The Republican journal., 1888-09-06
Protection the Best Policy for the
Nottingham.

Senator Quay, chairman of the Republican
national committee, has received long letter
from Charles II. Litchman, general secretary
of the Knights of Labor, which he has furnish
ed for publication. In it Litchman says:
''While it may be that neither party offers all
that labor organizations desire, belieye that
the Republican party, in adopting and advo-
eating the American system of encouragement
and protection to the labor and wages of our
own land, is nearer the declarations and desires
of organized labor than its free trade oppon-
entS, the Democratic party. The conflict is be-
tween the American system, as represented by
the Republican party, which would foster and
encourage the labor of Our own people and re-
tain for them the market and 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 EoHe market to the productions of foreign
factories and foreign labor, thus making idle
our own tocrs and reducing to a lower level
the standard of American wages.
"When the knights of Labor and kindred
organizations shall have obtained in foreign
lands the same commanding position and in
tlucnce enjoyed in the United States, the inc
quality in wages will disappear, not by level
ling our wages down, but by dwelling their
wages up. ! is far better to level them up than
to level them down. as the larger the income the
larger the power to consume. Until this equal
iZation can DC accomplished, and until the
wages of labor abroad shall equal those at
home, there must be . proper restriction of inn
migration, so that our land may not be the
dumping ground Of the pauper and degraded
labor of the balance of the world. This re-
striction, supplemented by a continuation of
thorough, ~ stematc organization Of the labor
already here, i'll oniuncton with the American
idea of protection to American labor, cannot
fail to secure for our people tie best results Of
their toll. and by our example lif; the labor of
the whole world TO 4 higher and better plane of
existence. Whichever party wins, something
must be done 10 regulate more strictly this inn
lortation Of foreign labor under contract and
the immigration Of pauiers and DEPENDENTS If
nothing should be done, then Democratic sue
cess would mean hot only free trade in goods
made by raupcr labor. but the importation of
both the labor and tie 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 hv competition compel Il lower rate Of
wages to those already employed therein. The
power of a Workin. man to consume depends
upon what he receives for his labor. Unem-
l!oyrd, his power to consume. except in chari-
~ or theft. ceases. i prefer that America
should be Il land of workers. rather than land
of thieves and paupers.
"Wha; is true of tile individual is equally true
OF the nation Tile primary elements of ma
tional wealth ai!ti national prosperity are pro-
lurton, distribution and consumption. What
ever affects the power Of labor to consume af-
fccts the entire interest, Of the nation. What
ever lowers the wages OF labor affects it, pow
er t. con>ii!no. An "a' cragc reduction of
per centiin on the cost of goods imported win
not compensate American labor for the loss of
100 per cent. in wages in the lines affected and
from 10 to 30 per cent. 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 retain
our home market by a system that protects
American labor than to command market in
foreign lands secured hv the wholesale ,cgra-
dation ana pauperization Of our own people.
Every dollars worth of labor va!ue imported
is 10y much a reduction of home aborers'
wages. This axiom is not Offset by the dcclnr-
alton that there are more goods in the import
ed dollars worth. The position of the protec-
ZIONIST is rather strengthened by such Il spec
iouS presentation Of the matter. because the
question is then instantly forced upon every
intelligent man: How can American labor
earn dollars if the industry in which he is en-
pericnced is transferred 10 foreign lands:
1.-The theory of protection advocated by the
Republican party is the same as the underlying
principle upon which all labor organizations
are founded. A friend to organized labor that
believes in organization as a means to enhance
aid maintain wages cannot consistently oppose
party that applies to all labor the same prin-
ciple OF protection from unfair competition
that the Individual trade organization gives
to the single trade, Trade organizations to
aid In advancing wages in their respective
trades and the protective system demanded by
the Republican party will secure for all the
toilcrs in the land 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 officers Of the organi-
cation representing the iron and the glass III
dustries of the United States. There Is no
l,,if finn, Nfa
Ama!-amatcd Association of Iron and Steel
Workers. There is 10 trade more thoroughly
organized or better disciplined than that of the
window glass workers, nor one in which high
er wages are paid. The warning OF the officers
representing those trades against free trade
are very significant, and should be needed.
~ careful consideration of all these facts
ronvlnccs me that TIE present is 4 grave crisis
i'll the political affairs of our country, and that
have no right to remain silent. My position
AS general secretary Of the Knight. of Labor
has given me an intimate knowledge of the
various phases of the Ia Dor question, and,
from the knowledge thus gained | do not hcs!-
tate to say that the triumph of the Democratic
party, dominated! by intolerance in The South
and British free trade sentiment in the North,
would be the most serious blow to organized
labor i; conl;i possibly receive. | cannot re-
main inactive in such Il conflict. Therefore, to
you and your associates on the National Re-
publican Committee. as the representatives 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 i'll this campaign of the
American idea of protection to American Ia
bor."
Free Trade or Protection.
imported in the year 1887 from the Pro-
vinccs of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and
Prince Edwards Island 500 900 worth of farm
products in the form Of hay, potatoes, horses,
cattle and Sbccp | paid fine farmers of the