The daily gazette., 1882-10-17
The Tar,fr and Cheap r.abor.

As we expected, Mr.. Hastings' particular
organ in this city classes the GAsErTE's re-
port Of his Newark speech as 'misrepre-
''sentation," simply because he became
mixed up in his utterahces aud declared
himself in favor of procuring the cheapest
labor in the market, despite his advocacy
of a tariff designed and intended
solely to ''protect the interests Of
''the American workingmen." As we
have no desire to be misunderstood in this
connection, we herewith republish that por-
tion of Mr.. Hastings speech the morning
organ most highly commends, and also his
remarks In reference to wages, which,
although it obtained its report from the
GAzETTE's source of information, the morn
ing organ conveniently omitted from its
columns. Here they are
He said the Democratic orators held that
free trade would make everything cheaper,
but It was his opinion that the tariff stimu-
lated such a healthy home composition as
would tend to make things cheaper in any
event. Mr.. Hastings contendcd, however,
that cheapness was not the element to be
considered in this affair, as no matter how
cheap things were, If people had no work,
and, consequently, no money, they could
not buy the cheapest articles In the market.
There could be such u thing as articles being
too cheap, which is certainly the case when
the selling price of an article does not repre-
sent fair, living. wages to the man
who made 1t. A protective tariff, Mr.
Hastings thought, tended to settle this mat
ter, and enabled the American manufac
turer to pay the workmen such wages as en-
abled them TO live, even If the necessaries o
life are little high. Mr.
Hastings claimed that his own interests ant
those Of the workingmen were identical, ant
in this connection he said it was charged
that he wouldn't pay any higher wages thai
he could help. This, he said, was true
He was compelled to buy what he needed IL
his business as cheaply as he could, but HI
never wanted his labor at any cheaper rate
than were paid by his competitors in tn
same business.
just what Mr.. Hastings means by 'article
"being too cheap" we do not exactly com
prehend, and will leave our readers to judg
for themselves, but certainly nothing coul
be palmer or more comprehensive than hi
remarks upon the question of wages. H
says, in effect, that his sole interest in til
workingman is to get his labor as cheapl
as possible, and while he will not pa
any less than his competitors in bus
ness, he certainly will not pa
any more. This is the whole situation in
nutshell, for while the manufacturers il
variably combine to keep up the prices {
their productions they also combine to kee
l. down the rates of wages, and we need III
L tell the workingmen what will be the inev
l. table result of any combination on the
L part to secure an increase
" their pay. The protection that shu
l. the door of competition to the mani
facturer opens every entrance to the labt
mart and forces the laborer into starvatio
or submission. The logic of recent even
proves this assertion beyond the shadow
a doubt, and no amount of sophistry on Il
part of Mr.. Hastings will explain his SUE
denly acquired friendship for the working
man upon any other hypothesis than h
ardent desire to secure their votes.
Mr.. Hastings evidently put his foot |
, "it" in his Newark speech. He would nc
| have dared to stand up before an audenC
, of Wilmington mechanics and utter tn
. | words he freely addressed TO the merchant
t and farmers of White Clay Creek hundred
not knowing at the time that a carefI
! correspondent of the GAZETTE was O
e hand, attentively listening to every woi
If he spoke. We confidently stand by our r
port of his remarks and are willing to SUI
d nit 1t for yerificaton to some of Newark
k most substantial and respectable citizei
+ who were present at the meeting, and VIII
IS we are assured would bear testimoi
\ to its substantial correctness.
d High prices for goods and low wages (
a the workingmen is the chief plank in NJ
is Hastings personal platform, and upon tn
er issue he asks the votes of the intelige
to workingmen of Wilmington. Let them re-
as his public utterances in regard to wages
as then give him their answer