The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-07-17
THE GREATEST DANGER TO
LABOR.

iilE SnEh EO DhNGGh ~
LABOR.
Oflate years our consuls to tho va
rious countries of the globe have been
compelled by the State Department to
make regular reports relative to the
OF trade, manufactures
and labor OF the respective local
tiles TO which they were accred-
tied. Until the present adminic-
tration came into power these
consuls were Republicans and all
more or less Impressed with the views
of the Republican party on tho subject
of protection. Their reports conse-
quently were naturally colored In tho
cause Of high American tariff. The
condition OF the European laborer
particularly was dwelt upon, his poor
wages, his poor home, his poor food
and his unreasonable inferlority to
the American workingmon.
The other side of the question,
cheaper food, cheaper rents, cheaper
clothing and steadler employment for
the European laborer, were not dis
cussed, and the protectionlsts here
took up the doctored documents and
congratulated American workingmen
that under protective tariff they
were princes beside their cousins OF
the Old World. The influx of such
cheap labor from abroad has been
standing scare, but how high tariff,
permitting high prices, and, as these
high tariff advocates contend, high
wages, can keep out an influx Of Eu-
ropean workmen, is difficult matter
to conceive. The creator the wages
the stronger the Inducements TO desert
the European mines, mills and fscto-
ries, and then the conaequent reduc.
ton resulting from Luperabundant
supply of workmen.
But the labor troubles in the Middle
States refute many OF the propO-
sillons Of these pro.octionlsts. Only
yesterday an account was telegraphed
broadcast that 200 Poles and Behemians
had forcibly attacked and stopped q
band of Americas laborers VINO were
satisfied with their present wages and
werO continuing at work. Tho fact is,
the more worthless the importetions
from abroad tho sooner they demand
greater wages and privileges than do
the Americans, and the bottor class OF
foreigners. The slums Of tho large
cities are filed with tho cast offs and
the seeds of socialism, and riot and
communism which they are industri-
ously sowing, are Of far more threaten
ing import than any disposition to
cut down tho prices Of labor.
The American laborer ought to be
taught to fear tho moral and social
degradation of tho great bulk
of imported pauperism and
their absurd ideas far moro than
their competing power in the
workshop. A system Of reports that
would rather elaborate these ugly and
vicious features than dwell dryly upon
the mere difference of wages and food
Is what the literature of labor In this
country now needs. Tariffs do not
govern the wages of labor. The cost
of living and the law Of supply and
demand control these, and az abso.
lutoly so in the United States as in
Europe, Interested capital has been
strong enough TO color official reports
and alarm American laborors with q
false line o! argument. The real dan
gers and the roal differences between
the common woriingmen OF Eu
rope and those Of this country
have rarely boon pointed out.
In nearly every trades union I'm
the United States the most violent agi-
tstors, the most rabid communists,
tho mon who SOW seeds Of greatest dis
sensiou arc tho lowest class Of foreign.
ers. 1t is not their ohosp labor but
thor perniciou9 doctrines aud vicious
practices that tho American co.laborer
must fear and guard against. Ho must
DO educated out Of his fear of pauper
competition and blind faith In the eC-
ticacy and assistance Of high tariff
and DO taught TO take a broader view
one involving moral, social and politi-
cal considerations. II these reports of
our consuls arc to DO taken as the best
authority, 1t is fortunate that u change
has occurred in the consular service
and that henceforth we shall not DO
imposed upon by official documents
from abroad, tinctured and colored by
the selfish political economy of New
England and Pennsylvania. Mr.. BAY
ARD car do no greater service to labor
than by instructing his lieutonsnts
abroad to address their enquiries to
broader and more philosophical qu0s.
lions than simple statements Of fec!
as to wages there and here One side
has boon 80 long presented IL Is now
time TO have the other and in its fulles!
details.
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