The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-29

earners Is highest in the most harmful
occupations. such as tobacco, match,
and textile manufacture. In addition,
an analysis of the data OF manufac-
lures shows an interesting attraction
between Jewish capital and Jewish Ia
Dor. since scarcely any Jewish wage
workers are found In factories owned
BY Gentlles. Whether this be due to
difficulties OF Sabbath rest. or an anti
Semitic feeling. it appears that the
difficulties in the way OF Jewish en-
terprise put serious limitation to
the opportunities of Jewish labor a
we'll.
While accurate wage statistics are
lacking for Russia, the data in regard
to customary wages of factory workers
and earnings of independent artisans
show a. very low level. even II the
cheaper cost of living be considered
While the earnings of artisans are
naturally subject to wide ranges. yet
the figures show that the majority
earn only from s1o3' to sl545o a.
year, that even smaller earnings are
quite frequent. and that an income OF
over 5000 Is quite unusual for an arti-
san family. Wages of workingmen
range from s1.55 to s4.12 q. week
while women or girls work for from
so.77 to s1.oa a week. Until recently
long hours went hand in hand with
these low wages, 10 TO IA hours was
very usual working day down to
the end OF the past century, and a
1'day OF 16 hours was not rare.
Notwithstanding these unfavorahle,
conditions OF work, already a. persist
ent movement toward shorter hours
and better pay has benefited the arti-
sans and factory workers, as we'll as
the commercial employees and even do
mesttc servants. The modern labor
movement, which utilities the expert
ence Of the western world, has sprung
up within the last decade. While the
peculiar; political conditions have
thrown this labor movement into close
association with the political, socialist.
and national aspirations, nevertheless,
the purely economic work has made
marked progress. All the principles
have become familiar to the Jewish
wageworker AS yet the practical re-
suits Of this movement are more mani
fest in the Improvement of the general
4 conditions of work and especially in
the reduction of working hours. Wages
have also been Influenced, though not
to avery marked degree: but as re-
suit Of this movement. a 1o-hour work
ing day hasaquite generally been reali-
zed. and struggle for an even shorter
day of 9 or hours Is In active pro-
/! gress. SIS
Even more than the artisans and
d factory workers does the commercial
/ class feel the influence OF the enforc ed
congestion under which they live. A
little over one-third of the entire com
| merclal class in Russia consists OF
Jews. but within the Pale the proper
ton rises to almost 10 per cent. Ir
northwestern Russia 1t reaches even
80 per cent. More than half Of these
deal in agricultural products. and upot
Z them devolves the marketing OF tht
A product of grlculture OF these pro.
vinces. While It is this function 81
the Russian lew that especially calls
forth accusations of exploitation OF
u the Russian peasant, an analysis OF
! their work indicates not only that the,
! constitute an Indispensable factor ir
the economic life of the agriculture
] masses, but that their extreme com
! petition among themselves could no
but benefit the agricultural worker
both as a seller of his produce and a!
: n buyer of general merchandise. TIL,
income OF the majority OF these petit,
merchants is even smaller than tn,
wages\of an artisan.
| While the condition OF the pett,
so-called independent merchants is
i very unsa satisfactory one there ar
signs OF Improvement in the status o
commercial employees in the larg
cities, mainly through their efforts to
| ward organization and collective bar
gaining. While political aspiration