Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-02

SIS days. What is wroDgP What do
/ these strikers want? Ever since the war
thew have had all the protection the most
exacting high protectionist could ask. Inc
high tariff men tell them they are the best
Maid workmen in the woodland in q de-
gree they are, but this is not due to the
tariff. Speaking on this subject the arti-
Gle in Harper's quoted above says:
Il must be a bad yystem which in such
a country produces such an cutlery. In
the face oft, where is the protectionlst's
argument that the American operative Is
the most prosperous and happy IN the
world? That he has more OF what Is call
ed liberty is true. That his opportunities
for improving his fortune are greater IN .
free, fresh, young country, not YET nail
occupied, than they are, or can be, IN the
crowded countries Of Europe, with their
ancient aristOcratic fences and conVen-
tions still upon them, goes without saying
These bene6cient and exceptional features
of the New World over the cramped con-
ditions OF the Old World are no more ref
cradle to the tariff, however, than they are
reFgrsble TO the single rule of three. Yet
in sp;te of them the American ls
less satisfied, and makes louder complaint,
Than the English or the French workman.
II protection gave him such constant work
and sufficient wages as is claimed, why the
clamor, and why the strikes, and why the
4 - n-&, - - that m RnRn
things came to pass among us until the
theory and practice OF protection had
reached their fullest recognition and de-
velopment.
And again
Wages advanced in America from 1880
to 1860 steadily through all tariff changes
aud during q period OF fourteen years
when we had a tariff for revenue only.
From 1860 to 1858, during a period OF war
and financial decentralization and political
excitement, the advance continued, but
with periods Of fuctuation more plainly
marked, registering IN the twenty'three
years an incsease Of 2S. SO per cent.
In Great Britain, under a near reproach
to free trade, we find in the principal me
chanieal industries an advance from 1891
to 1888 of s. Is per cent, and-wbst was
not the case to anything like the same ex'
tent in America-accompanied By a mar
vellous expansion of export Of manutactur-
ed goods.
Except for our vast area of cheap, fer
tile, and unoccupied lands, we should
have had far greater want among our work,
people than they have yet known, and
when there are no more such lands open
TO occupation, who shall say that the load
we have put upon ourselves Will not De
heavier than we can bear?
These are questions for the American
workiugman to ponder over. the steel
rail combination closes its works about hall
the year. What for? To restrict produc-
ton and keep up prices. Their workmen
are thrown on OF work about half the
year. Wherein is the benefit Of this to
T the workmen? Manifestly they should be
paid double age the short time they do
work to keep them alive during their idle
, months. Would it not be better for the
wsrkiugmen alone if this monopoly were
crushed cut aud the business put into le-
ultimate hands that would operate it all
the year round?
Crushing out the E.ouOpolies does not
mean crushing Out the business.
+; This is definitely proven 10 history. We
need protection to protect our industries
; against those long established in Europe OF
, those employing cheap labor, but we &c
not want that so-called protection which
! puts the tariff 50 high that L few men en-
gagged in q certain industry may combine,
/ put prices at ar outrageous height and
z keep them there by shutting down then
I mills and stopping production at Will,
+ without fear of competitor or interference.
| That il simple, legalizad robbery, bold,
T bare-faced aud wholesale, and that is what
/ the people OF this country are forced by
r law to submit to to-day. Ii goes far toward
accounting for the startling inequality
of fortune that has made itself visible
among Americans OF late years. Men here
AMI there may ne seen WIN 10" Sed'S @S'
/, were worth nothing, but who now can sign
/ their checks tor millions. But the great
mass of the American people, the highly
7 protected American workingman included,
plod along the even tenor of their way pay
, ing the - per cent. tariff, thankful for a
bare competence, and the wo~rkipgman-
+ the highly protected wOrkiugman-has tC
/ combine and strike and be locked out d
r quarter OF his time to get even that.
; Aud the cry that goes up from these
o~yer-burdeued millions to-day is: Down
with monopoly!
This cry must be needed, or, sooner OF
= later sonethinU will hurst.