Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-09-13
WHEREMONOPOLY REIGNS
HOW "PRoTEcrEpD LABOR FARES
AMONG THE TARIFF eARoNs.

Have Been Persisteutly Pared and
Rents Have Gone Up.
PIrTsBUpe, August, 1Sss.-This is the
land of tariff barons and protected"
workingmen. Here are the Carnegies,
the Joneses, the divers, the iron, steel,
coal and glass manufacturers, mills and
workingmen. The tariff tree is here p
What are it's fruits3
Seventy two millionaires who have made
their pile out of the American system
Of protection" live here. Here are five
of whom the public hears good deal:
Andrew Carnegie-Mr. Blaine's coach
ing friend.
B. F. Jones-Ex- chairman of the Re.
publican national committee.
H. w. Oliver-Ex-member of the tariff
commission and Republican platform
maker at Chicago
A. M Byers-Republican platform
maker; heavy campaign contributor to
the Republican campaign funds; member
of the iron firm of E. NJ. Byers. q Co
John Chalfant-Mr. Blaine's friend;
campaign contributor; member of the
firm of Spang, Chalfant g. Co.
The autographs of these five "pro-
tected" gentlemen at the bottom of
check are good for $25, ,000, 900, all made
within the high tariff period of Republi-
can ascendancy. AS makers of tariffs and
iron they are a success. No wonder they
are strenuously in favor of the American
system of protection. There's millions
in it" literally for them, and it is vastly
more practical than Mr.. Mulberry Sellers
'..eye water" scheme. A few years ago
Mr.. Carnegie was poor boy living in
Barefoot square, Third ward, Allegheny.
Twenty-one years ago Mr.. Oliver was
clerk for Graft, Bennett & Co. at
$500 year. Thirty years ago Mr.. Jones
had nothing but brains, industry andWelsh
aptitude for iron mongering Twenty-Five
years ago Messrs. Chalfant and Byers
were either makers of iron specialties on
modest scale or statesmen for iron firms.
And these princely fortunes, made in a
few years, are one fruit. But there is
another. Here is the hot bed of labor
disaffection, of strikes-sometimes riots.
Here organized labor makes its annual
struggle for "scale" of living wages.
Here 10 per cent reductions are made in
mems wages while coaching parties and
castles in Scotland are paid for with the
profits from their labor
Protection for American labor" is the
unvarying declaration in Republican plat
forms and on the hustings, but have not
these protected "barons" resisted all at
tempts of the American laborer to get
protection" wages? And when labor be-
comes clamorous for its rights, has not
Millionaire Carnegie summoned Pinker-
tons men to keep them quiet, and Oliver
secured Europe for pauper scum to take
their places, or imported old nails, while
American labor stood sullen and hungry
"at the outer gate?" Has not Chalfant sued
his protected" laborers for conspiracy
for daring to demand share of that
protection" which the Republican plat
form guarantees? And lastly, what was
the condition of those protected laborers
in Pennsylvania while their employers
were making millions from the tariff?
Their wages steadily declined; their living
expenses have yearly increased; rents
have almost doubled
On April % Mr.. Carnegie, in an "au-
thorized interview" said to the strikers
at Braddocks: Il give you my word of
honor that there is no earthly inducement
that will tempt US to run the Edgar
Thomson iron works except upon two
turns, as our competitors run, and except
upon the sliding scale which is offered
you"
While Harry Oliver was struggling at
the Republican convention at Chicago,
David r. Oliver addressed the men here
The general depression, he said was due
to the fact that too large proportion of
the receipts 60 out as wages.
The scale was accordingly reduced at
divers mills
B. F. Jones, ex-chairman Of the Repub-
lcan committee, said, June 90: Our
works will close down tomorrow and re-
main closed until a satisfactory scale is
presented to US by the workmen."
A. NJ. Byers, who assisted Mr.. McKin-
ley to frame the tariff plank, said June 90
"We are ready to resume work if the
men will work under our scale"
An iron specialist in this city charges
that Mr.. Byers' mill, in the past six
months, worked 1401 days double turn in
the pudding department and his net
profits in that time were $700 day.
They Indignantly protest against trades
unions which attempt to keep wages up
They scour the s1ums of Europe for
pauper labor. Except on rare instances
they are quite unwilling to give labor any
there is a prospect of decline or an cleo
tion scheme is to be furthered. here is the
way they tie up protected" labor:
PlTTsBURG, Pa, June 30, 1883.
We, the undersigned committees appointed
by and representing the Association Of Manu-
facturers of Iron, Steel and Nails, and the
National Amalgamated Association of Iron
and Steel Workers. do hereby agree that the
following scales of prices, based upon the
Western Iron association card of prices,
shall govern the wages of the several de-
partments as herein stated for one year, COM
mencing July l. 1888, and ending June 30,
1889. But it is understood that in case of
the passage of the proposed Mills tariff bill,
or any similar bill, a further conference may
be called by the manufacturers to consider
and agree upon any changes that may be
found to be necessary in consequence of
changes in the tariff laws.
Republican conventions have always in
sisted on the integrity of the ballot, and
the convention which nominated Senator
Harrison declared:
We reaffirm our unswerving devotion =
especially to the supreme and sover-
\ eign right OF every lawful citizen, rich or
poor, native or foreign born, white or black,
to cast one free ballot in public elections and
to have that ballot duly counted.
On Sept. 80, 1880, Fl. w. Oliver, in a
published interview, said:
eve would like to pay our men good
wages, but will not do so If the Demo.
Gratis win In November"
He did not say cannot" pay good
wages, but twill not" if the Democrats
win.
This was posted up about the same
time: