The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-10-28
u<he lHEelti9etIter,
WHEELING, W. VA OCTOBER ss, 1885


An article Of sad interest, showing the
condition OF the men thrown out OF John
Rosch's employ by the action Of the adj
ministration, is given place in another col
umn. 1t is a pitiirl picture OF American
workmen and their families reduced to
want by an assault on an American indus
try.
To make the case worse, the blow was
aimed by our own Government, which
ought to help, so far as 1t can, to main
tain every home industry rather than
strike down any. No man can consider
carefully this fragrant case without appre-
ciating better than over the intimate con-
nection between the Government and the
employments by which Americans gain
shelter for their families.
When prosectionists talk about the duty
Of the Government to protect American
industries, free traders reply that every
industry ought to be able to live by lis
own strength, and that the government
cannot be held responsible for the success
Of private ventures. 1t il said, also, by
free traders, that II foreign competition
oyerthrows on9 industry the men former
ly employed in that Will find work and
wages in other lines.
As far as JohnRol ch's men are concern
ed they understand better than the free
traders the value OF John Roach's work
to them. They know that their lifelong
employment has been snatched from them
by their Government; and the dishearten-
ing fact is that they cannot find other en-
ployment. They gather about the old
places, they walk tn, streets. AMI there is
no work TO be had.
II Congress had possessed the power to
close or blot out by prohioitory act John
Roach's works, the hand CT the National
Government could not have fallen more
heavily upon them. Congress in fact has
this power, not only with regard to the
Ship.building industry but with regard to
every important industry which engages
American capital and labor. 1t is only
necessary to put the tariff low enough,
and the thing is done; American work
shops will fall into decay; American work
men will look in vain for work; and
foreign capital and labor will profit hy the
wreck.
The disaster does not spend its force on
the men Immediately concerned It's col
lateral effects are far reaching. Observe
that in the neighborhoad OF John Roach's
works the small tIadesmen are embar-
raised; some OF them have already been
forced out OF business and more must go.
This is precisely what will happen il this
country shall be unwise enough to try
once more the always disastrous expert
ment OF "a tariff for revenue only" 1t lis
like setting row Of bricks on end and
starting the first one-the whole row goes
to the ground.
John Roach's men and those who profit
ed by their labor through the countless
channels OF trade have felt the heavy
hand OF "a tariff for revenue only" admin
istrstion. Their melancholy story will
sink deep into American hearts. 1t out
weighs tons OF bookish speculation, for 1t
deals with cold facts. Apologists for the
administration may affect to regard all
this as Campaign scandal" They will
do better to disprove il they can the state
ments OF facts as they come from the
mouths OF idle workmen with helpless
families just entering upon along winter.