Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-07-02
The Tariff and the Labor Troubles
by PROF. LEE DAVIS LODGE, A. NJ.

In many discussions of the labor ques-
ton there has been a failure TO notice the
distress brought upon the workingmen by
the tariff, which, by decreasing the nominal
wages paid and increasing the cost of com.
moditics, plueks the unfortunate victims
twice. We are aware that to say this is to
fire shot at the very palladium OF protec
ton, to stir up hornets nest TO beard the
lion in his den, or to do any other rash aud
daring thing which the exuberant magma
ton of the reader may suggest. In our
minds eye We can see the passion painted
on the lurid and livid faces of "our friends,
the enemy" as in accents tremulous with
emotion they exclaim: The tariff makes
and keeps wages high; it brings happiness
to humble homes; it scatters the flowers of
comfort among the people; it protects the
workingman from the pauper labor of Eu-
rope; 10 preserves the honor add dignity of
the American peoplel To this historic lie,
so long aud loudly proclaimed by the Peck
sniffian protectionists and echoed by every
poor Tom Pinch among their deuded fol-
lowers, we have the temerity to calculate.
with all the contempt of the worthy Mr..
Burchell, "Fudge"
But, lest we be chargeable with frivolous
treatment ofan important subject, we hasten
to submit the reasons for our uncompro.
missing opinion. The rate of wages is the
ratio existing between the amount of capital
seeking investment and the number of la.
borers applying for work. The price of labor,
like the price of commodities, is regulated
by the law of supply and demand. This of
course is true only where competition be-
tween laborer and laborer, and between EN-.
ployer and employer, is free. II has become
fashionable in some quarters for gentlemen
to rail at the law of supply and demand, as
though II were an Invention of political
economists and not principle wroughtinto
"the constitution and course of nature. -
They present highly amusing and also in
structive example OF the folly Of striking
ones head against stone wall, The TACT
is undeniable, as tersely stated by Richard
Golden, that "when two men are after one
boss, wages are low; when two bosses are
after one man, wages are high" The only
possible way to raise wages is TO increase
the amount OF capital or diminish the nun
Der of workmen. The tariff certainly can-
not add 10 the wealth of the country, but
can only take capital from agriculture anl
commerce 10 bcstow 1t upon manufacture.
What is gained by one industry is lost by
another.
Nor are we aware that anybody ever
claimed that the tariff could lessen the nun
Der of aborers. II is worth the while %
remark here that II protectionists really &c
sire TO maintain the high wages Of their en-
ployes the best way 10 gain such a phiian
thropic end by restrictive legislation would
be to pass o law prohibiting foreign labpr
ers from our shores. While such Il measure
would not augment the dividend Of capita
II would make the divisor Of laborers small
er, aud therefore increase the quoiieni which
ia ha amnunt that zach man r.r..sve.s Re-
some how or other the manufacturers o.
not take kindly 10 this proposition. TheT
want free trade in labor. They 90 into par
oxysms OF fear for their dear wOrkmsn q.
the bare mention Of the pe0pers who 1Hsl
across the water, and yet receive ibese se-r
same paupers with open arms aud Eigs fass-r
the places In the factories made 1Acsuf ~
the discharge Of native American l1asYrsss
Cheap labor, Chinese labor, pa1psr lEs~.
prison labor-lhe manufacture xrsssfiy
takes it all. Where is the "prgisss0n -
American laborf Where Is The E2rrz iJse
for our honest artisan Where are 81 lie
rose colored theories OF chariiyf IL se,E5l
chral tones echo answers, WiSreg
Having thus, II Is hoped, made il Gear 4
that projection does not and can nos rzi.s 1
wages, we proceed 10 show why we believe |
that tariff lowers the price Of labor A 1
create, but must always destroy and imBoy.
erish. They are only justifsbie when they
are necessary TO the discharge Of the proper
function of the state, namely, 10 protect cit
liens In their lives, liberties and property.
and in the legitimate pursuit Of happiness.
Tariff taxes are moatly laid upon the ne,es
saries OF life. The masses of the people are
earners of wages. They must buy these
highly taxed articles. DO not the taxes.
then, lower the real wages by diminishing
the purchasing power Of every dolar2
Look at 1t In another light There is In
every country an average reward or profit
of industry. "Protection" Is a device for
compelling all the prosperous industries 10
support certain other industries which are
coniessedly Improbable. Ii the protected
industries were profitable without the tax,
why was tax neededy II they were un.
profitable without the tax then il follows
that all the profits and all the losses must be
paid by the other industries. But this must
evidently lower the average gains Of indus
try. Every body knows that that means a
of wages, as well us reduction
Of profits.
Our industries are organized into three
great divisions, agriculture, commerce and
The wall Of tariff taxes
which keeps foreign goods out keeps our
PRODUCTS In. five will not trade with other /
lations they will not trade with US any h
more than they can help. "Proteclion" in. /
reases the farmers cost Of production, as