The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-08-24
The Egis and Intelligencer
Bel Air, Md, August "a, 1883.
For the AEgis and htelligencer.
CLASS LEGISLATION.

A late Philadelphia paper gives us an ac-
count of an interview with Mr.. Jarrett,
WHO'S connected with the Amalgamated Iron
and Steel Association, and who appears to
represent the interests and explain the views
OF the manufacturers generally of the United
States. So much Importance is conceded on
all sides to these interests that it is well for
us to examine into the proportion of our
population in whose hands they are, and to
what number of people we make all other
considerations secondary. A careful exami-
nation of the Census gives the following for
mula, which divides the different pursuits as
nearly as spossble, in round numbers. Rep
resenting the entire population by the num-
Der 10
The agricultural classes are ...............7
Manufacturers, miners and mechanics. ...... 3
Trade and Transportation. .................2
Professional people, house servants and idlers 2
TOTAL Observation-Disclosures. ID
Moreover, in the first z, are andholders
In connection with this, it may be remember
ed that Senator Plumb asserts the relation of
the farmers to be in IL.
MIR. Jarret, says 1--WE want tariff that
shall do away with the importation of manu-
features. 1t is the exports that should be
stimulated" He then adds that he is dissat-
T..
ties and wire rods, because they cannot be
manufactured in this country under the exist
ing tariff, other than at a loss provided the
workmen are given proper wages. Here is
distinct demand that q business shall be
created by Government interference which
| will permit certain wOrkmen to obtain ''prop-
/ er wages" Now at whose expense? The
American CutttCatOr says that the expectation
of wheat and -four for the present year will
reach $50 millions of bushels This, with the
enormous exports of cotton petroleum, pro.
visions, corn and other farm products, will
result in large trade balance in our favor"
The statement is also added that this country
| raises one.fourth of the worlds wheat. Ii is
hardly worth while to add that all this pro-
duce of the land, the only one which brings
any money into the country, is sold at
worlds prices, at whatever the so-caled
pauper population of Europe can afford to
pay our farmers, the aforesaid Z whose
proper wages" no one seems to care
When the result of their labor is received by
them, then it is determined by law that a
comparatively small number of persons, two
out of thirteen, shall have the privilege of
working for them at such wages as the work
ers only shall deem proper. The two out of
thirteen announce that the product of their
labor amounts to five thousand millions of
dollars; possibly it did at the prices, not
worlds prices, which they had the privilege
of setting. The farmers could buy it else
where for one-third of the money, and they
had to pay the entire difference. They are
the producers, the whole of the manufacture
ers, miners and mechanics did not bring one
dollar into the country, nor do they consume
more than their proportion, less than one.
sixth, of what the farmers raise.
The association represented by Mr.. Jarrett,
probably one OF the most important of those
bodies, claims 49, 900 members About half
that number of people work every year in
one small county of one small State in can
ming the products of the farm. 1t is Immense,
indeed of the last importance to these people,
that the goods they put up and which must
be sold at worlds prices" should be offered
to the market for as low figures as will per-
nit expectation and general use. But the
two out of thirteen have discovered that
| much tin plate is now used and that another
remuneralive monopoly is possible So the
working men of America" announce their
determination to levy 81 cents per pound
upon the packages which our Hartford far
mers are obliged to use for their farm pro-
ducts The farmers, the seven out of thir-
teen, are so much in the habit of looking
after public matters through political specta-
Giles, that they are blind to their special in
terests and silent concerning them. The
trade and transportation people, also two out
OF thirteen, carry our wheat and corn, but
they also move the miners coal and they are
much occupied with their own little fights,
big wages and some connection, regular or
not, in the profits of the manufacturer The
last two out of thirteen float on the stream.
So the country is really governed in the inter
est of the manufacturer, mineran mechanic,
if only two out of thirteen because they com
binc, have gotten much money out of the
eleven, and have more selfasserion than the
whole of them put together. No one can
deny that these two if in great minority
still have grown into an important class
Outnumbered largely by even the hired
hands of the farmers, they must be regarded
as entitled to more consideration from their
greater refinement, intelligence, education
and the command of larger means, but they
form a privileged class, created and sustained
by legal enactment. They owe all they have
TO the concession of the Z farmers who could
vote free trade into the country at any mo-
ment, for in SO doing they would directly
serve the interests OF four of the other six,
and it is rather too much that they should ex-
hibit SO openly their wish to add to the obi
cations under which they labor towards us
,,,it il,.r Il,