Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1896 — American Workingmen. [ARTICLE]

American Workingmen.

Do you remember, fellow citizens, that while the McKinley law was in existence the Dundee (Scotland) Herald sent nine Scotch workingmen to this country to investigate the condition of American workingmen? After an extended investigation they weDt home and reported. Here are some of the things they said in their report: "In some branches of the iron and steel trade the wages are only about one-halt more than those ruling at home, but in the textile and some branches of other industries the operatives receive about three times what they would in Great Britain.” Referring to the style of living among American work-' ingmen the report says: "All the houses of the workingmen visited by the delegates were found to be more comfortable and neatly furnished than would be the case of the homes generally of their fellow artisans at home.” That perhaps, isn’t saying much, for it is Btated as a fact that the houses of British workingmen never have carpeted floors or papered walls, and such a thing as a piano, organ or melodeon is unknown among them. Coming to the food Question, the Scotchmen say, "the standard of living is undoubtedly much higher in America than at home;” that "fruit in its season is invariably seen in. considerable quantities'on the table of workingmen, and butcher meat, either in the shape of pie, roast or stew, is partaken of by most of them three times every day >” and that f ‘the working people of America keep themselves always well clothed.” As many foreign workingmen do not eat meat on an average of ■ .-***•

once a day and others not once a week, the visitors were doubtless surprised to find ; that those in this country eat meat two or three times a day; that is, when business ie-normal and depression does not cast a gloom over the country. That was when "McKinleyism’ was law in this country and the saipe committee of Scotch workingmen should come here their report would have to bp greatly modified. They would re-

port wagefe about 25 per cent below what they were then. There would be hundreds (of thousands of laborers out of einploymeht and many others working only occasionally, If they should in-, quire th 3 reason for the change,, they would have to be told that the people wanted a chauge and got it They do not like it and are going to re-change, call back Republicanism and prosperity and banish Democracy and adversity. Jaspeb Packabd.