River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-09-13
HICKMAN TO QUGT.
The General Secretary of the knights of
Labor for Harrison.


Labor for Harrison.
Senator Quay. Chairman of the Re-
publican National COMMITTEES, furnishes /
the following letter for publications
PHILADELPHIA. Pa, Aug 27.-H6a. II. 5. /
Quay Chair9ggH n Rsp1tblicaR NatiosaE coui- /
Niftee, Ecsrrtt House, Mar YORK, Dear SIR /
My connection with the labor movement for /
.he past fourteen years has made il necessary |
or me 10 be close student OF the eauses q |
iabor eefrsssions and OF the needs Of those /
sho toll
While as a body labor organization may re- |
frain from active part eipation in politics. SO
much Of what organized labor demands must /
be obtaine9 Ia -0ugh legislation that the tndi /
vidual member of the labor organization /
must act politically as ia his Judgment will
best aid the aims and objects expires sed n the !
principles OF the organization he represents, /
ana whose success he desires. IN the gigantic /
political struggle now heguu, side issues count |
as nothing except TO a.d or hinder one OF the |
principle combatants in the political sf-na
However ncere may be the advocates Of the
measures TO secure which these separate pollt-
ical organizations are formed, and whatever
strength IN votes may be shown at the polls |
the fact remains that the candidate Of either
the Republican or Of the Democratic party viii
be the next President OF the United States.
Therefore, to him who has the good OF his
country and the welfare of her people at
heart. the Necessity exists 10 choose which Of
these two old party organizations shall be
Given aid! either directly or indirectly. by voice
Or vote.
While II mag be that neither party offers ail
that labor organizations desire, believe that
the Republican party. in adopting and advo5at
ing the American system Of encouragement
and protection to the labor and wages OF our
own land. is nearer the declarations and de-
sIres Of organized labor than its free-trade OPP
ponent the Demo cratic party.
WHERE THE CONFLICT LIES.
The conf ct is between the American sys-
tenn rs represented by the Repabisssn party,
which would foster and encourage the labor "
our own people and retain for them the market
aud wages OF our own 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 reducing TO q lower level tie standard OF
American wages When The Knights OF Labor
and kindred organizations shall have OBJ
tanned in fore On lands the same commanding
position and influence enjoyed in the United
Statesi the inequality in wages will disappear,
not by leveltng orr wages down but by level.
ling their wages ur. II is fat better 10 level
up than 10 level down, as the larger. the in
come the larger the power TO consume.
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 dumuing-ground OF the pau
per and degraded labor of the balance Of the
world. This restriction, supplemented by
continuation OF thorough, systematic organi-
cation OF the labor already here, in conlunc-
tion with tho American idea Of protection 10
American labor, can not fai to secure for our
people the best results of their toll, and by
our example lift the labor OF the whole word
TO a CHER and better plane OF existence.
$50 -,
done TO regulate more strictly this import alton
Of fore ga labor under contract and the tmmi
grafton of paupers and dependents. II moth ng
should be done, then Democratic success would
mean not only free trade in goods made by
pauper labor, but the Importation Of both the
labor and the goods While under free trade
goods may be cheaper to the consumer in GER
tain lines, the labor made idle in these lines
must turn 10 other means OF employment, and
thus by compel tton compel a lower rate of
wages TO those already employed therein
THE POWER or LABOR
The power OF a working man to consume de-
pends upon what he receives for his labor. I'm
employed, his power to consume, except on char
fly or theft, ceases. l prefer tina America
should be a land Of workers rather than aland
Of thieves and paupers.
What is true of the ind v.dual is equally true
OF the Nation. The primary elements OF Ma
toDal wealth and Naliona. prosperity are pro-
duction, distribution and consumption. What
ever affects the power of labor to consume az
fects the entire interests Of the Nation. What
ever lowers the wages Of labor affects its power
to consume. An average reduction" Of per
cent on the cost Of goods imported VIII not
compensate American labor for the loss of 100
per cent. in wages in the lines affected. and
from 10 to 30 per centum in wages in the lines
of employment by the substi tuition OF the free
trade for the protective system. I hold il to
be far wiser craftsmanship 10 build up and re-
tain our home markets by system that pro-
tects Americans than to command a market IN
foreiga lands secured by the wholesale degra-
datiou ana paupersm OF our own people.
Every dollars worth Of labor value imported
Is by much reduction Of home laborers
wages. This axiom is not Offset by the declara-
tion that there are more goods in the i'm
ported dollars worth. The position of the pro
tectionist is rather strengthened by such
specious presentation of the matter because
the question is then instantly forced upon
every intelligent man-how can American Ia
Dor earn dollars if the industry in which he is
experienced is transferred 10 foreign lands2
The theory OF protection advocated by the Re
publican party is the same the underlying
principle upon which ali labor organizations
are founded.
TRADE ORGANIZATIONS.
A friend TO organized labor that believes in
organization as a means TO enhance and main
tam wages can not consistently oppose party
that applies to all labor the same principle OF
protection from unfair competition that the
ind viduaI trade organization gives TO the
single trade. Trade organizations do aid in ad
vancing wages in their respective trades; and
the protective system demanded by the Re-
publican party will secure for all the toll
ers 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 declarations recent.
ly made in favor OF the American sys-
TEN and home market by the presiding
officers of the organization representing the
iron ana the glass industr es 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 organized or better disciplined
than that of the W ndow-glass workers. nor one
in VIII CHI higher wages are paid. The warning
of the officers representing those trades against
free trade are very gnficaut and should be
needed careful consideration of al these
facts convinces me that the present ; a grave
er sis in the political affairs Of our country.
and that have no riFht to remain silent. My
position as general secretary OF the Knights OF
Labor has gwen me intimate knowledge Of
the var Gus phases OF the labor question, and
from the knowledge thus gained do not hes
tate 10 say that the tr umph Of the Democratic
party, dominated by the intolerance in the
South and the British free-trade sentiment in
the North, would be the most serious blow 10
organized labor IL could possibly receive. i
can not remain inactive in such a conflict.
Therefore. TO you and your associates on the
Nat onal Republican Committee as the repre-
sentatives of the Republican party, / offer my
services IN any position or capacity where they
may be desirable or be thought most useful to
aid in securing the success OF Harrison and
Morton. the representatives in this campaign
OF American idea of protection 70 American
labor
have the honor TO remain yours to command.
CHARLES II. LITCHMAN.
- 1~
THE TREASURY SURPLUS.
What Senator Allison Knows A bout Dem
ocratic Extravaganza.
Senator Beck Is the spokesman of