Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-01-20
A PRACTICAL SIDE OF THE TARIFF QUES-
TON.
lrroln the Now York Tribune. ]

From the New Otk lflDune'l
The tariff question has a practical
side which every Onecan understand
A thousand-and-one theories and
controversial issues may be raised
between the protection and free
trade schools, but the core OF the
whole matter ls wages. American
! industries may be able to compete
with English industries IN all other
respects, but they arc now placed
at a marked disadvantage with ref
erence TO the cost of labor. Under
free trade British manufactures
cheapened by cheap labor wouId
be pitted against American manu-
facturers produced with better'paid
labor. That competition, all other
things being equal, could not con-
tinue unless the prices of American
labor we're scaled down to the basis
of English and Continental cheap
labor. Free trade, as a practical
question and not as an economic
theory, must involve one of two
things: either a general reduction
of wages throughout the country,
or else the destruction of American
industries through British cOmpeti-
ton.
This is the practical side of the
question which President Cleveland
has suddenly raised. 1t is the side
of this controversy which Republi-
can journals should constantly pre-
sent to their readers during the COM
ing year. Free trade implies cheap
| labor and low wages,or else the ruin
of American industries. DO man
ufacturers and employers generally
wish to face the prospect of battling
with labor unions in harasslng
struggle to put down wages to the
English scale? Do working peo-
ple desire to have their earnings
cut down everywhere from one
third to two.thirds 7 These are the
real questions to be discussed in
every counting.rOom and factory.
Free trade means, at the best, cheap
labor; at the worst, the overthrow
of every struggling or prosperous
| industry.
If any one has any doubt as to
the real bearing of this question of
labor let him satisfy himself by 60
ing into any of the stores during
the Christmas season where the
products of American cheap labor
are sold. Certain classes Of wo-
mans work in America are as cheap
and as i'll paid as any free trader
can desire to have them. Every.
thing that can be made by sewing
women by hand or machine-treadle
is sold on the counters so fabulous
ly low that American women OF
moderate means have ceased to DC
more than little of their own sew
ing. The prices of these goods are
low because the labor is cheap
The sewing women are paid nex'
to nothing for their toll. Theil
starvation wages fill the counters
with the cheapest of cheap goods
America, as Mrs. Campbell hat
shown IN The Tribune, already ha'
free trade in wOman's misery.
Now, it may be possible undei
the Presidents system Of free trade
TO have the counters in the sam
stores piled up with the product
of mems cheap labor as well as wo
mems. If wages are reduced 10
men IN the same proportion as tn
earnings of helpless sewing-womel
have been cut down to the miser.
level, competition with England
can be maintained in various in
dustries under free trade. If tn
reduction does not take place The
manufacturers will 90 under ant
there will be no employment at al
1t will be Hobson's choice between
= cheap labor and ruin; and cheal
labor for men Of all trades will meal
what it means to-day to the wretcn
| ed sewlng-women whose work sell
for a farthing in the shops; it vii
mean misery and want.