The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1888-09-13
The General Secretary Of the order
Genes out Squarely In Support
~ Harrison and Morton.
he Declares that the Interests Of the
Lab0riug Nan are Safe Under pro-
lection. Two systems COnIrasted.
The Disastrous Results Wkich Must
Follow If We Adopt a System
Of Free Trade.

Senator Quay, chairman Of the re
publican national committee, fui
nishes the following letter for publ
cation:
PHILADELPHIA Pa, August 81
Hon. NJ. >. Quay, chairman OF TIA
National Republican Committee
Everett house, New York :-Dea
Sir: Ny connection with the labO
movement for the fourteen years ha
made it necessary for me 20 be
close student OF the causes Of labO
depression, aud OF the needs Of thosl
who toll. While ~ a body, a labO
organization may refrain from activl
participation in politics, 30 much o
what organized labor demand
must be obtained through Legislation
that the individual members Of the
labor organization must act POliti
caily a. la his judgement will bes
aid the aims aud objects expressed
Ia the principles the organization
represents, aud whose success n,
desires. la the gigantic politica
struggle now begun, side issues
count as nothing, except to aid oil
hinder Que Of the principle combat
ants La the political arena How
ever sincere may be the advocates
81 the measures. 20 secure which
these separate political organization
are formed, aud whatever theii
strength involved may be shown a
the polls, the fact remains that the
candidate Of either the republican
or democratic party will be the neXl
president Of the United States.
Therefore to him, who has the
good of his country and the welfare
uf her people NJ heart, the necessity
exists TO chose to which of these two
old parties shall be given aid, either
directly or Indirectly by voice OF
vote. While il may be that neither
party offers all that labor organize.
tiOns desire, | believe that the re.
publican party in adopting and
advocating the American system OF
encouragement aud protection q
the labor aud wages Of our land, il
nearer the declarations and desires
of organizations Of labor than its
free trade opponent, the democratic
party. The conflict is between the
American system, a. represented by
the republican party, which would
foster aud encourage the labor Of our
own people, aud retain for them the
market and wages Of our own cOun-
try and the British system as rep
reverted by the democratic party,
which would break down the bar
riers 0f protection and throw open
cur home market TO the productions
OF foreign factories and foreign
labor, thus making idle our own
toilers and reducing 60 lower level
the standard OF American wages.
When the Knights of Labor snd
kindred organizations shall have
obtained in foreign lands, the same
commanding position and influence
enjoyed iR the United States, the
inequality in wages will disappear,
not oy dwelling our wages down,
but by dwelling their wages up. IL
is Tar better 20 level up than to level
down, as the larger the income the
larger the power 10 consume. Until
this equalization can be accomplish
ed aud until the wages Of labor
abroad shall equal those at home,
there must be = proper reconstruction
81 immigration 30 that our land may
not b. the dumpinggrOun Ofthe pau
per, and the degraded labor Of the bal
ance Of the world. This recoustruc-
ton supplemented by a continuation
Of thorough, systematic organization
Of the labor already here i'm cOniunc-
ton with the American idea OF pro-
lection TO American labor, cannot
fail 10 secure Tor our people the best
results of their toll, aud by our
example, lift the labor OF the whole
world 10 higher aud better plane
81 existence.
Which ever party wins, something
must be done TO regulate more
strictly this importation OF foreign
labor under contract aud the immi-
grafton Of pauper dependents. II
nothing should be done. then demo-
cratic success would mean not only
free trade is goods made by pauper
labor, but the importation OF both
the labor and the goods; while
under free trade aud goods there
may he certain lines OF labor made
idle. Those lines must turn to
other means Of employment aud
thus BY competition compel a lower
rate Of wages TO those already en-
ployed therein. The power Of
WOrkingman 90 consume depends
upOn what he receives for his labor.
Unemployed, his power to consume
depends ON charity or ceases. l pre-
Ser that America should be a land Of
workers rather than q land uf thieves
and paupers.
What Is true of the individual is
equally true OF the nation. The
primary elements of national wealth
and national prosperity are, prOduc-
ton, distribution and consumption.
What ever affects the power OF labor
10 consume, affects the entire inter-
ests OF the nation. Whatever lowers
the wages Of labor, affects its power
% consume. An average reduc-
tion" Of per cent on the cost of
goods imported will not compensate
American labor for the loss Of 100
per cent in wages In the lines affect
ed, and from LOO 10 50 per centum In
wages Gu the lines OF employment
By the substitution Of the free trade,
Tor the protective system. hold
q 60 be far wiser statesmRnehtp TO
build up and retain our home
market by system that protects
America, than 10 commend .
market Ca foreign lands secured by
the wholesale degradation aud pau
periEaliOn Of cur own people.
Every dollar OF labor value inn
ported, % By 30 much q reduction Of
home iaborers' wages. This axiom
ia not Offset, by the declaration that
there are more goods IN theimpOFted
aaiiar's worth. The position OF the
proteetionist is rather strengthened
BIZ such q speeious presentation OF
the matter, because the question 10
then incidentally forced upon every
intelligent man. How can the
American laboreF earn dollars
GO the industry in which he
D. experienced Is transferred
GO foreign lands2 the theory
81 protection advocated by the re-
publican party is the same as the
underlying principle upon which all
labor ordinations are founded. A
friead % organized labor that be-
lieves ca organization as q means to
enhance and maintain wages, cannot
consistently oppose q party that APP
piles % all labor the same principle
% prstaction from unfair eOmpeti-
tica thai the individual trade
examinations do 10 aid In advancing
wages Ia their respective trades and
the protective system demanded by
che republican party viii secure for
all che tOileFs in the land a similar
fostering care. That this O. clearly
understood by most Of the thinking |
leaders % organized labor b proved /
~ the declaration recently made In /
favor % the American system and q |
home market 10y the presiding
clIicers Of the organization repre- |
seuting the iron and the glass In /
dusiries OF the United States. /
Their a no better orrsuiEation Of /