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BEAVER, PA„,:Prtd*F noralBKt March Slit, 1873.BBATBB FALLS’ EXAMPLE.The Economites, in their answer tot.be citizens of Beaver Falls, say 'm substance, that within six months fry the substitution of Chinese at cheap wages, for white skilled workmen, the cutlery has been placed ' upon a paying basis; that before the introduction of Chinese the works were losing money, but now, with Chinese cheap-labor, they are making money. The statement is re-^J markable, and almost incredible, ‘ but, if true, it is well calculated to | rouse the fears 6f workingmen not J only in Beaver Falls but throughout the country. When other;, manufac- 1 turers discovert that the Beaver * Fall6 experiment is a decided sue- ' cess, aDd in so short time, how long will they hesitate, if undftered by fear, to follow the bad but re- ] .munerative example ? Other like ! establishments, in order to success- * fully compete in the market with * Beaver Falls Cutlery Company, will be compelled to employ the same kind, of labor; so much seems clear.If the Chinese are apt workingmen ( in making cutlery, why may they not* be equally successful in other kinds of employment? Why may . not and why will not other manu-(actuFers import hundreds or thons- ^ ands of thefn, under long contracts, to be substituted for white work- J men in their manufactories ? The ^ Beaver Falls experiment with the { Chinese proves conclusively that ( money will be made by the change, j and money-making is the object of j all manufacturers. Would it sur- . prise any one to bear now that some ; wealthy companies in Pittsburgh or j Allegheny had determined to follow the successful experiment of -Beaver Falls Cutlery Company? Were lt;workingmen submissive, they might soon be struggling and competing with the Chinese for labor, the result of which would be to reduce its value and lessen its dignity. There is danger ^ to the workingmen in the success of this |lf$ymefiIn5rCfiTne6e,*and is unreasonable that they should be expected to quietly submit to such injustice and tamely await impending disasters that are now so clearly foreseen. If this Coolie experiment had not already been proclaimed a success, as if . to aggravate the sore hearts of *he discharged white workingmen, there would be some hope from its uncertain re-, suits that the example would not be 1 contagious, and that Baaver Falls 1 would be the only place blighted by the presence of tbe heathen Chinee. But the very suceess of the enterprise is the most dangerous feature abont the business. Crowded China could vomit forth thousands and . tens of thousands of laborers, and then realize only a temporary relief. The supply is unlimited; the demand is only to be made. Success with them will stimulate the demand for more, and when the tide has fairly set in who can stop it ? and what will be the end of it ? These are seriouB questions, and American workmen will do well to ponder them well. I
Newspaper Details
Beaver Radical
Beaver, Pennsylvania, US
Fri, Mar 21, 1873
Page 4
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 14 Apr 2025
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