The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1888-09-13
mn PowDERLY's coon ADVICE.

| A recent number OF the Journal Of
i United Labor contained an article
from the pen OF Grand Master
/ Workman POWderly, whicn has the
| saving grace OF common sense. He
distinctly recognizes the tariff ques-
ton a. the one 70 be settled at this
election. He insists that the prin-
/ ciple OF protection extends much
farther than that, and he a right
| about il. No one claims for prOtee-
ton, from the ruinOus competition
Of European cheap labor, that IL Is
| panacea for all the ills to which
American industry is liable. It's
1 benefits are far-reaching and many
sided, but not universal. The point
is that the present campaign is the
| eliminating point, the final contest
between the two policies, a tariff for
protection aud a tariff for revenue,
and no other phase of protection can
he settled, however much agitated,
at this point Taking this central
fact Of the political situation as his
base of calculation, POwderly gives
the following wholesome advice:
"The main issue before the people
this campaign is tariff or revenue
reform Every speaker for either
Of the two great parties will discuss
that issue whether lac knows any
thing about il or not. My advice 10
wOTkingmen is to hear both sides,
then judge, anc at the November
election vote as conscience dictates,
and In accordance with opinions
formed through being Convinced
that the issue for which you vote is
correct"
The Republican party asks for no
blind following. II the foregoing
advice to make a careful study OF
the subject is observed in good faith
there can be no doubt Of the result.
IL is no; a question OF an abstract or
abstruce nature. On the contrary
il comes right home 70 every mans
door especially If he be q wage
worker. The farmer is quite as
much benefited by protective tariff
as any other class, but his benefits
are indirect and consequently not so
easily dlscerned. The men address
ed by Mr.. POwderly have only TO
find out the wages paid in England
and on the continent to wOrkiugmeu
in their line, and the cost there and
here Of such staples as flour and
meat, and then figure on the cost Of
transportation across the ocean, to
see just how free trade would affect
them. Ii is not necessary to 20 into
the general subject. Each class OF
industry can Investigate the subject
from its own standpoint.
In this good work of eanvasssing
the political question of the day
employers can render their men
valuable service without any inter
ference with their freedom of
suffrage. There would be no de-
Tense for employers who threaten
their men with discharge il they did
not vote a particular ticket, but il Is
certainly cOmmendable in them to
explain the conditions and the
probable results. For example, a
manufacturer Of steel rails would do
well to make out a plain statement |
showing the inevitable effect upon
that line OF business Of the Mills bill |
il IL were enacted. He could easily /
show them what reduction it would |
be necessary to make in wages at |
that particular mill to enable il to /
be run at all. No employer can be
expected to keep his plant in opera
ton at a loss. Such a statement, /
intelligently and honestly inside, /
could not fail to be useful. The OPP
position would assail ii, and il there
were error in the figures or flaw in
the logic point it out, but If it could
stand the test of adverse criticism
the more il was assaulted the better
Mr.. POwderly does not commit him
self, and perhaps i'm his position IL
would be ineXpedient for him to do
50. He is, however, too well ac-
quainted with the subject not to
know that all the roads of honest
inquiry touching the relations OF
domestic labor 10 a protective tariff
lead to the Rome of Republieanisn.
IL is simply impossible for il to he
niharMiae