Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-08-22

recent speech in New York, said that he had
tried 10 convert a protectionist, but gave 1t
up. "He presented knock-down argument
| By showing that he had made
! 100000 in consequence Of the ben
efits OF protection TO his industry.
The professor asked him how much it had
added 10 the expense Of living Of the men he
had employed, and how much additional
wages he had paid the men as the result Of
protection. "This," said the millionaire, "is
no business Of mine. / know that protection
has benefited me. 1t raises the prices Of my
product, and that is all / ask. Ny business
is 10 get the highest price possible for pro-
duets, and get my labor as cheap as pos
sible." Right here is the gist OF the whole
question. The rich manufacturer dare not
say that protection increases the price OF
labor so that the laborer would even be as
well off at the end of the year, under that sys-
tenn, as he would be if no such protection
existed. Protection increases the price OF
everything which the laboring man consumes
to such an extent that whatever increase of
wages ensues is more than thrice consumed
when lie balances his accounts at the end OF
the year. Again, we desire to ask the ques-
ton, why is it that those countries which
have the highest tariff pay labor the lowest
wages? We have asked this question before,
ard it has been asked thousand times, but
no answer has been given. The answer ia
plain, but the protectionist dare not give it,
because it destroys the theory upon which
he bases his argument for protection. The
APPEAL most heartily sympatbizss with the
Iaboring classes in their efforts to protect
themselves from the grinding expressions OF
monopolies. But it seems strikes are
not the remedy. A Pittsburg paper
states that one of the large steel
mills of that section, which had not been
affected by the prolonged strike, paid out in
wages last month over 100000. This is
item over which workiDgmen
may well ponder. While the iron strikers
have lost over $4Oo0,OOO in wages since the
1st of June, the employees of a single firm
have earned 100000 And what have the
strikers gained? They have not improved
their condition, and the end is not yet. There |
about to adopt and enforce, at any cost, rigid
measures against the Amalgsmated Associ-
alton, with the determination either to break |
up this great organization or to bring it |
practically under their control. The attempt
to carry out such scheme will result in one
of the most stubborn, bitter and costly con-
tests between capital and labor the country |
has ever known. And the struggle will end |
in a compromise of some sort after all. |
Strikes never pay. In all such con-
tests one side or the other is seriously Grip |
pied, and nine times out of ten the workman |
die; to be without work is many, many times
% be without bread. His employer is en-
oarrassed and perhaps much Inconvenience,
out he is seldom seriously hurt financially; i
while his personal comfort and that of his
amily is not materially interfered with
But how about the workman's family? His
wife and children are often compelled 10
rink from the bitterest cup of poverty.
in despair, he attempts to drown |
lis troubles in drink, and then crime dark.
ms the already gloomy picture. This is no
ancy sketch; it is not overdrawn. Go to-day |
Trough many of the humber districts of
and in the homes of hundreds of
'oor laborers it will be more than realized.
nd should the strike continue, instead Of
undreds the sufferers will number thou
ands, and public charity will find an i'm
erative field for action. Such things ought
OF to be, and would not be if men would
My reason and be just with one another.
Within the past fifteen years not less than
50,000,0 900 have been lost in these periodi-
al and latterly almost continuous labor
roubles. Pittsburg alone lost during the
ear 1877, directly and indirectly, not less
nan 100000. The remedy. and the only |
tactical remedy, for this end is
FILTRATION, and practical beginning
nould be made in Pittsburg right
ow. Let the threatened spirit of
itterness and revenge give place to
indy respect and an honest desire TO settle
II differences. 1t is evident that the manu-
lcturers are ready and anxious to start their
ills; it is sadly true that the workmen need
} be at work. Let US have peace in the
lbor world. A court of arbitration is one |
the needs of the times in this State, and
lie subject should receive the careful, intel !
gent and practical attention of the next |
legislature.