The Iola register., 1902-02-07
LABOR DEPARTMENT
Brunswick, Ca, Dec. %, 1901.


to me why so many people are so much
opposed to the laboring class of the
human family organizing themselves
into Unions for their benefit mentally,
morally and socially. can very
well understand why the large rail-
road corporations and the big manu-
featuring establishments might think
it to their interests to keep the work
ing mems wages down, and prevent
them from educating themselves to the |
point where they may form some idea
of the vast profits they make from the
work of their employees. If the rail-
roads could get their work done for
nothing they would not reduce the
price of passenger fare nor the rate
of freight and their profits would be
increased TO the amount of the wages
they now pay their employees. So,
also, with the big manufacturing en-
terprises, for they would not reduce
their prices any, as the prices are al
ways in proportion to the demand
But why should the merchants also
object !? The money the workingman
gets for his work goes into their bank
accounts, and if the workingman gets
only $500 or 56 90 per week, he can
only spend thatamount; but if he got
Sl2 90 or $500 per week he would
spend that amount with his local mer-
chant. It is not so much the working
man who is benefited by good wages
it is the merchant. If u carpenter gets
| 50. 90 per week, he must first look out
/ for his rent which is from SO. 90 to
| $iO0 per week, and then he can take
/ the little that is left and go first to his
grocer for provisions. And he mus
| Of necessity estimate very carefully
what he can afford to invest in the
/ different necessaries that he must pro-
cure for wife and children. If he buys
/ flour he must count the cost, and con-
sumo the time of the clerk in weigh
ing out and putting up very small
amount: and also with everything else
he purchases. Now the purchaser
must not consume all his money, for
the wife and children must have cloth
ing and shoes as we'll as groceries; so
he will spend with his grocer, say 81. 90
or $500, and as the grocer says his
profits are small, he cannot have
made more than from % to 40 cents on
the entire sale, and from that he has
to pay the clerk for his time-about
one hour-and also his rent and light
bills, which will cut his profit down
very low; but when he goes to the dry
goods store it takes even more OF the
clerks time to sell him small bill of
goods, because he has only very
small amount of money to spend and
he needs so many things; he calls for
first one thing and then another to
look at and price and after consuming
a-half to three quarters of an hour he
may decide that hecan do better some-
where else, and therefore spends moth
ing; while if he could go into those
stores with $40. or $l5., he would at
once see something he wanted, and
and having the money, purchase it in
very few moments, and the clerk
could then attend to some other custo-
mer-but, still, the same merchants
object to their organizing and getting
better wages Why is it?
Again, the contractors cannot, if
they study their own interests, object,
for it is u conceded fact that every
contractor expects to make a certain
percentage on the wages he pays to
every one of his men. as, for in
stance, he calculates to make 20 per
cent on wages paid if he only pays
81. so per day; he makes only 30 cents
on the man but if he pays $3.50 or SO.
he makes 80 or go cents; so who is the
loser? But someone will say, the man
who has the work is the loser. | say,
of all men concerned, his is the great
est gain. Why? because instead OF
having his work done by the cheaL
saw and hatchet men, he has his work
: done by mechanics who would sooner
quit the job than do it in an inferior
way-and by men who are judges o.
the materials used and would not pu
,, into the job inferior materials. There
fore, if he builds a house that h'
would have to pay the saw and hatche
men 50, 900 for and which is wortl
when finished 81, 800, perhaps he ha'
=, paid eliable contractor 81, 800 and go
house, when finished worth $3, 900
Now where has he lost anything b!
:, working union men? He has paid ou
the sum of $500 for which he has re
ceived 81, 500.
. would like to hear from someon
else on this same line. 1t reems t.
! me that if the merchants and othe
| 4 a.,