The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1915-09-24
WAGES IN AMERICAN
INDUSTRIES TOO Low
UNJUST DISTRIBUTION

Discussing the first of these causes,
the report summarizes evidence show
ing that A families possess aggregate
incomes tOtaling at least fifty millions
per year, while between one-fourth
and one-third of male workers in fac
tories and mines, IS years of age and
over, earn less than SO per week,
and only about one-tenth earn more
than 500 per week Inequality in the
distribution of wealth and income is
set forth as follows:
workmen, the fathers and potential
fathers, from whose earnings accord
ing to the American Standard the
support of the family is to be derived
Between one-fourth and one-third
of the male workers in factories and
mines Is years of age and over earn
less than $40 per week; from two
thirds to three-fourths earn less than
SIS, and only about one-tenth earn
more than $40 a week. This does
not take into consideration lost work
ing time for any cause.
Next are the women, the most por
tentously growing factor in the labor
force whose wages are important, not
only for their own support or as the
supplement of the meager earnings
of their fathers and husbands, but be-
cause through the force of competi-
ton in rapidly extending field they
threaten the whole basis of the wage
scale From two-thirds to three
fourths of women workers in factories,
stores, laundries, and in industrial oc
equations generally, work at wages of
less than SIS a week approximately
one-fifth earn less than $4 and nearly
one-half earn less than Sc a week.
PLIGHT OF THE UNDERPAID
six dollars a week-what does it
mean to many? Three theatre tickets,
gasoline for the week, or the price of
dinner for two; a pair of shoes,
three pairs of gloves, or the cost of
an evening at bridge. To the girl it
means that every penny must be
counted, every normal desire stifled,
and each basic necessity of life barely
satisfied by the sacrifice of some 9th
er necessity. If more food must be
had than is given with IS cent din
ners, it must be bought with what
should go for clothes; if there is need
for a new waist to replace the old
one at which the fOreWoman has
glanced reproachfully, or at which the
| girls have giggled, there can be no
| lunches for a week, and dinners must
cost five cents less each day. Always
too the room must be paid for, and
! back of it lies the certainty that with
slack seasons will come lay-offs and
discharges. If the breaking point has
come, and she must have some amuse-
ment, where can it come from? Sure
/ ly not out of six dollars week.
CRIME AGAINST CHILDHOOD
Last of all are the children, for
whose petty addition to the stream of
production the nation is paying
heavy toll in ignorance, deformity Of
body or mind, and premature old age.
After all, does it matter much what
they are paid, for all experience has
shown that in the end the fathers
wages are reduced by about the
amount that the children earn. This
| is the so-called family wage, and ex-
animation of the wages in different
industries corroborates the theory
that in those industries, such as tex
tiles, where women and children can
be largely utilized the wage Of men
are extremely low.
The competitive effect of the EN-
ployment of women and children upon
the wages of men, can scarcely be
overestimated. Surely it is hard
enough to be forced to put children to
work, without having to see the wages
Of men held down by their employ
ment
"This is the condition ar one end
of the social scale; what is at the
other2
AN AWFUL CONTRASTS
"Massed in millions. "A the other
end of the social scale, ARE fortunes
of a size never before dreamt Of, /
whose very owners do not know the