Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-19
Sometimes They Speculate.

Very often a fever of uncertainty gets
hold OF the trade: the prices OF cotton
goods will vary considerably during a few
days. but usually there is very little
speculation. One OF the largest features
of the exchange is the placing Of
orders for specific goods. The represent
ative of shipping house. for example.
wishes to fill an order for calico prints.
He goes ION change" buys sufficient
quantity of plain goods lin the gray"
then he finds a printer and bargains with
him concerning pattern, price and date OF
delivery. The weaver who is to furnish
the goods buys the yarn to I'LL the order
without moving from his place. And when
finished he ships them to the printer
who turns the white cloth through his
calico presses, and delivers it to the
packer who puts il in cases for shipment
by men who understand the tariff require
ments and the transportation facilities
of the country to which the goods are to
be sent. All these transactions occur
within arms length of the man who gives
the original order and thus much time
and trouble are saved.
Richard Golden a Cotton Printer.
There is statue of Golden. the great
free trader and founder of the Man
chester School of Political Economy" in
front of the cotton exchange. and others
of Gladstone and Bright nearby in the
same little square. Queen Victoria. In
bronze, is in the party, not idealized. but
kindly. serious face.
Richard Golden, as you know. the
leader and founder of the free trade party
in England, was a Manchester cotton prin-
ter. and in 1889 started the movement
which resulted in the repeal OF the corn
laws. After the triumph of that cam
paign the name" Manchester School" stuck
to the free traders of Great Britain. just
as the word protectionists has stuck to
the republican party in the United States
The followers of Golden and then Of
Bright, and after him OF Gladstone have
adhered to the principles Golden advo-
Gated; that is, complete freedom of trade,
unrestricted competition and non-inter-
vention by the government in commercial
afl airs.
Protection Sentiment Growing.
The famous Free Trade Hall of Man.
chester, beautiful building, that looks
like Florentine palace. was erected in
1876 for the headquarters of Cobden's
Club upon ground owned by Mr. Golden
1t is one of the largest audtoriums in ex-
istence and will seat 5000 people without
crowding. The Manchester school is be-
ginning TO weaken in its politics, however.
There are more protectionists among the
manufacturers OF Manchester today than
there are free traders, and almost as many
as in Birmingfham. They will not adj
nit themselves to be protectionsts how
ever. They still insist that free trade is
the only honest and wise policy, just az
William Jennings Bryan sticks to his
theories OF silver money; but they admit
that II all the rest of the world erects
tariff wall against British merchandise.
Great Britain should retaliate by impos-
ing duties upon foreign merchandise.
Besides cotton cloth Manchester exports
vast quantities of yarn TO manufacturers
in Germany and other European countries.
In order that the volume and value of this
trade may be better appreciated. it may
be said that our exports of cotton goods
from the United States amounts annually
to about 100000, as against s400 000.-
900 from the Manchester district alone.
Our best customers are China, Cuba, Can
ada. Mexico and the South American
countries.
Wages There and in America.
The difference in wages between the
two countries is SO great. however that
one would think it impossible for us to
compete with British manufacturers.
The average wages in the mills OF
Lacanshire for men and women are about
s. a week. And that is an advance from
an average OF 81 81 in 1905 and from So %
in 1893. These wages are paid for fifty
five hours work TO men and women with
families. The larger number of employees
receive less than s. a week probably 65
to 40 per cent of them. More than half Of
the 100000 people engaged in the Lam
caShire mills earn less than 81 week.