Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-07
The General Secretary Of the Knights
of Labor Declares for the Republ-
can Candidates.

Senator Quay, Chairman of the Republi-
can National Committee furnishes the fol-
lowing letter for publication
PHILADELPHIA, Penn, Aug. 81, 1888.
The Hon. Matthew s. Quay, Chaignaan of
the National Republican Committee, Err
erett HoHse, NeH' YORK City, ". T.:
DEAR SIR: My connection with the labor
movement for the past II years has made it
necessary for me to be a close student of
causes of labor depression and of the needs
of those who toll. While as II body labor
organization may refrain from active partici-
patton in politics. SO much of what organized
labor demands must be obtained through legis-
lation that the individual member of the labor
organization must act politically as in his
Judgment will best aid the aims and objects
expressed in the principles of the organiZa-
| ton he represents and whose success he de-
| sires. While il NAV be that neither
party offers all that labor organizations de-
| SIRE | believe that the Republican party, in
| adopting and advocating the American system
of encouragement and protection TO the labor
| and wages of our own land, is nearer the dec
| laration and desires of organized labor than
| its Free Trade opponents the Democratic
party. When the Knights of Labor and
kindred organizations shall have obtained in
| foreign lands the same commanding position
| and influence enjoyed in the United States
| the inequality in wages will disappear, nor by
leveling our wages down. but by levelling
their wages up. Ii is far better to level up
than TO level down, as the larger the income
the larger the power to consume Until this
equalization can be accomplished, and until
the wages of labor abroad shall equal those
at home, there must be proper restriction of
l.. 1
dumping ground of the pauper and degraded
labor of the balance of the world. =
Every dollars worth of labor value i'm
ported is by so much a reduction of home
aborers' wages. This axiom is not offset by
the declaration that there are more goods in
the imported dollars worth. The position of
the protectionist is rather strengthened by
such specious presentation of the matter,
because the question is then instantly forced
upon every intelligent man. How can Amer
lean labor earn dollars if the industry in which
| he is experienced is transferred to foreign
| lands?
A careful consideration of all these facts
convnces me that the present is a grave cri-
sis In the political affairs of our country, and
| that have no right to remain silent Nv
position as General Secretary of the Knights
of Labor has given me an intimate knowl-
edge of the various phases of the labor ques-
ton, and from the knowledge thus gained |
do not hesitate to say that the triumph of the
Democratic party, dominated by intolerance
in the South and British Free Trade senti-
ment in the North, would be the most serious
blow to organized labor it could possibly re-
ceive. | cannot remain inactive in such a
conflict. Therefore, to you and your associ-
ates on the National Republican Committee,
as the representatives of the Republican
party, offer my services in any position or
capacity where they may be desirable or be
thought most useful to aid in securing the
success of Harrison and Morton, the repre-
sentatives in this campaign of the American
idea of protection to American labor | have
the honor to remain, yours to command.
| CHARLES II. LIrCuMAN