The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1888-10-17
The TarIR is a Tax.

enters INTO the prlee OF the article
on which the tariff is paid, and it
must follow that the consumer of
the article pays this tariff.
Then it'lthat tariff, enters into and
becomes a part of the price of the
article, 1t must follow, we submit
that thsstariff makes the article cost
more to the consumer than it would
have done without the tariff ON it.
If the tariff adds materially to
the cost of the neccssaries of life.
and thus makes it cost more TO live.
how can tho tariff be TO the atlvan-
tage of the labofer2
IF the tariff does not increase the
price of labor, aud Ii does not, and
the purchasinglp power of such wages
are lessened by the tariff, then, we
submit, the laborer is injured by
the tariff.
That the tariff does not increase
the price of labor is proven by the
fact that free trade England pays
much higher wages than highly
protected France, Germany or Rus
STA, in all of which the conditions of
dense population are about equal
all having an excess of laborers.
That our tariff does not increase
the price of labor, is more than
proven by the fact that -laborers in
the non-protected industries, such
as the house carpenter, the black
smith, the carriage maker, &C., is
much higher than in the protected
industries, such as factory, iron,
mining and mill laborers.
That wages in the protected in
dustries are a trifle higher in this
country than in England, is owing
not to the tariff, but to the sparse
ness of population here, compared
with that of England, making the
demand for labor here greater.
That the demand for labor is
greater here than. in England,
France, Germany, Russia, Italy or
Hungary, is proven by the influx of
hundreds of thousands of them here
every year.
That the great law of supply and
demand governs the price of labor,
as we'll as everything else bought
and sold, is too we'll known 10 need
argument, as every old woman and
child knows that when butter and
eggs, for instance, arc scarce the
demand for them is great and the
price high, but that when the sup
ply of these articles becomes more
than equal to the demand for them,
then the price cheapens.
The farmers of this county, by
reason of the tariff, pay largely in
creased prices for almost everything
they buy to eat and wear, and for
their farm implements and fencing,
iron, nails, &c, thus making it cost
them more than half as much more
to live than it would with no tariff,
and yet are compelled to sell all they
raise or produce in or under free
trade market. Then are they, as a
class, not greatly injured by the
tariff?
fl can buy fine wool hat for
ore dollar without the tariff, and
with the tariff on the raw material
and the manufactured hat, the same
hat costs me two dollars, how am
benefited by the tariff?
IF could buy that hat with one
days labor without the tariff, and
with the tariff am. compelled to
work two days for the same hat,
how am 1 benefited by the tariff
In choosing between two parties,
one of which essays, if elected, to
make you pay the highest possible
price for all you and your family
eat, wear and use; and the other. to
give you these same things at the
lowest possible prices, which will
you support by your votes?
The Republican party in its plat
form declares itself in favor of keep
ing up these high prices, and to
even make them higher, and there
by Chinese wall keeps others
from bringing you cheaper goods;
and if you want anything more, to
give you free whisky that you may
drink away your sorrows.
On the other hand, the Democrat
ic platform favors the reducing of
the tariff and prices on the necessi-
ties of the poor to rate sufficient
only to support the government
economically administered, and
thereby leave over enc hundred
million dollars annually in the peo-
pies pockets to be by them used in
their daily pursuits of life, of which
they are now robbed by this un-
necessarily 'hiph and nniDst to,.;4Y