Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-10-25
MIR. HEWITT ON LABOR.
A Speech from the Largest Iron
Emnloyer In the United States.

"A speech IEOul tuC Ans VS. NV.
Employer In the United States.
Hon. A. s Hewitts New York Speech. Oct 20.
NV experience in Congress satisfied
me, and do not hesitate to declare, that
the Republican Representatives, as
rnle, represented only the views and in
terests OF the employers and rarely gave
expression to the real grievan ;es OF labor
and its rightful demand for relief from
oppressive taxation. General Garheld's
real opinions are, think, made perfect
" clear by this astonishing letter, which
appeared in a New York paper this
morning:
personal and CONFIDENTIAL
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WAsHISGroS, ID. c., Jan. %, 1880.
DEAR SIR-Yours in relation 70 the
Chinese problem came duly to hand.
take il that the question OF employment
is only question OF private and corpo'
rate economy, and individuals or CON-
panies have the right to buy labor
where they can get it the cheapest. We
have a treaty with the Chinese govern
ment which should be religiously kept
until its provisions are abrogated by the
action OF the general government, and
am not prepared to say that il should be
abrogated until our great manufacturing
interests are conserved in the matter OF
labor.
Very Truly Yours,
j. A. GARFIELD.
To H. l.. Morey, Employers Caion, Lynn,
Mass.
Some people may inclineto pronounce
it a forge.y. have seen it. am fam'l-
lar with General Gar6eld's signature.
have compared with his letters in my
Dossession and have no doubt 1t Is
genuine. II il be forgery 1t Is the
work OF a consummate artist; but II
thought, after examination, there was
the slightest doubt oil its authenticity, |
should not refer 10 it. But 1t acc0rds
with the course which General Garfield
always took on questions affecting the
interests of employers. Observe the
concluding language: ave have treaty
with the Chinese Government
and not prepared to say
that it should be abrogated
until our great manufacturing interests
are conserved in the matter OF labor.
How could they thus be conserved ex-
cept by bringing down the price OF our
own labor to the level OF the Chinese wa
ges? Now,I have no wish to play the part
OF a demago2ue in this matter, but oil one
thing have been persuaded ever since
7 hoyap m obserya the structure OF So
ciety, and that is that the first object
and the highest duty OF craftsmanship
is TO secure for the mass oil the people
the highest possible standard OF COM
tort. This cannot he maintained with
ont good wages, and is higher in the
United States than in Europe because
labor is beer paid and can
earn more here than there. l
shall rejoice il the Eu.
ropean standard can he raised, but do
| not wish to see our standard lowered.
| The interest / have taken in freeing our
commercial legislation from its rtstric-
tive features is because that | believe
that labor will he the principal gamer
BY striking the shackies from trade as
fast as it can be done without disturb.
ing existing interests; but would sacri.
flee nv views and any existing interest II
supposed that this course would dl,wsiBi
labor. Hence | do not desire to see our
manufacturing interests conserved in
the matter of labor by any cheaper labor
than the workingmen OF this country
have TO dispose Of in order to get aliving
for themselves and their families.