The Delta independent., 1921-07-01
FOUR WAGE COMPARISONS.

FOUR WAGE COMPARISONS.
Washington, June 28-"There are
two outstanding arguments in favor
of a protective tariff" says the Re-
publican Publicly Association, thru
its president, Hon. Jonathan Bourne,
Jr, zone is to furnish protection to
a sufficiently varied number of in
dustries that the country may be self
supporting and independent Of sup
plies furnished from abroad. The
other and more important reason for
protection is to preserve for the
American workingman a wage that
will enable him to live according to
the American standard. That stand
ard is the highest in the world. When
It is lowered by reason Of an unre-
strained competition from cheap for
eign labor, not only the workingman
himself suffers, but the whole social
structure Of the nation is brought
down.
SIT is not open to dispute that il
goods made in foreign factories by
workers receiving $1.50 day are
offered in the American market along
side of similar goods manufactured
by American workers receiving Sc
a day a price is made possible that
absolutely shuts out the home product.
The result is either the shut down
of the American factory Or the re-
duction of wages to the point
where the cost Of the product equals
that of the foreign article. 1t is the
object of the protective tariff to avoid
either of those disasters by assessing
sufficient duty against goods as they
enter our ports to offset the differ
ence in the cost Of production at home
and abroad, and put the foreign pro-
duct before the American consumer
on the same basis as the domestic
article.
"cA comparison Of wages now pre-
vailing in other nations with those
the American workingman is receiv-
ing forms sufficient answer in it.
self to all advocates of free trade, and
completely establishes the case Of
the protectionists. Such a compila-
tion is now available in print, pre-
pared from official sources, and is
being studied carefully by the Ways
and Means Committee of the House
engaged in framing the new tariff
bill. Below are given figures from
that table showing the weekly wage
for various Industries:
Chemicals-U. S. s31O3; England
$1S.71; Germany s6.34; Japan s4.9O.
Pottery and chinaware-U. s. s3O.94;
England s15.59; Germany $3.50; jap
an $500
Glass-U. s. s26.s1 to s69.s3; En-
gland $27.3o; Germany 1924; Japan
$3.50.
Iron and steel-U. S. s43.12; En-
gland s17.40; Germany s5.34; Japan
$3.50.
Cabinetmaking-U. S. $27.21; En-
gland s196S; Germany $5.76; Japan
$3.50.
Bread baking-U S. s26.32; En-
gland s15.14.
Candy making-U. S. S19.s7; En-
gland s13.65; Germany s5.28; Japan
$780, c
Brewing-U. s s3414; England
s14.4s; Germany $4.9o; Japan s5.4O.
Cotton weaving-U. S. $20.86; En-
gland s12.39; Germany s4.35; Japan
$4.56.
Woolen weaving-U. S. $3S9S; En-
gland $17.70; Germany $4.35; Japan
$500.
Tailoring-U. S. s26.3s; England
$16.32; Germany 1924; Japan $s.13.
"It is seen that the average Ameri-
can wage is about twice that in En-
gland and five times those in Ger
many and japan. Furthermore, it is
shown that the cost of living in thoes
countries has gone up far higher rel
atively than in the United States,
which makes the difference in wage
scales actually much greater. Every
body knows to what an extent our
markets are now flooded by Japanese
products and the havoc that has been
worked in our own industries as
result. The same is seen with Ger
man goods as Germany rapidly re-
gains her industrial strength. En-
glish competition will also be keen
as soon as British labor troubles
have disappeared.
"Def1ation Of wartime American
wages is one thing but the reduction
Of those wages below the normal
American standard is quite another.
No true American wishes to see the
latter forced upon the country Now
is the time to work out the tariff
rates that will prevent 1t by putting
an end to the Oriental influx OF goods,
and provide effective barriers Against
the invasion Of our markets from
Europe"