The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-08-13
OUR WAGE. WORKERS.

The wage workers, especially those skilled
In mechanics, are altogether the most power
full and influential factor in our system OF
government and, too, they are the first to be
affected by the huctuation in values which
always follow over and under production.
The intelligence OF this element is on so high
plane of experience and observation that
1t rarely ever fails to fully compre
bend the causes which lead to such
violent disturbances as are con-
tinually thrusting themselves in between
the operative and his best interests, and,
although minds absorbed in the science and
philosophy of mechanics are slow to act in
the defense of the principle that makes me-
chanic art honorable and profitable, when
they do assert their rights. the adjust
ment of their skill to the machinery OF the
power that employs it always follows, and
always to the advantage Of all interests de-
pendent upon them, both directly and indi-
rectly. Hence, it does not follow that be-
cause skilled labor was inveigled into
accepting theories and estimates of the fruits
of high protective tariff laws as against
tariff for revenue only in 1880 and at other
times prior to that date, it can always be
hoodwinked.
The debates in Congress last winter on the
Morrison tariff bill and Mr.. Blaine's letter of
acceptance, have had the effect of making
the tariff question subject of debate and
thought among the class of people of whom
we are speaking, and never before have they
taken hold of political economics with more
earnestness and honesty of purpose to do
that which shall remove the cause of the
past and the existing distress
among wage-workers, without doing violence
to the power to which labor looks for en-
ployment and being close observers at this
time of what is going on in the political
world and estimating for themselves the
advantages and disadvantages of a high pro-
tective policy as against a sweeping reduc-
ton of import duties on all foreign goods
arguments that are not sustained by figures
will avail the politician nothing in the pres
ent campaign.
The revival OF the Garfield circular letter,
which was mailed to thousands of mechanics
in 1880, in which it was positively stated
that high wages and constant employment
would follow the election of the Republican
high tariff candidates. while, if the opposition
should secure the machinery OF govern ment,
all wsge-workers would be reduced to the
level of European workingmen, aad Blalne's
letter of acceptance are put forth on the
superstition that the wage-workers are still
too much engrossed in the problem of winning
| their daily bread to give these questions any
thought, and that they will believe and vote
| as on former occasions. But in that the
leaders of the Republican party are reckon
| ing without their host. The laboring class
are beginning to realize that the high protec-
tive policy, which they Endorsed, has failed
at every point that their estate is worse to-
day than 1t was twelve, eight or
four years ago, and that the
continuation of the policy OF over
production at home, while India and Rus
STA are supplying those who should be our
customers with breadstuffs is well calculated
to place them very far below the level Of
European wage workers, and they will have
| no more of that kind of protection.
In the Eastern and middle Western States,
where operatives are most numerous the
tariff question has become the all-imporLant
problem, and the wage workers are studying
it to some purpose. The discussions on
the Morrison bill are being carefully read,
and the intimations in the high tariff
| speeches of design in the pro-
tected districts to further re-
duce the wages OF operatives,