The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-07-19
AMERICAN WORKERS.
CONDITIONS CONTRASTED WITH
THOSE IN ENGLAND.


Lodges Like an Aristocrat, Feeds
Like a Lord and Lives Like a Prince.
Without discussing the merits or de-
merits of trade unions and strikes It is
instructive to observe certain phases of
american strikes as they exist today.
For months at least 100000 men have
been continually out of work In differ
ent portions of the country fighting for
higher wages. In fact, it is conserva-
tive estimate TO say that over 100000
different men have already during 1901
voluntarily ceased work for the pur-
pose of compelling their employers to
give them more pay. Some have been
successful, some unsuccessful, and
some are still idle pending a settlement.
These unions always report large sums
of money in their treasury, and large
sums are raised by sympathizers to
support the strikers while idle Some
strike for not only an increase in
wages, but a decrease in hours, which
means double rate of increase for the
employees.
But it is the amount of daily wage to
which we would call attention. The
day of 81 day wage is long past, and
we hear but little of 50 Il day wages.
The $4,000 and more machinists who
struck for nine hours work with ten
hours pay average considerably over
IS a day while thousands of carpen-
tiers and masons have struck for $3.50.
81 and even more. Uncle Sam only
asks eight hours work per day from
all his employees, and many states
and municipalities have adopted tire
same hours.
And yet the free traders want US to
compete in open market with the 80
cent and 81 a day laborers of Europe.
In this connection it is instructive to
examine a comparison between the con-
ditiOn of American workingmen and
those of Great Britain as described by
Eltweed Pomeroy in the Boston Tran
script. Following are given liberal
quotations from Mr.. Pomeroy's article
In order that we may observe the Eng
lish workingman as he is today COM
pared with the Iaborer of the United
States:
London manufacturer told me he could easily
get good men for % shilings a week, about Sc.
From what he said l doubt il outside his superin-
tendents and foremen there is a man in his en-
ploy who gets over 80 shillings, or $3.50, week,
and ! think the average would be nearer 20
shillings, IS, than 80 shillings. He employs
girls at from to shillngs, 81 to 81, week
and boys at from to shillings, so cents to
$780, week, but it is only fair to say that the
boys and younger and lower paid girls are prob
ak1 ko1E 3 g.
work in the mornings and not in the afternoons,
usually going to school in the afternoon, and the
next week they will work in the afternoons and
not in the mornings.
At Cadbury's cocoa works it was mentioned
with great pride that the girls-and many Of
these were mature. even elderly, women-averaged
16 shillings, or under "a, a week, and there were
over 1000 employed there. And it was said that
in Birmingham at the pin works many
ceiyed only from to shillings, about
Sl.75 to 1925, week. OF course amid such
multiplicity Of employments and with many con-
ditions different from ours it is difficult to make
an exact comparison, but should estimate that
English wages about two-thirds of ours.
In London shillings, about 81. &c, viii pay for
two rooms for a week. but rents are said to be
high in London. In a Lancashire factory town
was pointed out two cottages which could
be rented for shillings pence, about 81 70.
pence, or about Sl62 week. and at Cadbury's
model town, near Birmingham, a cottage with six
rooms can be rented for shillings, Sl.75, a
week. These probably represent the range of
houses which the average workman can get In
addition he must pay for water, gas if he has it,
and in some cases the rates. | should say that
rents were higher in England than with US for
the accommodation. but that usually the
American workman spent more rent because
he wanted a more commodious and better home.
II Is not uncommon thing in England to see
Wo:kpan's two roomed cottage with dirt floor.
Only ve.r recently arrived American would put
ny with such thing in his home.
The diet of the workmen, as nearly as one could
observe in hasty survey, seemed far less varied
than that of the American workman. The Scotch
oatmeal they have, and it is usually cooked to a
sslye and occasionally bitter, but the great va
riety OF wholesome cereals that we use are almost
unknown. Meats only little higher than
with US and -four almost the same. We went
through a number of markets and found for the
time of year, February and March. many vege-
tables at moderate prices, and struck by
the quantity of flowers displayed and their low
price. Canned goods are becoming more known
and Used but yet their use is small as COM
pared with ours There numbers of bakeries
displaying quantities of unwholesome, heavy pas.
try. Strong, bitter tea and thin cocoa are much
drunk and, OF course the heavy and bitter ale,
porter and stout everywhere seen. | should
not judge that food itself is as cheap as with U.s.
but it is sold in small quantities at cheaper rates
than with US; hence it is easier for the man with
small income to spend it properly. But the
British workman has smaller income than his
American compeer he has less TO spend his
food, and, the whole, ! do not think he lives
so well.
This is not an extreme picture. 1t is
the best possible presentation of the
best paid workmen in Europe. Free
trade in the United States means not
only competition with such conditions.
but with the still poorer conditions of
the continent. Our workingmen to the
number of thousands and hundreds of
thousands own their own homes. They
have over S2,000,000.0O0 in the savings
banks besides the millions in cooper
ative associations and mutual organi-
cations. They are city officials, socie-
ty members and factors in all social
and political life.
Not only is the condition of the work
ing people of the United States far bet
ter in every way than could be found
elsewhere, but it is constantly improv-
ing. Wages, hours, mode of living, edu-
cation and position all tend to make us
happy, contented, proud men and wo-
men, with wealth, fame and fortune to
bequeath to the coming generations of
true American citizens.
MOUNTING rs GENERAL.
sc