The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1888-09-05
WHERE MONOPOLY REIGNS
HOW PROTECTED" LABOR FARES
AMONG THE TARIFF RARoNs-

HOW aPRoTEcTEpp LABOR FARES
AMONG THE TARIFF sARoNs,
Prinoelx fortunes Galore Have Been
Amassed There since 1860, while wages
Have Deen persisteutly Pared and
Rents Have Gone Up.
PITTsBuRa, August, 1888. S.-This is the
land of tariff barons and protected"
workingmen. Here are the 0aInegies,
the Joneses, the divers, the iron. steel,
coal and glass manufacturers. mills and
woskingmen. The tariff tree is here.
What are its fruits2
:. Seventy two millionaires who have made
tAeir pile out of the American system
of protection live here. Here are five
of whom the public hears good deal:
Andrew Carnegie-Mr. Blaine's coach
b. F. Jones-E Ex.chairnnn of the BE.
publican national committee
H w. Oliver-Ex-member of the tariff
commission and Republican platform
maker ut Chicago.
a. NJ. Byers-Repnblican platform
maker; heavy campaign contributor to
the Republican campaign funds; member
of tho iron frm of e. NJ. Byers & Co
John ChRlfant-Mr. Blaine's friend;
campaign contributor; member of the
firm of Spang, Chalfant & Co.
The autographs of these five "pro-
tected" gentlemen at the bottom of o
within the high tariff period of Repubh-
can ascendancy. As makers of tariffs and
iron they are success. No wonder they
are strenuously in favor of the American
system of protection. ttThere's millions
in it" literally for them, and it is vnstly
more practical than MIR. Mulberry Sellers
.'cye water" scheme. a few years ago
Mr.. Carnegie was poor boy living In
Barefoot square, Third ward, Allegheny.
Twenty-one years ago Mr.. Oliver was
clerk for Graft, Bennett & Co. Mt
$500 year Thirty years ago Mr.. Jones
had nothing but brains, industry and Welsh
aptitude for iron mongering. Twenty-Five
years ago Messrs. Ghalfant and Byers
were either makers of iron specialties on
modest scale or statesmen for iron firms.
And these pr1ncely fortunes. made in q
few years, are one fruit But there is
another. Here Is the hot bed of labor
disafection, of strikes-sometimes riots.
Here organized labor makes its annual
struggle for a scale" of living wages.
mems wages while coaching parties and
castles in Scotland are paid for with the
profits from their labor.
''Protection for American labor" is the
! unvarytng declaration in Republican plat
forms and on the hustings, but have not
| these protected "barons" resisted all at
| tempts of the American laborer to get
protection" wages2 And when labor be-
comes clamorous for it's rights, has not
| Millionaire Carnegie summoned Pinker-
tons men to keep them quiet, and Oliver
secured Europe for pauper scum to take
their places, or imported old nails, while
American labor stood sullen and hungry
''at the outer gate?" Has not Chalfant sued
| his protected" laborers for conspiracy
for daring to demand share of that
protection" which the Republican plat
form guarantees2 And lastly, what was
| the condition of those protected laborers
| in Pennsylvania while their employers
| were making millions from the tariff
Their wages steadily declined; their living
expenses have yearly increased; rents
| have almost doubled.
| On April % Mr.. Carnegie, in an Tau
thorized interview" said to the strikers
at Braddocks: 81 give you my word of
honor that there is no earthly inducement
that will tempt us to run the Edgar
Thomson iron works except upon two
turns, us our competitors run, and except
upon the sliding scale which is offered
you"
While Harry Oliver was struggling at
the Republican convention at Chicago,
David r. Oliver addressed tho men here
The general depression, he said, was due
to tho fact that too large proportion of
the receipts go out as wages.
The scale was accordingly reduced at
| divers mills.
B. F. Jones, ex-chairman of the Repub-
lican committee, said, June 90: ''our
works will close down tomorrow and re-
main closed Until a satisfactory scale is
presented to us by the workmen."
a NJ Byers. who assisted Mr.. McKin-
ley to frame the tariff plank, said Juno 90:
I'VE are ready to resume work if the
men will work under our scale"
An iron specialist in this city charges
months. worked 1404 days double turn in
the pudding department and his net
profits in that timo were 800 day.
They Indignantly protest against trades
unions which attempt to keep wages up
They scouf the sluns of Europe for
pauper labor. Except on rare instances
they arc quite unwilling to give labor any
share of a boom in prices. But when
.here is prospect of decline or an cleo
lion scheme is to be furthered, here is the
| way they tie up protected" labor:
PlTTsBURG, Pa, June 80, 1883
| We, the undersigned committees appointed
| oy and representing tho Association of Manu-
| National Anal lGnmnted Association of Iron
and Steel Workers, do hereby agree that the
| following scales of prices, based upon the
| Western Iron association card of prices,
| shall govern the wages of the several de-
| partments as herein stated for one year, COM
mencing July 1, 1888, and ending June 3d.
1882 But it is understood that in cnss of
the passage of the proposed Mills tariff bill
OF any similar bill, a further conference may
be called by the ndanufae urers to consider
and agree upon my changes that may be
/ found to be necessary in consequence of
changes in the tariff laws.
Republican conventions have always in
sisted on the integrity OF the ballot. and
the convention which nominated Senator
Harrison declared:
| We reaffirm our unslgerving devotion
especially to the supreme and sover-
eign right OF every lawful citizen, rich or
poor, native or foreign born, white or black,
to cast one free ballot in public elections and
to have that ballot duly counted
On Sept go. 1880, Il. W. Oliver, in n
published interview, said:
I've would like to pay our men good
wages. but will not do SO If tho Demo
Gratis win in November"
he did not say cannot" pay good
wages. but will not" If the Democrats
win.
This was posted up abous the same
time:
Employees desiring to Join an oHvrdar. Z
field club are requested to call at the r1ill Of
fee for caps and capes. divers LII, 1880