Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-10-15
AN EFFECTIVE AFFIDAVIT.

City.
AN EFFECTIVE AFFIDAVIT.
]. Hampton Moore contributes to
the Philadelphia Ledger the following
interesting matter regarding work and
wages here and abroad:
There is one argument which Is
made much of by the advocates Of tar
fff for revenue only and which, be-
cause Of the lack of attention it has
received from those who are urging a
continuation of protective policies,
may have given rise to some doubts in
the minds of those who are not Tree
traders. but who do not believe in tar
IF piracy.
american manufacturers, we are
told frequently, sell their products in
foreign markets at lower prices than
are charged in the home markets.
"Ts this fair?' demands the free
trader. Doesn't it prove that protec-
tive tariff is conspiracy to rob the
poor, not to help them?
"In every case where American
made articles are sold abroad for less
money than they bring at home there
is a reason and very good one. Let
us take, for example, the case OF GER
tain make of sewing machines which
has been widely used by the demo.
Gratis as an illustration OF unjust and
unnecessary protection. This firm sells
sewing machines in the United States
for $2S and in England for $21.
"But 1t has a factory in Connecticut
where the average wage is $12 week
and another in Glasgow where the av-
erage wage is IS a week. Which Is
the more horrible, the $2S sewing ma
chine or the IS wage?
snow, as to conditions in the tex
tile industry, which means so much to
Philadelphia and which should be thor
oughly understood by the voters here.
u I have before me an affidavit sworn
to before a notary public at Greystons.
r. i. and signed by Mary Smith and
+ i ena Barker, weavers; Foster Barker,
section hand weaver; William Thorn
ton mechanic; Frank Swaine, section
hand spinner, and Aquilla Jaeger,
wool sorter, all Of Greystone and all
employed in one of the large worsted
mills, of that district, which has fac
& tories IN England as we'll as in this
country.
..This Is the affidavit, minus the
le1al formula and Embellishments:
1--WE have each and all worked for
the firm of Joseph Bonn & Sons, Ltd,
IN Bradford England, and now work
for Joseph Bonn & Sons, Inc, Grey
stone, r. l., and also live in the same
locality.
"Regarding our work, we wish to
state that we hold exactly the same
positions we held in England with the
exception that in England we worked
fifty-fiye and one-half hours per week,
whereas in the United States we work
fifty-six hours per week. In all other
RESPECTS our work Is just the same.
We make the same class Of goods
with the same machinery, using the
u same kind of raw stock, the machinery
running the same speed-no faster.
Eve should now like to state our
present rate of wages and living as
compared to our English wages and
i living
4 English wages: sorter, 80 shillings
(s7.79); mechanic, 80 shillings
fs7.3O); section spinning hand, SO
shillings ($S.O3); section weaving
hand, So shillings (sS.76); weavers,
IA shillings ($3.4D.
Omitted States wages: Sorter. $3.50
per week: Mechanic, SIS per week;
section spinning hand, SIG per week;
section weaving hand, SIG per week;
weavers, $11 to $12 per week.
english rents, IS. Cd. ($1.34) per
week for four rooms without bath or
toilet: United States rents, $3.50 per
week for eight rooms, with hot water,
sbath and toilet.
Nov. regarding the cost Of living.
This is best explained by stating that
lii we were content to live here as we
did in England-th is, using only the
same articles of food and purchasing
only the same quantities-we could
y live Just as cheaply; but, having dou-
lble or more wages, we find We are
able to live q good deal better and
have much more comfortable homes.
with regard to clothing, we find there
lis very little difference. Climatic con-
ditions here compel US to wear some
what different clothing, but our wages
are 80 much higher that we do not
feel the difference Last. but not least,
1--WE are left with surplus at the end
OF the week which is far In excess of
what we had in England, which en-
ables us to feel 50 much better off.
! 1--WE are prepared to testify before
any responsible body personally any
"details not Included here regarding
these questions.
Gould there be any more convinc-
ling proof that protection does protect
the wage Garner than these two incl
dents?"
BLESSINGS OVERLOOKED.
10 ~ "a ~ .4