New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-09
STRIKES AND DEMOCRACY.

. The connection between strikes and Demo-
cratic victories is more direct than many
imagine. That strikes have been unusually
frequent within the past few years is unhapplly
evident The workers realize that the Oft
repeated strikes are becoming terribly burden
some to them Their losses, and their contri-
buttons to tighten the losses of others, amount
TO many millions yearly. A great many OF
the workers are Democrats, and it would BIZ for
them a blessing If they could realize how
directly mistaken votes cause their severe
losses.
The Democratic financial policy expands the
currency rapidly in the fall the actual expan-
sion has been S62 900, 900 since last June, and
during the last half Of 1886 it was even larger.
This kindes the fires of fierce speculation.
Prices mount upward in the speculative mar
kets with wild rapidly; manufacturers and
miners are encouraged TO increase production
to the utmost in order to realize profits while
they can; retail dealers lift retail prices in
order to protect themselves, and so the cost OF
living is enhanced.
With higher prices and higher cost OF
living come demands for more wages. Each
fall there has been an epidemic of such de-
have been based on increase in the cost of Nv
| ing. But manufacturers and mine owners,
taught by sad experience. know that the sudden
|, squirt OF high prices is likely to be stopped
when winter brings Democratic agitation for
repeal of duties. They hesitate to pay more
wages except with agreement for subsequent
| reduction when markets decline. The men
know by experience that retail prices do not
| rccede as rapidly as they advance. Here begin
many strikes, which are always disastrous to
| both parties, however they may end.
After each falls initiation comes 4 session OF
Congress. The Democratic majority renews
its warfare on American industry. Committees
| are organized in favor of lower duties. The
| President and Secretary of the Treasury in
each years reports strongly recommend re-
duction of tariff. FIee-tIade newspapers arc
encouraged to print thousands of statements
| going to show that reduction lis certain, and
that it will vastly cheaper everything produced
by manufactures and mining Accordingly
buyers begin to hope for lower prices and keep
back their purchases Products can no longer
be sold in enormously increased quantities as
they are produced, and prices 60 down with a
slump.
thus obliged to place before the workers the
alternative. discontinuancc of work or lower
wages. The men do not find retail prices
going down with rapidity, as wholesale prices
decline, and they protest and resist Hundreds
of manufacturing establishments and mines are
| closed because the employers prefer not TO
have any struggle and they do not dare to risk
continued production on falling market. In
hundreds more the workers and employers en-
gage in disastrous struggles, which lessen the
years production, cut down the wages OF
workers and the profits Of capitalists, prevent
the reaction of prices aud keep the cost of
living lmnaturally high.
Tho imitation and tariff agitation are direct
| fruits of Democratic votes. The higher retail
prices. the spasmodic activity in production at
times, followed by periods of prostration, are
necessary results. The multiplied strikes and
the tremendous losses which the workers bear
in connection with them are produced by
Democratic votes more than by any other inn
mediate cause. Under all administrations
labor controversies have been frequent, but
they have been more numerous and more costly
than ever before during the past few years,
since Democratic votes have produced Demo-
cratic majoritcs in Congress and given a
Democratic President power to sign frec-trade
bills.