The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-24
TRADES UNIoNrsx.
Its Mennonite Oatesns Obssrvsa fn Eng
land and Fereshadewed Here.

Its Ecensmic Outcome Obesrved IN Eng
land and Fereshadewed Here.
To THE EDITOR OF TIE SpS-Sir: In the
| February number Of the Ninsiesrfh csnfuri
| James q. Harrington. British artisan. while
advocating the general idea Of orgspixation
among wase-earners. admits that the methods
at present In vogue lead to disaster to all.
He shows that strikes have caused ths
| trsnsference OF trade from Great Britain to
competing countries, and that the loss Of bust
ness caused thereby has already assumed
great proportions. Tho lessons learned In
Great Britain are not yet sufficiently needed
In America. In this country the unions have
become far more powerful for evil. because
Of our political system, than they ever could
be In any European state. Their clearly
manifested tendencies here are to control
national. State and municipal legislation.
Nothing escapes the scrutiny Of the leaders.
while the unions only comprise . small
percentage OF the entire mass OF wase-esrn-
ers. yet, by their thorough organization, they
have been able to enforce their demands a.
most everywhere.
The managers Of industries And themselves
compelled to yield to their demands. These
have gone 20 far In New York city that
cessation Of building operations has been
brought about In the borough OF Manhattan.
Builders advise those who consult them that
they can see no limit to the cost Of new struct-
ures Prudent investors do not like the idea
OF starting new buildings without knowing
how or where they will come out.
Shlpbuding business has come to . stand
still and seems likely to continue 20.
Prices Of all kinds Of commodities whose
production depends upon unionizcd labor.
advance with the increased cost OF the output.
Perhaps the most conspicuous example OF
this il to be found in the new wage scale.
just agreed to. between the mine owners ana
the men In the bituminous coal mining dis
tricts. An advance OF lax per cent. In wages
ie to be made on April I.
Already the word has gone out that there
must be an advance In price OF coal II rs 70
be 30 cents per ton. Thus VIC see how increased
cost OF production enhances the price to con-
Mncrs
The steadily advancing wage scale. the
steady diminution Of output per man. must
have It's natural effect. The prioes OF every
thing must be advanced. All idea OF export
trade for our manufactures must be sbsn-
doned They are going to cost too much to
produce We con only hold the home mar
ket by a steady advance Of customs duties
It is certain that there can be no reduction
OF tariffs. Other countries will always be
able TO undersell US In the world markets and
would drive all our own manufactures out
OF business u the home markets were not
closed by an impenetrable tariff wall
Japan has already come to the front As q
producer OF cotton goods Our exports CT
cotton to Japan last year reached almost
ten millions OF dollars How much went
there from other countries Is unknown to the
writer. but IL seems probable that the out
turn Of manufactured cottons In that Island
empire could not be reckoned At less than |
nifty millions OF dollars. That market 10
81 osed to US, aud our gradually growing mar |
ket in China for our stuffs must be yielded !
TO japan We must raise our tariffs on cotton |
goods or else surrender our home market |
10 them, also
The essential feature Of an advancing WAGE
and Of a diminishing product per operative |
Il the advance in price OF commodities. This,
In turn, causes another call for increase OF
wages The vicious circle IL thus compl eted.
Advance in price to the wace-earner for
smaller product furnishes a pretext for q
demand for more WAGES This must continue
Until the system breaks down with it's own
weight
Where shall We then hnd ourselves7 We
hall certainly not be among the foremost
nations In the paths OF progress.
NEW YoRx. March as 8, c. HENRI