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| Landscape After Night Rain Shower, Qing Dynasty, 1660. |
Cortland
Evening Standard, Thursday,
April 16, 1896.
LABOR'S NEW
MENACE.
MAY EXPECT TO MEET CHINESE
COMPETITION.
Rates Paid to Skilled Oriental
Workmen Range From 3 to 22 Cents a Day—American Workmen Must Be Protected—Our Trade
With Japan.
No country
in the world is more abundantly supplied with labor than
China, and in no country in the world does the
laborer receive less compensation. A Chinese laborer will save money on wages
that would hardly be sufficient to supply the absolute necessities of an American
laborer. This is made possible by the cheapness of the vegetable diet on which
the Chinese laborer is content to live; the small cost of house accommodations,
for several families will subdivide one room of a house and live in contentment
in it, and the low price paid for clothing, which is made of the coarsest
cottons. But the cheapness of labor in China does not mean that the products of
that labor are inferior in quality. The Japanese laborer, receiving higher
wages, is more artistic in his work—his productions are more finished; in dyes
and in the blending of colors he is superior to his Chinese rival, but in
substantial and lasting quality the latter is fully the equal, and, in some instances,
the superior.
The silk
that comes from the looms of Japan compares in gloss and fineness with any in
the world, and Japanese [drapes] have a reputation in almost every market for
softness of beauty and harmony of color, but for substantial wear, for lasting
quality, the silk goods of China are most favorably known to the merchants of
all lands.
There is in
Chinese character a conservatism which has discouraged all progress in China.
The principle, "let well enough alone," has been adhered to under the
mistaken idea that "well enough" was the best, but in China this adherence
to custom, this opposition to change, has filled the empire with an impoverished
population, for a people that use in their trade and business a currency of so
small a denomination as one-tenth of a Mexican cent cannot be said to have felt
the quickening influence of an enlarged and civilizing commerce. The cheapness
and small denominations of Chinese currency and the low price of the diet and
clothing of the Chinese laborer are evidences of nonprogressiveness, but it
should not be inferred from these that the capacity for progress is absent from
Chinese character.
During the
last fiscal year the value of the trade relations between Japan and the United
States was estimated, in round numbers, at $28,000,000, but the figures show a
balance against the United States of $19,000,000. Japan is nearer to the United
States than any other western nation, and several thousand miles nearer than to
Great Britain, and yet the balance sheet, for comparison, between Japan and
Great Britain shows a balance in favor of the latter about as large as the
balance against the United States.
During the
game period the value of the aggregate trade relations between China and the
United States was estimated at $25,500,000, with a balance against the United
States of $7,200,000, while in China, as in Japan, Great Britain checks off
large balances in her favor, although more remote from China by thousands of
miles.
European
nations are sustaining the efforts of European merchants more substantially
than the American merchant is sustained. The latter, in the competition for
Asiatic trade, has to rely upon his own skill and energy, while the merchants
of Europe are encouraged by the aid given to the great steamship lines which
carry their flags and pour the productions of Europe into Asiatic ports. At the
port of Shanghai, the great commercial and distributing center of Asiatic
trade, Great Britain, France and Germany have direct mail and commercial
communication, the steamers entering and leaving the port every week, carrying
the flags of their respective nationalities, while no ship carrying the
American mail and flying the stars and stripes touches at Shanghai at all.
From this
standpoint the advantages to American interest of the cutting of the Nicaragua
canal would evidently be great. Should the United States cut the canal and say
that vessels carrying the flag of the United States should pass toll free or at
very moderate tolls for a certain period would not the benefit to American
shipping be almost incalculable? Would it not create a new life in the
shipyards of the United States and soon restore our flag to its former
supremacy on the ocean?
In
conclusion, we give the value of Chinese labor, the rates of wages being those
paid at Shanghai and reduced to American currency by Consul Jernigan on Sept.
30, 1895:
Blacksmith,
$0.13 per day
Brass
worker, .16
Barber, .03
Bootmaker,
.10
Bamboo
cabinet maker, .11
Bricklayer,
.10
Compositor
(per month), 5.28
Carpenter,
.11
Cabinet
maker, .13
Cooly, .13
Bookbinder
(per month), 4.22
Lithographer
(per month), 10.56
Furniture
polisher, .21
Tailor, .10
Pressman
(per month), 6.34
Coachman
(per month), 8.17
House boy
(per month), 2.11
Cotton mill
machinist, .11 to .22
Cotton
factory hands, .18
A Duty.
