Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-15
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WHAT FREE TRADE MEANS.

e Means Industrial Ruin and Starvation
OF Honest Labor.
Mr.. Cleveland in his message advocates
reduction of tariff, which tends toward
free trade Mr.. Mills in His tariff reform
bill advocates the same, 1. needless and
wicked assault upon the industries of
America
The question for your consideration is,
which party viii you support the coming
election-the protection party or the free
trade party.
What is free trade?
1t means that the ports of all countries
are open to each other, so that one coun-
try can trade with another without ex-
pense, duty or tax.
Which means: l. That the American
workman must compete against the cheap
labor of Europe. 9 Reduction OF wages
In every branch of trade g. Reduction
of the earning power of every dollar Of
capital now invested in America, either
In manufacturing, farming or any other
pursuit
Free trade is all very well so far as
European countries are concerned, where
it costs the same price for labor. For in
stance, iaboring man in England, Ire
land, Germany, Scotland, Spain, Italy or
China, earns on an average Of 40 cents
per day; in America the average is 81 20
per day. Now, if the laborer Of this
country is willing to work for the same
wages as the work1neu of Europe, then
vote for Cleveland and free trade Every
thing in this world finds its level in time
The worI-rnen of this country cannot
receive $3.50 per day against the work
men Of Europe, 30 cents per day, on
ID 10 i
could thrive.
Suppose a man can make two pairs of
shoes a day. It costs $5f.20 to make them
la this country and only 90 cents to make
them in Europe. Take Off the protection
tariff and every manufacturer and mer-
chant in America viii have his shoes
made on tho other side, bring them over
here and sell them until our people are
too poor to buy.
Free trade means destruction to all our
Industries 1t means that the clerk, the
mechanic and laboring man and their
families viii be ground down to starva-
ton wages, as is the case with tho poor
people Of Europe. 1t means that the
children of the laboring man viii be de-
prived Of the benefits of cur public
schools and our free institutions, for in
stead of going to school they viii be COM
PEELED to work at the loom, in the shop or
in the f5ld, 10 earn food and scanty
clothing.
Many Of you within the sound Of my
voice remember the condition of the poor
people who worked in the paper mills at
Factory village and at Rock City Falls
near by before the war. There was no
tariff for protection then, there was
slight tariff Tor revenue, but not enough
10 afford protection for the poor laborers.
/ remember when l was boy would
sometimes visit those paper mills and no
ticed frequently families consisting iof
father, mother, sons and daughters work
ing from morning until night, and then
with their combined earnings could
nTord meat only once a week and poor
food the balance.
Their little homes were poorly fur
hished, no carpet on the floor, tables with
out covers, 10 china; instead tin plates,
lead spoons, and pewter mugs We're used.
On Sunday they did not attend church,
for they were too poorly dressed, and all
this misery was caused under the system
which NJ Cleveland and Mr.. Mills are
advocating today.
After the war. when the tariff was
raised so that paper could not be import
e4 from rlGl2ild ana wales any cheaper
than it could be manufactured here,
the condition of these poor people i'm
proved rapidly. and IN a few years the
children attended school with good shoes
and neat clothes, and their little homes
were transformed from sh0des Of misery
70 those Of comfort and luxury And
this improvement among the poor people
Of the whole section continues. and this
under the protective tariff system.
Do you want 20 change this system? Do
you want to bring destruction and ruin
on our industries? Do You want to see
q reign of terror in our country? If you
do then vote fer Cleveland and free
trade. Cries Of MOI" and applause. i
A speech delivered by c. C. Shane. of
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