The independent., 1903-05-07
A LIVING WAGE
Mr. Bigelow Continues His Discussion of
tho Condition of American Eo-amoz


tho Condition Of America. Eo-sTaoz
Cincinnati, o., May 3.-At the Vine
Street Congregational church, the
pastor, Herbert S. Bigelow, continued,
from last Sunday, the discussion of
Giving wage" Mr. Bigelow contend
ed that there are millions of Amer-
can workmen who do not receive liv-
ing wage. He said in part:
Last week we attempted to define
what we meant by living wage. We
said that living wage ought to be
sufficient to secure to every able-bod-
led, right-minded, sober and indus
triOus workingman-
% Enough to keep, not only him
self, but also family in health
ful state of mind and body.
t2) Enough to permit all his chill
dren to take advantage of the public
school system.
33) Enough to enable him to aC-
quire home of his own.
(4 Enough to permit him to ac
cumulate bank account sufficient to
and old age
s there any one prepared to say
that any workman, no matter how
humble his work may be, ought to be
content with less? Can we boast Of
our American freedom if we know
that there are not only few men,
but millions of them, whose wage is
so meager that it is an absolute i'm
possibility for them to have a home
or educate family?
Can nation remain virtuous, can
a civilization keep sound at the core
can anything strong and great come
out Of a society which reduces mil
lions who toll to miserable, hand-to-
mouth, dependent, homeless existence
There is abundant proof that such
is the case, even in this land of the
free. Nine dollars a week is the wage
of the average factory worker in this
country. That figure will not be dis
puted, for it is official. After investi-
eating 100000 factories, employing be-
tween five and six millions of people.
the treasury department of the Unite
States informs us that the average
weekly wage is nine dollars.
Yet how many who hear that state
mert will have the imagination 80
picture to themselves what it really
means to try to educate a family on
nine dollars a week?
| have secured an itemized account
for 1902 of .Ge receipts and eXpendi
lures of family, the father of which
is factory employe in Cincinnati.
believe the condition of this family
is far better than the average, but |
Shall take it as type.
The father is sober and faithful,
WORKER. He has worked for one en-
ployer for over thirty years.
The mother is a hard-working ard
capable housekeeper. 1t IS an evidence
of her painstaking that she should be
able at the end of the year to ac-
count for almost every cent.
1t would be unreasonable to expect
people to manage their affairs better.
They buy their flour by the barrel.
They lay in their coal in the summer
They show snlf-control and good judg-
ment. This woman needs none of Mr..
Carnegie's sermons on economy. Her
poverty has taught her the art OF
making a dollar reach a long way.
If you say as much of this family a
l do am sure you would say they are
entitled to such living as they get |
know you would not wish any honest
and faithful workingman to fare
worse
This family consists of father and
mother and 'hree children The cid.
est child is a girl Of fifteen.
They live in q five-room cottage.
The neighbOrhood is unsightly. 1t
is more of an alley than a street and
must certainly be unhealthful. Never
theless they have a house to them
selves, and something Of a yard, and
are better housed than the multitudes
who are driven into the tenements fot
cheaper rent
# you were to happen into this lit
tie home at an unexpected time for
meal as | have done, you would not
complain of their extravaganza in the
matter of food. To provide for the
table there was set aside ten dollars
a week. But this ten dollars was made
to pay, not only for the food, but
enough was saved out of it each week,
to pay the insurance, a part of the
clothing for the family, and also all