Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1888-09-07
PRINCIPLES OF LABOR.

PRINCIPLES OF LABOR.
General Secretary Litchman, OF
the knights of Labor, Speaks.
WASHINGTON, August 80. - Sena-
tor Quay tonight furnished the fol-
lowing letter from General Secretary
Litchman, of the Knights of Labor,
for publication: 49,,
PHILADELPHIA, PA, Aug. 81, 'SS.
Hon. Matthe,c S. Quay. Chairman
ofhe National Republican Com
n,ittee, N. Y. City:
DEAR SIR-My connection with
the labor movement for the past four
teen years has made it necessary for
me to be close student of the causes
of labor depression and of the needs
of those who toll.
While, SO body. labor organlza'
ton may refrain from active partlcl-
| patton in politics, 30 much OF what
organized labor demands must be oo
tained through legislation that the
| individual member of the labor orga-
nization must sct politically as, In
his Judgment, will best aid the aims
and objects expressed in the princi.
ples of the organization he represents,
and whose success he desires.
In the gigantic political struggle
now begun, side issues count as moth
ing except to aid or hinder the prin-
cipal contestants in the political are
ma. However sincere may be the ad-
vocates of the measures to secure
which these separate political organi-
zations are formed, and whatever
strength in votes may be shown at
the polls, the fact remains that the
candidate of either the Republican or
the Democratic party will be the next
President of the United States.
| Therefore, to him who has the
good of his country and the welfare
Of her people at heart. the necessity
exists to choose to which of these
two old party organizations shall be
given his aid, either directly or indi-
rectly, by voice or vote.
+ While it may be that neither party
offers all that labor organizations de-
sire. I believe that the Republican
party, in adopting and advocating
the American system of encourage.
ment and protection to the labor and
wages of our own land, is nearer the
declarations and desires of organized
labor than its free trade opponent, the
Democratic party.
The conflict is between the Ameri-
can system, as represented oy tine
Republican party, which would fost
er and encourage the labor OF oui
own people and retain for them the
: market and wages of our own- coun'
: try, and the British system, as repre-
d sented by the Democratic party
which would break down the barriers
of protection and throw open our
e home market to the productions o.
{ foreign factories aud foreign labor
q thus making idle our own toiiers ant
f reducing to a lower level the stand
ard of American wages.
When the Knights of Labor ant
kindred organizations shall have 90
J. taiued in foreign lands the same com
rt manding position and influence enjoy
,s ed in the United States, the Unequal
itv in wages will disappear, not D.
. leveling our wages down. bat by lev
Of cling our wages up 1t is far bette
q. tn level mn than to level down, as tn
~ larger the income the larger the pow
= er to consume. Until this equallz:
y ton can be accomplished, and unit
p the wages of labor abroad shall equi
those at home. there must be a pro
o per restriction of im migration so tha
no our land may not be the dump,1
;. ground of the pauper and degrade
~ labor of the balance of the worl'
This restriction, supplemented by
continuance of thorough, systemst
organization of the labor already her
in conjunction with The America
idea of protection to American labo
cannot fail to secure for our peof
10 the results of their toll al
ed by our example lift the labor of tt
ne whole world TO higher and bet,
ho plane of existence.
" Whichever party wins, sometbir
." must be dous to regulate more strle
,al ly this importation of foreign lab
for un1 1er contract and the immigRstio
Of of paupers aud dependents. II not
,,a ing should be done, then Democrat
Nv snccess would mean not free trade
Ok goods made by pauper labor, but Il
ith importation Of both the labor and tt
rar goods. While under free tfads geo
wn may be cheaper to the consumer
!, certain lines, the labor made idle
. thoso lines must turn to other mea
an of employment, and thus by comp
tition compel a lover Fete OF wag
:. to those employed therein.
US TIE power of q workiDgman
'da consume depends on what be receiT
tch for bis labor Unemployed, his po
at. er to consume, except on charity
theft, ceases. | prefer that Ameri
should be land of workers rath
ar. than land of thieves and psnpe
ve. What is true of the individual
true of the Nation. The primary
ements of National wealth and \
10 tionsl prosperity are production, d
ew tribution and consumption. Whate
er affects the power ct labor to &C
snme affects the entire intofestS
ige the Nation Whatever lowers
ace wages cc labor affects its its pow
ret. to consume. An average reductio
4. of 7 per centum on the cost OF goc
!. imported will not compensate Anne
NC can labor for the loss of 100 per Gel
bis um in wages In the lines affected,
of from 10 to so per centum Ia wat
in the wages in the line of emplt
on meut by the substitution OF the fr
i'd trade for the protective system.
nd hold it to be far craftsmanship
has build up and retain our home mari
&c by system that protects Amerio
VI labor than to command market
ne foreign lands secured by the who
call sale degradation and pauperization
de. our own people.
Every dollars worth of labor va