Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-09-13

Executive Board Of the Knights of La
Dor has written to Chairman Quay Of the
National Republican Committee, offer
ing his services for the Republican NOM
iDees during the campaign. He says
that protection is an American system;
that it elevates the workingmau, keeps
wages at living figures, and shuts out
the degradation to which toilers are sub
iect in free-trade countries No wage
worker, Mr.. Litchman says, can consist
emily support the democratic ticket or
the platform of principles upon which it
was nominated.
My connection with the labor movement
for the past fourteen 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, as body,
labor organization may refrain from &C
tive participation in politics, 80 much of
what organized labor demands must be
obtained through legislation that the in
dividuGl member OF the labor OrganiZa-
ton must act politically as in his judg-
ment will best aid the aims and objects
expressed in the principles of the Organi-
cation he represents. and whose success
he desires.
In the gigantic political struggle now
begun side issues count as nothing except
to aid or hinder one of their principal
conbatants in the political arena. How
ever sincere may be the advocates of the
measure to secure which these separate
political organizations are formed, and
whatever strength in votes may be shown
at the polls, the fact remains that the
candidates Of either the Republican or the
Democratic party will be
THE NEXT PRESIDENT
of the United States. Therefore 10 him
who has the good of this country and the
welfare of her people at heart, the neces-
sity exists to choose to which of these two
old party organizations shall be given aid
directly or indirectly, by voice or vote.
While it may be that neither party offers
all that labor organizations desire, | be-
lieve that the Republican party, in adopt
ing and advocating the American system
fat announcement ~ protection to the
er the declarations and desires OF organic
Cd labor than its free trade opponent, the
democratic party. The conflict is between
the American system, as represented by
the Republican party, which would foster
and encourage the labor of our own people
and retain for them the market and wages
of our country, and the British system, as
represented by the Democratic party,
which would break down the barriers Of
protection and throw open our home mar
ket TO the productions of foreign factories
and foreign labor, thus making idle our
own tOilers and reducing to a lower level
the standard of American wages. When
cations shall have obtained in foreign
lands the same commanding position and
influence enjoyed in the United States,
the inequality in wages will disappear,
not by leyeliug our wages down but by
leYeling their wages up. 1t is farbetIer to
LEVEL UP THAN TO LEVEL DOWN,
as the larger the income tine larger the
power to consume. Until this equaliza-
tion can be accomplished, and until the
wages Of labor abroad shall equal those at
home, there must be a proper restriction
of immigration, so that our land may not
be the dumping ground Of the pauper
and d graded labor of the balance of the
world. The restriction, supplemented by
constitution Of thorough, systematic or
ganization Of the labor already here, in
conjunction with the American idea Of
protection to American labor, cannot fail
to Sc @ure for our people the best result of
their toll, and by our example lift the la
Dor OF the whole world TO higher and
better plane OF existence.
Which ever party, wins, something
must TIE done TO regulate more strictly
this importation OF foreign labor under
contract, and the imnigr tiaa OF paupers
and dependents. IL nothing should be
DONE then Democratic success would
mean not only tree trade III goods made
By paUper labor, but the importation of
both the labor and the goods. While I'M
der free trade goods may DE cheaper to
the consumer in many lines, the labor
made lille by these lines must turn TO other
means o. employment, and thus by com
petition compel lower rate of wages TO
those already employed therein.
The power Oi Il WprNIng man TO consume
depends Epon what hc receives Tor his la
Dor. Unemployed, his power 10 consume,
except on cha ity or theft, oeases. pre-
fer that America shoull he
A LAND OF WORKERS
rather than n land Of t.ti Wand pauDeES.
What is true of the individual, is equally
true of the Nation. The primary elements
of National wealth and National prosper
ity are production, distribution and con-
sumption. Whatever affects the power Of
labor to consume, affects the power of the
Nations. Whatever lowers the wages of
labor affects its power to consume. An
average reduction +" OF per centum
on the cost Of goods imported viii not
compensate American labor for the loss
of 100 per centum in wages in the lines
affected, and of from 10 to so per centum
in wages in the lines of employment by
the substitution of the free trade for the
protective system. | hold it to be far
wiser craftsmanship to build up and re-
tain our home market. by q system that
protects American labor, than to COM
mand market in foreign lands secured
by the wholesale degradation and pauperi-
cation of our own people.
Every dollars worth of labor value i'm
labOrerS' wages This axiom is not offset
by the declaration that there are more
goods in the imported dollars worth.
The position of the prOtectioniSt is rather
strengthened by such q SpeCiOuS p:eSenta-
ton of the matter, because the question is
then instantly forced upon everf intelli-
gent man-hOw can American labor earn
dollars II the industry in which he is eX-
perienced is transferred to foreign lands?
The theory Of protection advocated by the
Republican party IS the same as the un-
DERIVING lri"ciple upon which all labor
organizations are founded. 4 friend TO
organized labor that believes il the or
ganiZation as 4 means to enhance and
maintain wages
CAN NOT CONSISTENTLY OPPOSE
party that applies TO all labor the same
principle of protection from unfair com
petition, that the individual trade Organi-
cation gives 10 the single trade. Trade or
ganizStionS so aid in advancing wages in
their respective trades, and the protective
system demanded by the republican party
will secure for all the tOilers in the land a
similar fostering care.
That this is clearly understood by most
of the thinking leaders of organized labor
is proved by the declaration recently
made in favor of the American system
and home market by the presiding OH
GERS OF the organization representing the
iron and glass industries of the United
States. There is no better organization
of any one trade than the Amalgamated
Association of Iron and Steel Workers
There Is no trade more thoroughly or
ganized or better disciplined than that of
the window glass workers, nor one in
which higher wages are paid. The warn
ing of the officers representing those trades
against free trade are significant and
should be needed
A careful consideration of all these facts
convinces me that the present is a grave
crisis in the political affairs of our coun-