The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-02-11
Trades VS.. Professions.
From the Baltimore sun.


The fact that Galveston has lawyer
and ex- Congressman at work at the docks
as a cotton screwman, earning the union
scale wage of 81 day 'jamming' cotton
ought TO impress cur host of professional
men who in many cases earn less than half
that sum a day Time was when the pro
LESSONS brought the better incomes, but
thanks to the greater demand fol skilled
workers in mechanical occupations and the
activity Of labor unions the trades are now
the more remunerative The Texas cot
ton TANNER tried law, after trying politics,
but found that in the long run they do not
pan out well Seven dollars in hand each
day, in his yiew, beats sitting round
dull Office waiting for client to turn up
and be plucked 1t ism everybody that
can be a cotton -jammer-an occupation
that requires great physical strength-but
the incident illustrates the truth that skilled
manual labor begins nowadays TO pay bet
ter than skilled intellectual labor. The
ton-jammer gets at the rate Of 81, 100
a year-a prioely income compared with
the scant earnings Of many teacher, law
yer, doctor and engineer, who has spent
years of his time and much money in ac-
quiring proficiency in his craft. The car
penters, bricklayer, stone masons, plum
bers and other traders now engaged in re-
building Baltimore average probably rate
of more than 81 900 year, while some
earn 81. 800 and 81, 600 a year Some
years spent less productivity, of course,
while learning the trades, but little or no
capital was sunk in preparation for employ
ment The graduate of good college,
on the other hand, after spending three or
four years at college and spending from
81, 900 to 81 500 for his collegiate train
ing is fortunate if he can get, as pro
fessor or teacher, as much as $500 year
After paying living expenses the graduate
finds, as a rule, that he cleans up with
$3.50 or less for the savings bank If he
stays three years more at some first class
university and gets the degree Of doctor Of
philosophy he may start of with as much
as $500 year, in rare cases getting 81.
600 or 81 200 If. instead of going in
for a doctor Of philosophy, the college
graduate gives three years to learning law,
medicine or engineering he viii start on
the practice of his profession with an
income ranging from zero up If he has
extra energy and pull of some sort be
may start off with from $500 to $500
year but will thereby become an object of
envy to his less fortunate brothers. The
professions are crowded. This is an old
story. Yet young men viii crowd into
them, though the common experience Is
that eight or ten years elapse before good
living income Is realized.
The trades evidently pay better with
less work and in a shorter time The
Texas lawyer has had the perspieuity to
see it and act accordingly. Ii is not diff
cult to belive that his course will be fol-
lowed by Others in the future-that his
experience discloses a tendency Manual
labor is no longer exclusively rough and
exacting in respect to the physical strength
Of the laborer Labor has shared in the
progress of the modern world Many oc-
equations are of refined and responsible
character, requiring intellect and sound
morals The circumstances under which
work is performed are in many cases agree
able, the surrounding being up to the
modern standard of comfort Werk with
the hands is always wholesome and enjoy
able under such circumstance and can be
pursued with adequate exercise Of all OF
one better faculties Ii is said that many
Of the employees of the steel works at Pitts
burg get $50 day, their skill being in
valuable. in view of the critical nature of
their work and the large values involved
The work and the wages are such as to
place the workman in desirable position
and cause the half-starVed professional man
to readiust his ideas of the dignity of man
ual labor. Such readjustment is in pro-
gress. College students and graduates are
already going during vacations into work
shops for the useful experience to be had
there. Mechanical engineering involves
shop work and the same is to be said of
all the numerous branches of engineering
now so much in favor. Manual labor in
this country long ceased to be regarded as
degrading, if it was ever so regarded by
sensible men. The intellectual demands
of modern manuel labor in many lines can
not but tend to elevate it in public esteem
As it now pays best, the next step will be,
perhaps, to accord it special honor, with
the result that ambitious youth will prefer
it in some of its forms to the professions.
A story is told of well known preacher
L II