Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-09-09
The PAY or LABOR.
Republican Policy Tends 20 steady
Increase Of Wages.

hepubtcnu FoHcy Ieude TO Sfcna%
Increase of Wages.
The question OF wages is vital ques-
ton IN this country, aud the late Thomas
Il, Reed in 1855. said: ITO insure our
growth In civilization and wealth we
must not only have wages as high as
they are now but constantly and steadily
increasing"
Ii was then thought by some OF Mr..
Reeds friends that he had gone too far
toward a promise as to the meaning OF
the Republican policy OF protection, and
that his prediction would lead working
men to look TO this policy for benefits
that could not always come.
II is now sixteen years since Mr. Reed
made his speech defending the vital ques-
ton in our economic policy. aud there
have been three tariff laws since that
time. The Bureau OF Labor. directed by
Prof, Carroll ID. Wright. who was np-
pointed to the position by President
Cleveland. has for three years been con-
Quoting an investigation TO determine the
effect of tariff legislation on wages and
the result was made public In the July
bulletin OF the department. The iaves-
tigation covered the period from 1890 to
1908, and II shows an Increase In wages
and work under the Mckinley and DinE-
ley tariff laws and decrease In both
under the Nilson-Gorman tariff law.
From 1890 to 1898 the increase hi eiai-
ployes was from o4.o to oo.2; from iSnJ
to 1894 the decrease was OIL. and from
1897 To 1908 under the Dingley law the
increase was from 100 TO 1854. There
was. like increase Of wages under the
Mckinley and Dingley tariffs aud d de-
crease under the Wilson-Gormnn tariff.
The significant comparisons are of con-
diiions IN 1874 under the Democratic
tariff and l0o3 after six years u the
Dingley tnrif. There was an Increase
Of 34.3 per cent. or more than onc-third,
in the number Of employees. decrease of
81 per cent In the hours OF labor and
an increase of IS.s per cent In wages
per hour. These are striking figures be-
cause they shew that under Republicans
tariff legislation more thnn onc-third
more men had employment than under
the Democratic tariff legislation, and
that they received nearly one-fffh more
wages per hour. The average earnings
of labor was mere than 81 per cent
greater IN HOB thnn in 1894. or moro
than half as much again.
Prof. Wright's investigation went fur-
Their and showed that Notwithstanding
the increase in the cost OF food products
the principal Increase In the last ten
years has been In wages or the price
of labor That great commodity Of this
country in which Thomas Il, Reed saw
the development and progress Of Ameri-s
caa civilization has increased 10 value
more than has the cost of living; 30 TINT
the benefits OF labor have been constants
~ increased by protective tariff leg.sla-
ton and embarrassed by Democratic tar
III legislation
President Harrison said years ago that
cheap cont had the tendency to mike
cheap men because Il tended to degrade
the labor used in the Manufacture. The
Republican policy has been to enhance
the price Of labor. and that Inns increased
the cost Of living because all our pro-
ducts entering into the living in this
country represent labor.
But the protection and he ideal of
Thomas r. Reed has been realized under
the Dinyley tariff law The value Of
labor, the rate of wages has constantly
and steadily advanced to lift the civilixa-
ton of America where labor Is the lever
by which all mnnkind advances, from
drudgery to independence.