The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-10-18


game in prices. The piece workmen
tried TO make good wages even at the 70.
duced rates, bat they had TO work like
steam engines. ,st0 60,
After prices were crushed down nso low
that no man could make decent living
the great strike occurred. The Workmen
struck for eight hours as q days worF
for day labor and an advance OF 20 per
cent 10 prices for piece work. Anyman
OF a calculating brain could see that the
idea involved In this demand was a,good
one, for under the reduced wages-men
having to do twice as much work TO make
fair wages-there was actually an I'M
mense oVer.production, which was calcu.
lated 10 literally food the markets with
tallclasses OF, manufactured goods. Re-
duced time and higher wages would have
obviated to q very great extent this over
production and maintained wages at q
living standard. Under the existing con!
dition OF things the employers could not
provide work for all their nands
more than nine months in the year
unless they discharged one.fourth Of the
number. Another result Of their reduc-
ed wages in addition to the oyVrproduc.
ton, was the miserable character OF the |
work, arising from the attempt OF the
workmen to make wages that would sup.
port their families in something like COM
tort. The markets were filed with infer
ior goods, inferior not in material, but in
the method Of its putting up. All the
manufacturers Of good, solid custom
work were in sympathy with the strikers
and most Of them run their factories but |
eight hours per day. Ofcourse their OBJ.
iect was to get the market cleared OF
undersold and worthless stuff with which
II was crowded. On the other hand
the manufacturers OF cheap goods
were violent opponents OF the strikers:
They were driven on BY the mania Of
competition until the manufactured
goods we're but waste Of material,so in.
ierior was the workmanship. sWhilethese
men were struggling not only for the ex.
istence OF themselves and their families,
but for the real interest OF the munutac-
tures, where did Mr.. Ottendorter stand
Was he on the side Of the workingmen,
or on the side OF the great capitalists
and aristocrats! Let US seel not; only
was Mr.. ottendorfet opposed tolthe pro-
positionof the workingmen, bat not con-
lent that matters should stand as
they were before the strike, he was one Of
the first to advocate still further and
greater reduction OF wages, seemingly |
possessed with the idea that low, starv.
Ing wages were the panacea for hard
times, sort OF royal road to renewed
prosperity.
Reducing the reward Of labor was Mr..
ottendoriers plan for reconstsncting the |
manufacturing supremacy Of New Eng, |
land and New York, Pauperizing the
artiZans that their employers might con-
tinue to gamble in their products.
Mr.. Otteadorier was thought to carry |
the German element OF New York city
In his pocket and became iavorite with
his party-the aristocracy OF reform.
The party set him up as their candidate
for Mayor, and were as sure Of his cleo
ton as they now claim to be OF Mr.. Till
den's election 70 the Presidency. When
the day OF trial came Mr.. Ottendorfer |
was put 10 the balance and found wanting |
he had counted without his host
The German element was not Mr.. Often. |
dorier's TO traffic with in the political
market. That element did not support
him at the polls-it repudiated him and
he was beaten. His fall waseomplete, in
fact he dropped clean out Of sight-sOme
people said he. went to Germany. Be
that rs II may, Mr.. ottendorfer has ceased
to be influential with the Germans in New
York. His political importance has de-
clined to zero; he is merely the respecta.
BILE figure head Of a newspaper which is
read for its news and not for its political
opinions. His influence with the Germans
counts for r,,nothing in favor Of Tilden. The
Germans OF New York as elsewhere, be-
lieve in standard money, which is hard
money, as 4 very large ingredient in the
policy which Is 10 relieve Us from hard
times. 1t is not free trade that is want |
ing. II is the money upon which the
business, Of all solvent nations on the
earth is based that We want. Il is not the
opportunity TO import silks, cloths, Paris |
kid gloves, English steel and iron, French
glass and Havana cigars free OF duty that
Is wanting in order TO put all our facto.
ries in motion, to kindle the fires Of
industry throughout the length and
breadth Of the land, but it is the settle.
ment Of our political status upon the eter'
nal principles Of right and justice, the
elimination from our politics Of every |
element that may cast shadow OF doubt
upon our financial integrity. the protec.
ton Of our industries from ovetpoWering
competition whenever and wherever
necessary, and the standard currency Of
the world to do business in the worldsl
markets, that is wanted.
Mr. ottendorferS views are but the re-
flection Of Tammany, with which the Ger.
mans OF New York have. never affiliated.
He has been repudiated by.his county!
men in his own city and State. Why
should his views be adopted by Wheeling |
Germans? HANS.