, 1922-07-20
European and American Wages

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EUROPEAN wage levels have always been much
IL lower than those in the United States. That
is why hundreds of thousands of Europeans have
e~migrated to this country. They not only have been
in their home countries but they could buy more for
a dollar in this country than they could for its
equivalent in Europe.
American wages have been maintained at their
high level for the last 90 years solely because OF an
American protective tariff system which prevented
the inpouring of goods made abroad by cheaply
paid labor. Quite naturally had this country per
mitted such goods to come into umrestrained conn
petition with American made goods there would
have been but two possible results-either our man
ufactories would have been put out of business al
together or they would have been compelled TO re-
duce their wage levels to the level of European
wages.
In pre-war days German labor was probably the
best paid of any labor in Europe, and yet In 1914
before the outbreak of the European war, when
German industry was at the height of its prosper.
ity and production, the average German Yage was
but 60 per cent of the average wages in America.
The difference between the wage averages of other
European countries and this country was even
greater.
The world war made an economic wreck of Eu-
rope. 1t left every European nation tremendously
burdened with debts far in excess of anything ever
before known in human history. 1t left European
industry ruined. 1t left the industrial workers in
a condition of abject poverty. 1t wiped out all the
higher standards of living and working conditions
in Europe, standards which had been established
onS after two or three generations of agitation by
the working classes and action by organized labor.
Since the war industrial workers throughout Eu-
rope have been fortunate, indeed to get work at any
wage. In many countries this is stin impossible.
Under such conditions working men do not question
the hours they are asked to labor, neither do they
object to whatever wages are offered them.
The natural result is that European wage levels
are lower today proportionately than at any time
within the last half century, while on the other
hand working hours are longer and European work
ing conditions are more e~xacting. There is no deny.
ing these facts. All reports obtained from Eurone
agree the difference between wage levels in this
country and wage levels in Europe is greater to-
day than at any time within the life time of those
now living.
The average wage in eight leading industries
in 1914, prior to the outbreak of the war, was 10
cents an hour expressed in terms of American
money. These eight trades were building trades.
chemicals, metals, rubber, shoe, soap and wood In,
dustries and rle producers of food stuffs. In De
cember, 1921, the average hourly wages in these
same trades, expressed In terms of American money
were 35 cents an hour or about one-fourth of what
they were in 1914. On the other hand, wages in this
country in 1921 were much higher than they were
in 1914.
What is true of Germany is true of other Eu.
ropean countries in varying degrees. The average
wages paid in four of the leading industries in
Gzecho-Slovakia is 40 cents a day expressed in
terms of American money. These industries are
the shoe industry, smelling industry, iron indus
try and cabinet making industry.
The average wage of all the workers in the iron
and steel industries in France, according to the
latest information obtainable in this country by
the department of commerce and department of Ia
Dor is SLY a day. The average wage of all work.
es in five typical industries in France in 1921 was
$1S2 a day. The highest wage paid in France at
present is that paid in the glove industry where
the average is SLIP a day.
The latest available statistics from Italy show
that in 1921 the average wage of all workers en-.
gagged in four of the leading Industries in that coun,
try was $1.05 a day. These Industries were iron and
steel, chemical, textile and leather.
The following quotation is taken from a report
to the department of commerce.: "Roughly speaking
two yen is an average daily wage for male labor
IN Japan" Expressed in terms of American money
this is an equivalent of &c cents.
The latest available data from China shows the
average wage to Chinese laborers in seven leading
industries is Bis cents a day.
Free traders, international bankers, importer.
and others attempt TO befuddle the public by quot
ing wages of European workers before the war an6
their wages now, expressed in terms of European
currnecy. On the face of it, this shows a tremend
Gus increase in wages, but the deception in thes,
statements, and it is a deception made knowingl,
and with the purpose of deceiving is that EuropeaI
currencies have deprecated in value far more rap
idly than European wages paid in those currencie
have increased.
In other words, a German mark before the Euro
pean war was worth "a cents. If a German work
ing man received 10 marks n day he was receivin,
the equivalent of $40 in American money. TIL