Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-07-29

The JOURNAL deems it unfortunate
that the labor question should have
become entangled in Congress with
the proposed tariff reductions. This
region has a peculiar interest in the
latter, inasmuch as our own produc.
may be seriously affected. But the
one is natural corollary Of the
other, and the collision cannot be
avoided. There is this compensation
left us: That if a wholesale tariff
reduction benefits the mass we, as a
part Of the mass, will share in it,
though suffering through our interest
in special product. The question
is knotty one for this region, and
the following, taken from the reports
OF Tuesdays debate in the Senate,
will show how two great issues of the
day hinge together:
Mir. Vance On. c. criticised the proyi-
sions of the bill in detail to show that it
proposed to relieve few special interests
and to strike at others, upon the assump.
tion that this would benefit the whole
country Grouping the issued raised by
the bill in the form Of tiisl docket,
which he had prepared, Mr. Vance stated
TIE fist as "bank capital and deposits gS
farming capital and Implements The
nest was "bank checks u.s. trace Chains"
Then followed the rapid exterminator
and bug powders gs. camphor and chloro-
form, cinnamon drops IS. salt" playing
cards Is. horseshoe nails" 'stee rails for
railroads rs. axes and saws for working
men, cigars and cigarettes rs. cotton
! ties" He had not time to continue the
list, but that was about the order in which
the cases would be called before the peo-
pie for trial, and he desired to announce
that he appeared for the defendant in
every case. The other side might go to
the people upon such record as that
but they would find there vas real and
genuine popular demand for tariff reform,
and that the people were not to be longer
deceived, In support of his assertion that
the eyes Of the workingmen Of the country
were being opened, he had read at the
clerks desk the declarations of meeting
| representing labor strikers in Pennsylya-
mia that hereafter, when asked to carry
tariff banner, they would ask of what ben
eft the tariff was to them when their la
Dor was not protected against the foreign
psupcts WHO were being enticed here to
compete with them, and would assert their
right to such protection.
Mr.. Hoar (NIass) asked Mr.. Vance If he
approved that declaration.
To which NJ, Vance replied that lie APP
proved the spirit which was teaching
workingmen to see that they were not
fairly dealt with. He denied that the
tendency of a high tariff was to maintain
wages, and had read computation from
the forthcoming census report showing
that IN 1880, in the manufacturing districts
in the twenty principal cities Of the United
States, the net rrofi! to employers was
nearly 80 per cent, and the average wages
less than $3.50 per week. Allowing that
one-fourth of the laborers were black
smiths, shoemallers and carpenters WHO
received about double the average, tie
weekly wages of the other three-fourths
would be about So. This incredibly low
rate did not justify the FLEA Of the protec-
tionists that the enormous tariff upon all
goods wa' necessary to keep up the wages
of employees.
Mr.. IIoar said he understood what had
been read to contain a threat that the men
would ieiuse further to countenance pro-
lection to American labor unless foreign
ers were prevented from coming here
Was that the spirit which the gentleman
said he approved
Mr.. Vance said he had spoken of the
hollowness and hypocrisy of the cry for
high protective tariff to benefit the work
ingman. The real benefciares of this
policy were hiring, in the markets of the
world, the cheap labor from abroad over
the heads of native American laborers
because it was cheaper, He would hav3
the banker and the manufacturer wait I'M
til the farmer and tie planter could be
released.
Mr. Hoar replied to Dir. Vance. He
asserted that that gentleman had utterly
failed in his effort TO show that the work.
ngman did not prosper under protective
tariff. He referred to the large and con-
tinuoCs emigration from free trade Eng.
land to our shores.
The discussion was continued by the
two senators at some length, Mr.. Vance
contcndins that Massachusetts manuhc-
turers had enriched themselves by the
protective duties at the expense of the
rest of the country, and, while insisting
that the tariff was essential TO the nainlu,
nance OF wages, did not hesitate to employ
cheap foreign labor when available.
/
The water famine reported az