The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1884-05-08

On April 80 Mr.. Hewitt, or New YORK.
In Congress delivered sensible and
able speech In favor of the Morrison bill.
Mr.. Hewitt IL one of tile largest iron
manufacturers In the country and Ia a
man Of broad views, with big heart.
Our telegraphlc Washington dispatches
on Friday last gave brief report Of his
remarks The following report is quite
full and presents we'll the points he
made;
MR. HEwITT's WARNING.
Mr.. Hewitt, OF New York, took up the
subject of protection In connection with
the lab0ring classes aud said there was
stagnati0n everywhere In protected
industries. The testimony taken by the
Senate Committee on Labor was unani-
nous. lrst, that the wages OF workmen
In this country were not sufficient TO
give them even decent support for
th0ir families, and second, there had
been steady degradation In the condi-
tlon OF the lab0ring classes during the
last twenty years. The owners Of great
coal mines In Pennsylvania had recent
ly met In Philadelphia and s0lemnly
came to the conclusion that they might
keep up the price Of coal by susDending
work nine days In q month, keep up
prices OF coal 10 the workman, 10 the
farmer, to everybody who earned his
living by the sweat Of his brow, aud
then tell him he was protected by the
tariff. Gould there be greater mockery
Of IusticeY Take the Iron works last
year; twO.thiTds of the furnaces In the
country we're In blast This year nearly
twO-thlrds were closed, and the wages
OF the army Of workers had been reduc
ed, He was among tho unfortunate
manufacturers who have been forced 10
reduce wages. He was compelled 20 offer
them their choice between no work or
work at less wages than they ought 10
have.
Mr. Kelley Of Pennsylyania-I thank
you most profoundly and most heartily
for endorsing my doctrine that produc.
ton has 30 far 0utrnn consumption that
the proportion In which joint pr0duc'
tlon OF labor and capital should DO dis.
tributed must be readjusted.
"The Lord delivered him unto my
hands," replied Mr.. Hewitt. "rhe gem
tleman says that protection has been
unable 10 prevent Oyerproductloni that
ls the point Of his remark, | will 90
further aud say that protection creates
0yerprOduction that this Is the logical
end aud conclusion Of protection, You
have limited the market walled In by
the tariff. What can you do with your
surplusY Nothing, but pile II up ~
long as your money lasts and then stop,
aud then these protected workmen are
left to starye,"
THE CONDITION OF woRKINGMEN.
He then went on TO consider the man
ner In which the condition Of laborers
could be improved. Trades unions, he
contends, were shield Of armOr and
protection for w0rkingmen, aud they
were all the protection no needed, but
In this country unions were paraly2ed
by protection. They were at war with
each other. Under tariff the trade
union must be feeble and finally die. In
an oyerstocked market, with the doors
open TO foreign immigration, trades
unions were absolutely p0werless II
w0rkmen had no means OF bringing
owners TO terms, except by their labor
unions, and labor associations failed
every time on an oyerstocked market,
Passing on to the discussion OF the con.
dltion OF the w0rkingmen In England
no asserted that II lad improved
steadily since the era Of free trade,
He did not claim this improvement
was due entirely TO free trade
but free trade had made II pos0i.
BILE for trades unions TO organize,
and TO 20 tOtbe masters aud say: "You
contribute capital, administration
and management; that 10 worth q Ger.
tain per centage, The rest belongs Ia
ns aud we intend TO have H." and they
had got II, lie believed TIE tariff must
60, (ipplause) 70 have II 20 at once
would ruin him, would ruin all manu-.
factuters aud dislocatN labor engaged
In manufacture, Congtess had no right
TO inilict the wrong.
REFORM MUST DE MADE SLOWLY.
This steady progress would convince
w0rkmen that Congress was on the
right road, He would begin by putting
raw material on the free list; and by
raw material he meant articles on which
no process Of manufacture had been ap'
piled, lie would let duties remain after
the process Of manufacture began and
not before. Then he would limit rates
Of duties. He would not have those OK
cessiye rates which oontradlcted the
sense OF justice Of every man. Then hC
would say 10 the people, ave have begun
TO work redemption, aud Judge you this
tree by its fruit. Have you steadieI
wages. more Of the comforts Of lifei
! you have, let nv 70 on with this g00t
work." II II turned out otherwise hI
would pause, lle was not blgoted an(
prejudIced as once he had becu
"Would You he IN favor Of repeating
the conspiracy lawsw inquired Mr
Brnmm.
III would absolutely" replied Mr.
Hewitt. "They are disgrace, ! wout
90 TO the very end In giving the laborel
the same rights before the law ~ h
has before HIS God, would deprive {
workman of none Of his rights; and m!
grievance against protection IL that 1