The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-12-04

Free Trade Condemned.

st In comparison of labor con
d dltions the London Standard square
e ly admits that the advantages ar,
;, greatly in favor of the United States
e lttakes up the subject OF wages or
f one hand and cost of living on the
other, and arrives at some unusually
A instructive figures. The Standard
New York correspondent has care
S fully Investigated the subject, and
, the paper in its editorial conclusions
, states that wages IN the United
| States are "startlingly higher" Than
{ in Great Britain. This difference
. In the rate Of wages is from 80 t.
200 per cent "It is clear" says the
Standard in reviewing the wages
paid in mechanical trades in the
two countries, 'that the average
wage in the United States is nearly
two and half times as high as in
this country. A comparison Of
the annual cost of living follows,
and the finding is that "there /:
thus difference of less than $50 in
food costs compensated for by o
difference of $375 In wages" TAX
ing everything into account, rent,
fuel, Lighting, clothing and genera
comfort, the Standard credits the
UnltedStates workmen with week
y surplus of $7,ao, against $I,91
tor the British workman.
Free trade writer's hsbituall)
claim that the lower wages in Grea,
Britain are Offset by the lower cos
of living, as compared with the
United States. On the other hand,
they contend that low wages in
Germany are the result Of the Ger
man protective system. When it
comes to an exscs showing the
British exhibit is found to be ex
tremely defective. German work
men save more than the British
and would be unwilling to exchaal .
standards of camfort. Germany's
growth In commerce and manufac
urIng is fact we'll known in Eng
land. But far in advance of the
workman of any other country is
the wage-earner of the United States.
The weekly pay of the mechanic in
this country is startling" to all
foreign investigators. Shift the
point of view as they will, they are
compelled to acknowledge that the
American workman enjoys much
the larger net income and that ne
has opportunities found nowhere
else. The Standard credits the |
pretectionist victory In the recent
election to the happier tariff co1-
dilions in this country. "We have
not had for long time," it remarks,
"a more instructive example of the
advantages of the American over
the British fiscal system.
Free trade is tottering in Great
Britain. Protection is adding greatly
to the commercial aod Industrial
standing of Germany. But far a
head of the workmen Of any other
country are those of the United
States under the operations Of pro
tective tariff. American workmen,
as a whole, know that their rate Of
wages, the highest IN the world, and
their chances of employment, rest
upon the protective principle. The
American does not go abroad fr
work. He is better off at home.
But millions of foreign workmen
have immigrated to America, and
they could add their testimony to Il e
truth Ofihese statements. At this
time free traders in this country are
striving to put their mark on the
pending tariff revision. They are '
absolutely opposed to protective
principles, however cautious they
may be ik using the term free trade
They were routed in the recent ele-
;tion, and the mask will be torn
rom them in the revision.
Democrat.