A
restoration of the duty on wool is demanded at the present time for the sake of
revenue as well as for the strengthening of a great home industry in which
capital and labor are extensively interested, and the prosperous condition of
which would be essential to our welfare in case of certain grave emergencies
which have recently appeared on the horizon of possibility,—Rochester Democrat
and Chronicle.
 |
| William McKinley. |
DENIAL FOR MCKINLEY.
His Friends Busy Nailing Campaign
Stories
AS TO THE MAJOR'S RELIGION.
Had Been Accused of Being a
Catholic, a Hibernian and Various Other
Things Which His Friends
Emphatically Declare He Is Not.
CLEVELAND, April
16.—The following statement has been given out by James B. Morrow, editor of
the Cleveland Leader, a newspaper which perhaps more nearly represents Mr.
McKinley than does any other paper in the United States:
"Persons
who pretend to be conspicuous members of the American Protective Association
have given circulation to the statement that Hon. William McKinley is a member
of the Ancient Order of Hibernians; that M. A. Hanna, who is Mr. McKinley's
personal and political friend, is a Roman Catholic; that Mr. Boyle, Mr. McKinley's
private secretary, is also a member of the Catholic church, and finally, that
while Mr. McKinley was governor of Ohio his appointments were largely made from
the membership of a certain religious denomination.
"William
McKinley is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has been a member of
that denomination nearly all his life. His ancestors and his family for two
centuries have been Protestants—Methodists and Presbyterians. At this time Mr.
McKinley is one of the trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal church of
Canton, O.
"Moreover,
Mr. McKinley is not a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, nor of the
American Protective Association. However, he is a Free Mason and has been for
many years; he is a Knight Templar, a Knight of Pythias, a comrade of the Grand
Army of the Republic, a member of the Union Veteran union, of the Sons of the
American Revolution, of the Loyal Legion and of a college fraternity. And these
are the only secret societies with which Mr. McKinley has any connection
whatever.
"The
charge that his appointments to office while he was governor of Ohio was largely
from the Roman Catholic church or any other church is ridiculous and untrue. He
believes that all men should be permitted to worship God in the manner that
squares with their conscience.
"I am
authorized to say that Major McKinley knows nothing whatever about the
application of a committee from any organization to visit him at Canton. He has
never refused to meet any person or committee of any kind, nor declined to have
any committee interview him upon any subject whatever.
"It
should also be stated that both Mr. Hanna and Mr. Boyle, who is private
secretary to Major McKinley, are lifelong members of the Protestant Episcopal church."
STATEMENT BY THE A. P. A.
Denounce McKinley, but Find No
Fault With Other Candidates.
BOSTON, April
16.—A circular has been issued by the secretary of the advisory board of the
American Protective Association, from which these excerpts are taken.
"After
several months' quiet, persistent painstaking investigation as to the standing
and records of these candidates on our principles and American questions the executive
committee of the national advisory board recently met in Washington and New
York, where, during several sessions, the majority gathered, with the statements
tabulated and the reports submitted were carefully examined and discussed.
Among other conclusions reached were these:
"1.
That the national advisory board adopt no candidate as the candidate which the
order should support, as to do so at this time would be most unwise and impolitic.
"2.
After carefully analyzing the evidence adduced, the committee found to be true
the charges made against one of the candidates, viz.: Ex-Governor McKinley, of
discriminating in his appointments in favor of Romanists and against American
Protestants, because the latter were members of the American Protective
Association. For example, among other appointments was one of a Roman Catholic
Irishman who was suspended for drunkenness, while the application of an American
Protestant, a Grand Army man and an A. P. A., was rejected on the ground that
he belonged to the order though he had been promised the position by the governor.
