Richland beacon., 1888-09-22
Twenty Reasons Why Protection Does
Not Be.et High Wages.

The Young Mems Democratic Club,
of Boston, has issued little slip con-
tanning Twenty reasons why 1t is not
true that high tariff makes h Oh
wages" Below are the twenty reasons: ::
O.) Because to say that wage earneTs
as q body can increase their wages by
paying high-tarif taxes, which fall
mainly upon them, is to sly that man
can increase his wealth by picking his
own pocket.
(2) Because the value of wages con.
sists not in money, but in the articles
which money buys, and the express
object of high tariff is to make these
articles dear, thus decreasing the real
reward OF labor.
(s.) Because the high tariff policy,
while taxing the wage-earner upon nearly
everything he has to buy, gives him no
protection upon the only thing he has to
sell. We have free trade in human
labor.
a. Because wages represent the wage
earner's share of what he himself pro-
duces, and are high or low according as
his production is large or smtll.
o. Pecause the wages of even the
one wage Garner out of ten claimed to
be "protecte /" are determined by gen
eral causes rather thar by the tariff.
o. Becau,e if d high tariff raises
wages at all, its first and greatest
effect must he in the protected" indus
tries, whereas the rate of wages is con-
siderably lower in these industries than
in the unprotected ones.
a. Becau the high rate of wages in
the United States is due to other causes
than high tariff, such as the extent Of
unsettled territory, the large returns OF
agriculture, the natural resources of the
country, the extensive use of improved
machinery, the intelligence and energy
of the working population and the
greater efficiency of their labor.
(s-) Because at least nine wage earn.
ers out of every ten in this country are
engaged in occupations not subject to
the competition Of foreign importations,
so that the rate Of wages which they re-
ceive cannot be in any degree dependent
on high tariff.
(9.) Because a high tariff upon raw
materials raises the cost of manutactur-
ing, restricts the market for goods, and
prevents the manufacturer from paying
as high wages as he would haze to if his
materials were free.
uO.) Because the rate of wages in
creased faster in this country in the low
tariff period between 1850 and 1860 than
it ever has since under high tariff.
11.) Because wages we're high in the
United States compared with those paid
in other countries before it ever had a
high tariff or any tariff. =
112.) Because China has enjoyed for
thousands of years the full benefits OF
high tariff protection" while her wage;
for skilled labor are 20 cents day, and
Chinese immie grafton In search of higher
wages has become menace to American
wage-carners.
Q3.) Because there are greater differ
ence between rates of wages paid in diff
ferent parts of this country, all sui. .ect to
the same high tariff, than between rates
of wages in Massachusetts, and in Eng
land.
Q4.) Because the rate of wages has in
creased from so to 100 per cent. in Eng
land since she abandoned the high Il
policy, and because her wages are from
- to 100 per cent. higher than in the
high-tariff countries of continental
Europe.
Nl.) Because high tariff fosters
Trusts and other combinations of capital
for raising the price of everything bat
labor, and destroys that competition for
labor between different employers, which
is the great agency in raising its wages.
06.) Because If the manufactured
really believed that a high tariff com
pclled him to pay high wages, he would
be low-tariff man.
Q7.) Because the manufacturer does
not raise his rate of wages when be get.
higher tariff duty upon his product; the
manufacturer who makes large profit.
out of the tarif can. undoubtedly, pay
high wages, but he doesn't.
US.) Because the ave aye amount oi
wages paid by the protected manu-.
facturer in the production of 81 worth
of goods is less than 20 cents, while the
average tax is A. cents. leaving % cents
| for the pro It's of the manufacturer and
the extra cost of raw materials due te
the tariff.
Or.) Because the theory that high
tariff makes high wages is principally
advanced by men who have never showr
any sympathy with legislation to pro
mote the welfare of the wage earners, BY
doctrinaire protectionists. political parti
sans, and manufacturers VINO have a self
ish interest of their own.
(s0.) Pecause this theo-y is oppose l b,
the Democ: attic party, made up princi
palIy Of wage-earners. and ever seekin.
TO promote their true interests.