Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-15

indirect and hidden system OF taxation
is different from that Virginia imposes.
THE REVENUE PARMED.
In the United States. said Mr.. Wilson,
a band not very numerous but very pow
crful have become the farmers oil Amerl-
can taxes, sometimes averaging two
thirds OF all the taxes collected.
Here the speaker proceeded to explain
the difference between tariff for reve-
nue. and tariff for protection. He gave an
instance in cheviot cloth. which cost 81. 20
per yard, to which cost was added a
tax Of S1.05.
II the Government is obliged to
have this money, il it is compelled TO
resort 10 taxation as merciless as this,
we will pay it because it is q tariff Tor
revenue and the people will provide an
adequate revenue, but il some man In
Rhode Island wants to make chevlot
and comes down TO Washington and
says, 81 can't make it for less than 81. 80
a yard, and the Government says l'nput
a rate on import atoms so that no cloth
shall come in anl undersell you, that is
a tariff fer protection. [Applause.l
THE REMEDY.
Now, in the name of God, asked Mr..
Wilson. can't we remedy this?
Can't we relieve the people?
Can't we give them cheaper necessaries
of life?
That was the problem that the Demo
Gratis sought TO meet and which resulted
in the Mills bill, which has been in the
Republican Senate for two months.
Here Mr.. Wilson stopped to pay q
compliment to Mr.. Mills, saying that no
didn't believe ga better Democrat had
trodden our soil since old Thomas Jeffer-
son was laid to rest" Great applause. J
Continuing, said Mr.. Wilson, " it is
idle talk abont high wages unless con-
slant employment go along with them.
Ii is better for the workmen to get n
moderate wage and to have regular and
constant employment" and hence he
argued that il is the duty of the Govern
meut to meet this question of over-pro-
duction. With a revised tariff our trado
can find markets in other lands we will
have more general prosperity here, and
lnDOTlUR-IIltl
and more comforts.
The question, Mr.. Wilson said, is
Who does this tax protect? Does itpro-
tect the American laboring-man He
argued that it does not, and quoted from
statistical reports to substantiate his po-
sition. Take down the census records
and you will find that of the twenty mil
lion workingmen in this country only
about one twentieth of them are engaged
in these protected industries. The report
OF the Bureau of Labor Statistics will show
that nearly all Of the strikes and lock-outs
occur in these so-called protected indus
tries. The Introduction Of machinery
in the manufactures and workshops, he
said, are exactly in the line of protected
industries. The introduction Of contract
labor to take the places OF American
citizens and other evils imposed upon
our laboring people were characterized as
against the great idea of the dedication
of this republic that "all men are free
and equal.
PROTECTIVE TARIFF.
"a protective tariff" said the speaker,
"enhances the profits of capital onl y
and does not increase the pay which our
honest workpen receive for their work.
Here is an instance of how it operates
A laborer goes to a manufacturer and
asks for employment. The latter re-
plies: "Well, L have a vacant place
in my factory and L think you
can fllit. How much do you want?"
The moor man with family to
support looks over the matter and
thinks 10 himself 81 ought to get Sl0
Der day in proportion to my employers
profits on my labor, but ! suppose | will
have TO work for less, and turning TO
the manufacturer, says: " | will take
50 per day. | cannot possibly support
my family in the style that American
people should go in on less than that
price" g will not give that, says the
manufacturer. II can send over into
Canada and get plenty Of men for
50 per day." Want staring him
and his family in the face this poor man
has TO accept the same for which the
Canadian would work. AT the end OF
the week when he has earned 81 and Is
about to be paid off the laborer says,
81 need some clothes and believe | will
take some of this cloth which l have
made"
The manufacturer throwing, down the
roll of cheviot goods, says, " How much
will you have? 1t is worth $3.50 PEI
yard.
The laborer 81 will not give that
much for it. The goods is onl y worth
Sl.25, and l will not pay you as much
more for tariff. You could get all the
men You wanted in Canada, and | hadto
work at their low wages or not at all.
Now | can 60 to Canada and get my
cloth unless you will sell it to me
for what | would have TO give for 1t
there" TTumultuOus applause.
You poor fool" rejoins the manu-
facturer, 1.-THE Government protects mo
in what have to sell you, and gives me
free trade on what you have to sell me.
"This," continued Mr.. Wilson, sis
exactly how this theory of protection
works, " and he gave several other equal
ly as clear and convincing explanations
of the system, all OF which the immense
assemblage drank in with the greatest
eagerness.
WAGES HERE AND ABROAD.
Continuing Mr.. Wilson said that
Alexander Hamilton gave as one OF his
strongest reasons for supporting pro-
tective tariff that it would promote the
immigration of foreign labor. at is
true," said the speaker, "that wages
are higher in America than in England,
or France, or Germany, or Italy, and the
reasons for it being SO are good. If
protective tariff raises wages, why
is it that the workmen of England
are paid so much better than those
in Germany, Italy, and other places
where there is protective tariff? The
wages here are higher because we have
better labor. Our men are more capa-
bic, more inventive, and more valuable.
American labor is infinitely cheaper
when the amount accomplished is con-
sidered. Where our mechanics are paid
twice as much as in England they do
more than four times as much work.
The product OF any concern is joint
one. The laborer's wage is his
share and to the capital belongs reason
ble profit. The product per head here