labor Assembly sent a committee to
Mexico to investigate the condition of
the workingmen there. The committee
has returned and made its report. That
report is to the effect that the American
workingman is a prince as compared with
the workngman of Mexico" which the
committee states in so many words. 1t
also feels it incumbent upon itself to
warn American workingmen not to go to
Mexico without sufficient funds to bring
them back, or to have employment Sc
cured before going there, or they will be
obliged to subsst upon cactus and the
sap of the tequilla plant while doing the
country"
Whether or not the facts gathered by
the committee are applicable to the po-
litical issues now before this country, is
a question that is open to discussion. AT
the same time, it is interesting to have
the views of a committee of American
mechanics with regard to conditions in
the neighboring republic. The Chicago
committee found that wages are very
low except those Of few
skilled mechanics, railroad engin-
GERS and conductors. In the
ordinary trades and occupations labor
can be had from % to so cents a day in
Mexican money. which is worth just
about half as much as American money.
Common laborers average IS to 20
cents a day, and domestic SER
wants from SO to So a month and board
themselves. No stockings are worn by
the laborers of either sex. A days work
runs for twelve to fourteen hours, and
bakers work twenty hours. The average
laborer lives in an adobe hut of four bare
walls with nothing inside but the ground
to sleep on, shawl or blanket to cover
or wrap himself in. His food consists of
a dish of tortilles (corn pancakes), and
frejoles (beans). When leaving his dirt
house for another abode, all Improvements
the laborer has made go to the owner of
the land, who pays no taxes whatever on
the land. 1t would be gratuitous to offer
in comparison the mode of life of the
average American laborer.
Mexican factory operatives receive from
20 to so cents day, says the COM
mittee. Farm laborers receive IS
to % cents a day and a hut to
live in, if they build it themselves. The
farm laborer gets no money, except on
| feast days, and for religious offerings.
! Organized labor is unknown. Beggars
abound.
The committee says that a comparison
between the people of the United States
and those of Mexico would be unnatural,
because the conditions are so different
Life Is regarded from a different stand
| point. What the Mexican accepts as sat
isfaetory, the American would scorn.
This being undoubtedly true. it is ques-
tionable whether the report of the con-
dition of affairs in Mexico by the Chicago
! committee will offer American working
men any help in reaching a correct solu-
ton of the leading problem in current
politics. 1t may with equal propriety be
said. look at the condition of the working
| people in Spain, Turkey. and other gold
standard countries.
Up to the beginning of September of the
! present year. according to the report of
| the Spanish minister of finance, the sum
of S140000,0OO had been expended in the
| prosecution of the war in Cuba. This
sum is represented by bonds, the prin-
| ciple and interest of which the Cubans
would have to pay II they were to make
failure of their war for independence.
| Such a burden would make their last
condition worse than their first But
there is not a great deal of likelihood.
! from present indications, that Cuba will
have to pay the bonds.
Whether or not political agitation hurts
business is shown by the postal receipts
for the quarter ending Sept. 80 There
was a loss of $4,000 in the receipts Of that
: quarter as compared with the
corresponding quarter of last year
and loss of sl,5OO,OOO as com
pared with the receipts of the quarter end
ing June 80 last. Under ordinary circum-
4 stances the receipts would, it is thought
! have been at least 100000 larger than
they were.
Col Henry watterson is coming home
| from Switzerland to take a hand in the
| campaign. He told Mr.. Charles A. Dana
some time ago that he would not take an
active part in politics this year. But he
has probably been reading how much fun
! the politicians are having in his state, and
It has awakened within him desire that
he cannot resist to come over and enjoy
some Of It before it is too late.