The state herald., 1904-09-09
THE PAY OF LABOR.
Republican Policy Tends to Steady
Increase of Wages.


The question of wages Is vital ques-
ton in this country. and the late Thomas
B. Reed. in 1888, 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 he had gone too far
toward n 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.
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 ID. Wright, who was mp.
pointed to the position by President
Cleveland. has for three years been con
ducting 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 inves-
tigation covered the period from 1890 to
1903, and II shows an increase In wages
md work under the Mckinley and Ding.
ley tariff laws and a decrease In both
under the Wilson-Gorman tariff law.
From 1890 to 1893 the Increase In EN-
ployes was from 94.9 TO O9.2; from 1893
to 1894 the decrease WIS v4.l, and from
1897 TO 1903 under the Dingley law the
increase was from 100 to 1854 There
was a like increase of wages under the
Mckinley and Dingley tariffs md de-
crease under the Wilson. German tariff.
The significant comparisons are OF con-
ditions In 1894 under the Democratic
tnrif and 1908 after six years Of the
Dinglcy tariff. There was an Increase
OF 3i.3 per cent. or more than one third.
In the number Of employees, decrease OF
81 per cent In the hours OF labor. and
m increase Of 1873 per cent In wages
per hour. These are striking figures be.
cause they show that under Republican
tariff legislation more than one.thlrd
more men had employment than under
the Democratic tariff legislation. aud
that they received nearly onc-hfth more
wages per hour, The average earnings
OF labor was mere than ~ per cent
greater In 1908 than IN 1891, or more
than hall as much again.
Prof. wright's investigation went fur
th.r and showed that Notwithstanding
the Increase IN the cost OF food products
tho principal Increase IN the last ten
years has been In wages. or the price
OF labor. Thst great commodity Of this
country In which Thomas u, Reed saw
the development and progress Of Amsri'
can civilization has Increased In value
moro than has the cost OF living. 40 that
tho benefits OF labor have been constant
ly Increased by protective tariff legisla.
tion and embarrassed by Democratic tar
III legislation.
President Harrison said years ago that
a cheap coat had the tendency 10 make
cheap men because Il tended to degrade
the labor used IN the manufacture, The
Republican policy has been 10 enhance
the price OF labor. aud that has Increased
the cost OF living bccause all our pro
ducts entering into the living In this
country represent labor.
But the protection md he Ideal of
Thomas Is, Reed has been realized under
the Dlngley tarlf law. The value ot
labor. the rate of wages has constantly
aud steadily advanced 10 lIft the clyilirn.
ton Of America. whore labor ls the lever
by which all mankind advances, from
drudgery 10 Independence.