"Among
other instances reported to the committee is that of W. W. Lanning of Franklin
county, O., who was a candidate for sheriff. He was a prominent A. P. A and
known to be such; also a Republican of sterling integrity, and so popular that he
came within 600 votes of carrying a county that was Democratic by 1,500
nominally. After his defeat, backed by the most prominent Republicans in the
state for the position of district oil inspector, McKinley said that the reason
why he could not use Lanning was because of his prominence in the order.
"3.
Among the managers and active supporters, secret or public, of Major McKinley, are
Richard Kerens, Romanist, of Missouri, who has again and again in the public
press denounced the A. P. A. organization in the most vindictive terms, and sought
but in vain, to have the national Republican committee denounce the organization;
also Stephen Elkins of West Virginia.
"4. Of
the other candidates, viz., William B. Allison of Iowa, Senator Quay of Pennsylvania,
Senator Cullom of Illinois, Governor Bradley of Kentucky, Governor Morton of
New York, ex-President Harrison and Thomas B. Reed, the committee was satisfied
with their Americanism and sympathy with the principles of the order. Concerning
the charges made against Thomas B. Reed the committee found them to be
groundless. For instance:
"In
regard to the matter of Speaker Reed leaving the chair when the house started to
consider the Indian appropriation bill, we would state that the house went into
committee of the whole and when that is done the speaker shall leave his chair
and a chairman is chosen for that time.
"It is
also a notable fact that the only state conventions that have thus far
incorporated principles of our order in their platform are the states that are
now booming Mr. Reed, and on such platform, if nominated, he must stand.
"The
committee regrets that it has been unable to make any statement with respect to
candidates of the Democratic party from the fact that as yet no candidates have
come to the surface."
Greater New York Bill Passed.
ALBANY,
April 16.—The municipality of Greater New York, a city of 3,600,000
inhabitants, is likely to be partially created within 30 days and accomplished
within a year. The senate passed the Greater New York bill by a vote of 34 to
14, a defection of but four votes from the former vote. A poll of the assembly
demonstrated that it will pass that body by a clear majority. Governor Morton
will sign it.
Fletcher & Bangs.
Mr. R. B.
Fletcher, the veteran undertaker of Cortland, and Mr. Elmer Bangs have formed a
co-partnership in the undertaking business which will be carried on under the
firm name of Fletcher & Bangs at the old stand of the former, 11 Clinton-ave.
Mr. Fletcher is too well known to the public as an undertaker of long
experience to need any introduction. Mr. Bangs has for many years been a
resident of Cortland, and was for some time in the manufacturing business here.
For the past ten years he has been on the road selling undertakers' goods and
supplies to the trade. He is thoroughly familiar with the undertaking business
in all its details and will make a valuable assistant to Mr. Fletcher.
IT IS A BICYCLE WAR!
Cortland Wagon Co. Has Something to
Say About Wheels.
When we
offered our Cortland friends a good reliable bicycle at $40, we thought we
would make those dealers who have been making 35 and 40 per cent profit out of
their friends and neighbors squirm, but we don't care for that. If you want a
bicycle and a good one, we will sell it to you at a price that will be
satisfactory to you and acceptable to us and we will let the other fellow
borrow the trouble over our transaction.
When they
offer you a so-called up-to-date 1896 wheel for $50, remember that wheel has
been made by some one at a profit and that the dealer has to have a profit
beyond the manufacturer. How about quality after two big profits have been
deducted from $50?
The bicycle
we offer for $40 is on exhibition in several windows on Main-st. We do this as we want people to see the wheel. We
know we are offering the greatest bargain ever known in bicycles in Cortland
county and want people to judge for themselves. Note the features. Detachable
rear sprockets; oil tempered bearings turned and polished; drop forged
connections; cold drawn seamless tubing; swagged spokes; chain with hardened
blocks; option on handle bars; saddles and tires; guaranteed one year. Examine
it closely, test it, buy it, save money and be happy. Let the other fellow
worry.
Remember,
we are not dealers, are manufacturers and jobbers, have contracted for 5,000
wheels, offer the prediction that we can sell you less than the "other
fellow" pays, and then make a profit.
Still more.
The company that made these wheels is in existence to-day and is no other than
the old, only and original Cortland Wagon Co. whose guarantee has always been
back of everything it ever manufactured and is back of these wheels. Come and
see. Don't be buncoed.
CORTLAND WAGON CO.
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