Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-07-30
EMPTY NOTHINGS.
THE RBP0RToRIAL RONANCRS IN THE
GUISB OF INTERVIEWS
Which Daily Appssr in Local Radical journals
The Democratic Emblem-H9w Col.
Bsall Backed Down.

II has been the work of the two Repub-
lican organs of Wheeling, to try to nake
it appear that the working men of Wheel
ing are dissatisfied with Democratic tariff
revision. The columns of the Nelcs-LetttT
and Intelligener have been filled with in
teryiews, 80 called, in which imaginary
workipgmen told bow they were going to
desert their party, and vote the Hallison-
Chinese combination. 1t is noticed that
these gentlemen have all carefully refrain
ed from allowing their names TO be made
public for ''private reasons, and it is need
less to say that they live and move and
have their being only in the more or less
perverted negotiations Of the industrious
politicians who run these journals. Their
interviews" are tissues of exaggerations
and lies, in which the lies generally predom-
mate.
In reality, NO such disaffection exists.
These journalists have made most care
iul search among the wage-workers of this
city and vicinity, and their drag. nets have
failed to bring forth even one laboring
man of good standing, who will leave the
Democratic for the Republican party this
fall. On the contrary, they find many
former Republicans who openly express
their disgust at the policy Of their party.
Said prominent wsge-worker to rep
resentatiye OF the REGISTER, THE local
Republican organs are only whistling to
keep MP their courage. There is nothing
in their hash and rehash of antiquated po-
litical lies The workingman knows very
well that the protective tariff was never In
vented for the sole, exclusive and particular
benefit of labor, and that it il vote-catch-
ing device 10 call it the American system.
The American workingman is willing to
give his vote for system which encour-
ages home products, but he knows that
any tariff which piles up an immense eur
plus in the treasury is not based on sound
policy. The farmer in your fields and the
mechanic and laborer in yonr factories
ought not to be compelled to pay such
taxes as makes the existing surplus. Such
system has been aptly termed robbery
of the people" Every working
man in the land is justified IN
claiming as his own, some part Of
the surplus in the public treasury, and in
saying that this money ought to have
been allowed to 70 increase the purchasing
power of his wages, instead of to the Gov
eminent which has no need for it. To pre-
vent the continuance of this system is the
main object of the tariff revision, which
the President advises and the Mills bill
proposes Some few manufacturers may
not make the large percentage that they
did before, but the industries will not
stop on that account, and the working
man will not get less wages, while he will
be able to buy his clothing and other
necessaries for less money. The raw ma
terial which comes in will bring along with
it this requirements for more labor, more
coal, more machinery and less importation
of manufactured goods. The plea for a
protective tariff is that it fosters
home manufactures. Very we'll
the Mills bill makes but slight
reduction of rates on manufactured arti-
cles imported into this country-not
enough to effect wages-if wages are ever
made better or worse by the tariff. The
chief advantage under the proposed revi-
sion ia that it will bring free to our indus
trial works such raw material as we do
not raise in sufficient quantity to meet the
demand, and will lessen the importation
of foreign made articles. This will be
direct benefit to the workingmen and to
consumers generally. II seems to me a
policy which affects such results ia far
more entitled to he called the American
Industrial Protective System than one
which restricts the opportunities of labor
and substitutes alien contract labor for
home labor and home Industries"