Milford chronicle., 1904-09-09
THE PAY OF LABOR.
Republican Policy Tends TO Steady
Increase of Wages.

Increase of Wages.
The question Of wages is vital ques-
tion in this country. and the late Thomas
Il. Reed, in 1883, 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"
1t was then thought by some Of Mr..
Reeds friends that be 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 10 this policy for benefits
that could not always come.
1t is now sixteen years since Mr. Reed
made his speech defending the vital ques-
ton in our economic policy. and there
have been three tariff laws since that
time. The Bureau Of Labor. directed by
Prof Carroll u. Wright. who WAS APP
pointed to the position by President
Cleveland, has for three years been con-
ductins 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 nves-
tiEstion covered the period from 1890 to
1908. and it shows an increase in wages
ley tariff laws and q decrease in both
under the Wilson-Gorman tariff law.
From 1890 to 1898 the increase in en-
ployes was from 949 to 500: from 1893
to 1894 the decrease was 94l. and from
1897 to 1908 under the Dinglcy law the
increase was from 100 to 126.4. There
was Il like increase OF wages under the
Mckinley and Dingley tariffs and de-
i,. q.
The significant comparisons are OF con-
ditions in 1894 under the Democratic
tariff and 1908 after six years of the
Dingley tariff. There was an increase
of 343 per cent. or more than One-third,
in the number Of employees, a decrease OF
81 per cent in the hours Of labor. and
an increase Of 1873 per cent in wages
per hour Ehese are striking figures be-
cause they show that under Republican,
tariff legislation more than onc-third
more men had employment than under
the Democratic tariff legislation. and
that they received nearly one-ffth more
wages per hour The average earnings
Of labor was mere than II per cent
greater in lgO3 Than in 1894. or more
than half as much again.
Prof. Wrisht's investigation went FUR
lneI anu showed luUL LbtNl ltuSiNIN4uS
the increase in the cost of food products
the principal Increase in the last ten
years has been 10 wages or she price
of labor. That great commodity Of this
country in which Thomas l.. Reed saw
the development and progress of Ameri-
can civilization has Increased in value
more than has the cos; OF living; so thar
the benefits of labor have been constant
iy increased by protective tariff legisla-
ton and embarrassed by Democratic tar
iG legislation
President Harrison said years ago that
cheap coat lad the tendency to make
cheap men because it tended to degrade
the labor used in the manufacture The
Republican policy has been to enhance
the price of labor. and that has increased
the cost of living because al our pro-
ducts entering into the living in this
country represent labor.
But the protection and he ideal Of
Thomas p. Reed has been realized under
the Dinrley tariff law. The value Of
labor, the rate Of wages has constantly
ana steadily advanced to lift the civiliza-
tion of America. where labor is the lever
by which all mankind advances. from
drudgery TO independence.