St. Paul daily globe., 1888-08-31
QUEEREO BY QUAY.
Secretary Litehman, Of the
Knights Of Labor, Declares
for Protection.
He Says He Cannot Keep Sic
lent in This Political
Crisis.
Hence His Offer to Shout for
Harrison and Nor
ton.
Whether He Is Wanted or Not
Whether He Is Wanted or Not
Remains to Be
Seen.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30.- Senator
quay, chairman of the Republican
national committee, furnishes the fol-
lowing letter for publication:
Philadelphia, Pa, Aug. 24.-Hon.
Matthew S. Quay, Chairman. of the
National Committee, Everett House.
New York: Dear Sir-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 a
body, labor organizations NAV refrain
from active participation in politics. so
much OF what organized labor demands
must be obtained through legislation
that the individual member of the labor
organization must act practically as i'm his
Judgment will best aid the aims and OBJ
Jects pressed on the principles of the
organization he represents, and whose
success he desires. In the gigantic DO
lltlcal struggle now begun side issues
count as nothing except as they hinder
one OF the principal combatants in the
political arena. However, since he NAV
be the advocate of the measures TO Sc
cure which these separate political or.
ganlZatlons are formed, and whatever
strength In votes may be shown at the
polls, the fact remains that the candi-
date OF either the Republican OF of the
democratic party will be the next pres
ldent OF the United States. Therefore.
to him who has the good of his countrv
and the welfare of her people at heart,
the necessity exists to choose to which
OF these two old party organizations
snail be given aid, either directly or in.
directly,
BY VOICE OR VOTE.
Whlle 1t may be that neither party
offers that which labor organizations
desire, L believe that the Republican
party in adopting and advocating the
American system of announcement
and protectio to the labor and
| wages of our land, is nearer the
declarations and desires of organized
| labor than its tree Trade opponent. the
Democratic party. The conflict is be-
tween the American system as rep
resented by the Republican party,
| which would foster and encourage the
laoor or 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 market to the productions of
foreign factories and foreign labor, thus
making idle our own tOilerS and reduc-
ing to lower level the standard of
American wages. When the Knghtso of
Labor and Kindred organizations shall
have obtained in foreign lands the same
commanding position and influence en-
| Joyed in the United States the ineuual-
ity in wages will disappear, not by lev
cling our wages down but by leveling
their wages up. 1t is far better to level
up than to level down, as the larger the
income the larger the power to con-
sumo. Until this equalization can be
accomplished and until the wages of
labor abroad shall equal those at home
there must be proper
RESTRICTION OF IMMIGRATION
so that our land may not be the Dump
ing ground of the pauper and degraded
labor of the balance of the world This
restriction, supplemented by continu-
alton of thorough, systematic organiZa-
ton of the labor already here in con-
junction with the American idea of
protection to American labor cannot
fail to secure for our people the best re-
suit of their toll, and by our example
lift the labor of the whole world to a
higher and better plane of existence.
Whichever party wins, something
must be done to regulate more strictly
this Importation of foreign labor under
contract and the immigration of
paupers and dependents. If nothing
should be done, then Democratic sue
cess would mean not only free trade in
goods made by pauper labor, but the inn
portation of both the labor and goods.
While under free trade goods may be
cheaper to the consumer in certain lines,
the labor made idle in those lines must
turn to other means of employment and
thus by competition compel lower rate
of wages to those already employed
therein. The power of workingman
to consume depends upon what he re-
ceiveS for his labor. Unemployed, his
power to consume, except on charity or
| theft ceases. L prefer that America
should be a land of workers rather
| than land of thieves and paupers.
| What is true of the individual is equally
| true OF the nation. The primary ele-
ments of national wealth and national
| prosperity are production, distribution
| and consumption. Whatever affects
| the power of labor to consume affects
| the entire interests of the nation.
| Whatever lowers the wages of labor
affects its power to consume. An
average reduction" of 7 per centum on
| the cost of goods imported will not COM
| pensate American labor for the loss Of
| 100 per centum in wages on the lines
| affected, and of from 10 to so per centum
| in wages in other lines of employment
| by the substitution of the free trade
| Tor the protective SYSTEM. nOlQ IL 10
| be far wiser craftsmanship to build
up and retain our home market by
system that protects American labor
| than to command a market in foreign
| lands, secured by the wholesale
DEGRADATION AND PAUPERIZATION
of our own people. Every dollars
worth of labor value imported is by so
much reduction of home 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 "a specious pre-
| sentation of the matter, because the ques-
ton is then instantly forced upon every
| intelligent man, 'How can America
labor earn dollars if the industry in
| which he is experienced is transferred
! to foreign lands?"
| The theory of protection advocated by
| the Republican party is The same as the
underlying principle by which all labor
| organizations are founded. A friend to
| organized labor that believes in Organi-
| Zation as means to enhance and MAIN
tain wages cannot consistently oppose
party that applies to all labor the same
principle of protection from unfair COM
petition that the individual trade Or
ganiZation gives to the single trade.
Trade organizations do aid in advancing