The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-11-23
labor Capltal-P roleciion.


Serious labor complications are
now going on in the Kanawha Val.
ley, in the mining regions, as well as
in the mining regionspf Ohio. The
question now is, does Protection
protect" We very much fear that
the capitalists of this country are
now engaged ina course Of conduct
that will eventually demand the re-
peal of all protection laws and forever
bury the grand doctrine of protect
ion so deep that no man viii be
found in this country to do it rever-
ence.
When elections roll around, the
manufacturers will tell their employ
es, and speakers and newspapers
will tell the voters, that the present
system of protective tariff is TO pro-
tect the working men of America
from ruinous competition with the
pauper labor Of Europe, and the low
wages that must ensue from such a
competition. But how does it work?
AS matter Of course, the manufacture
ers are not benefited by the tariff; it
is only the men in their employ, and
it is for their welfare that we have a
tariff.
But labor does not all the time re-
main docile. 1t does not always act
in such a way as suits the peculiar
notions Of the employer. II often
embarrasses him in his great gains, by
coming up and asking for an advance
in wages, that they may realize en-
ough from his immense profits, to
decently maintain their families. 4.
Then it is that the manufacturers
and capitalists loses sight of the ad-
vantages Of a protective tariff, SO far
as labor is concerned, and seeks to
ayenge itself upon its refractory en-
ployes, by at once importing labor
To describe the manner more fully
in which these wealthy corporations
protect their men by a protective
tariff" from the pauper labor of Eu.
rope, we extract the following from
an Ohio exchange:
THE Central Ohio Coal Company
Of which Governor Foster is one Of
the leading men, have at an expense
Of nearly $4,000 brought in one
body three hundred Germans from
Hanover, with their families, in all
seven hundred persons. 1t is said
that these Germans are under con
tract for several years tomine coalat
less than the price paid in the Val
ley; but they are to be much better
wages than they received in father
land. Now, under the protective
tariff system, where does the protect.
ion to the miners come in2 There is
undoubtedly big gap in the system,
and to make it perfect for the work
ers, as we'll as the capitalists, there
ought to be an embargo against the
pooriy-paid laborers of Europe and
Asia coming to America to underbid
American labor If it is a wrong to
our manufacturers to admit cheap
goods into America, it is crime
against labor to admit cheap labor.
The government now says to q man
with money: you can build facto-
ry to make blankets, and the govern.
ment of the United States will pro.
tect your business from the competi-
ton Of cheap goods by an enormous
duty"
But does it say to labor go to work
in that factory and the government
will protect you against the import
alton of cheap labor from Europe and
China? No. Then is not protection
all in favor of the coal operator and
manufacturer? Is it q fair protect
ion that protects only one class Of
men and makes them rich, while the
other class is harrassed with a COM
petition of cheap pauper labor from
Europe and Asia, and driven from
the mines and shops, and they and
their families crushed and impover-
ished.
The exchange says, further, "If
an attempt is made by Congress to
change the duty, by reducing it, a
universal howl goes up from the man.
ufacturer and his employees that bus
mess is to be ruined. The manufac-
turer is thoroughly protected. He
makes his men believe that their in
tercsts are mutual. But when he
imports cheap labor to run bis mines
and mills the poor mechanic and Ia
borer howl alone, and begin to real
lie that protection doesn't protect