The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-09-06
MILLS BILL DENOUNCED.
Tls AN ENEMY DE- LABOR.
WHAT A KNIGHT THINKS OF 1T.

Senator Quay. chairman OF the National |
Republican Committee, furnishes the fol- |
loving letter for publication. 1t should
be reao 10y every tIierd Of labor:
'rHIhADELrnIA, PA. Aug. q, 1888. -Hon. !
MaiHew Is QusA, Chairman OF the National Re- |
publican Committee, Everett House, New |
York cry, y. I.-li"ar sir Ny connection |
with the l:lboF movement tor the past La years !
has made il necessary for me t" be close
sttGei.L oi the causes of labor depression and !
OF the needs of those WHO toll. Whie as body /,
Il lauor ursa uizajluil may refrain from active |
partic paLlou in pol ties, so much OF W bat Or |
sanized labor dem#nos must be obtained |
thro gil legislation tina the individual mem |
Der OF he lab; + Organization must act politi- |
caliy AS ID his Judgment Will best aid the aims
and objects eXpie ssed i'll The ,rin%iples of the |
organ 9aiion lie represents and whose success
he desi.es.
''ln tue gigantic political struggle now begun
side issues "oal't as nothing except TO ala or
hinder one OF the principal cnubatants in the
political arena However sincere may be the
advocates Of the measures TO secure which
these separate political organizations are
formed. and whatever strength in votes may be
shown at the polls, the fact remains that he
Gandidase OF eier re hfpuo.lcaP or OF ths
The United States. Therefore, to him who has
the good OF his country ana the welfare of her
people al heart, the necessity exists to choose
10 which Of these TWO old party organizations
shall be given his aid, either directly indi-
rectly, by voice or vote.
s.WhiIe it NAV be that neither party offers all
the LABOR organizations desire, | believe that
the he publican pal ty. in adopting and advo-
eating Inc American system OF encouragement
and protection 10 the labor and wages of our
own land, is nearer the declarations and de-
sires OF organized labor than its Tree trade
opponents The democratic party
'The conflict - between the American sys.
tenn, as represented by the Republican party,
which wond foster and encourage The labor OF
our own people aud retain Tor them The market
and wages OF or own country. ana The British
system, as represented by the Democratic
party which would break down the DaI flers of
protection and throw open our home market to
The production of foreign factories and foreign
labor, thus making idle our own toilers and re-
ducing to a lower level the standard OF Ameri-
when the Knights of Labor and kindred or
CARNATIONS shall have attained i'll ioi egn ianda
enjoyed in the United States the inequality of
wages viii disappear. not by leVeling our wages
down, but by levelng their wages up. Ii is far
| better TO level up than to level down, as the
| larger the income the larger the power TO CON
| sumo.
Until this equalization can be accomplished,
and until the wages abroad shall eau"l those
! at home there must he q proper restriction OF
INN igrati0n, SO that our land may be the
| dumping ground of the paupel and degraded
| labor OF The balance CT the world, IAis festric-
| ton, supplemented By Il continuation OF thor
| ougfl systematic Organization of the labor al
| ready here. Ill conjunction with the American
| idea of protection 10 American labor, cannot
| fail to Secure for oar people The host results OF
their toll and by our example nit the labor OF
| the whole world to higher ana better plane
| whichever party wins something must be
| done to regulate more strictly this importation
| OF foreign labor under contract and the inmi-
| grafton of raupers and dependents. II nothing
| should be done then Democratic success would
| mean not only free trade in goods made by
| pauper labor but The importation OF lne lanur
and the goods.
| THE ALLEGED BALANCE.
| "While under free trade goods may be cheaper
to the consumer IN certain lines, Inc labor
ln1
means OF employment and thus by competition
compel Il lower rate of wages TO those already
employed therein.
| ponds upon-sYhat he receives tor his lapor. I'm.
employed, his power to consume. except on
charity or theit, ceases prefer that America
| should be a land OF workers rather IMAM a lano
| OF thieves anu paupers,
" That is true of the individual Is equally true
| of the nation. The primary elements of ma
tional wealth aud national prosperity are pro
duotion, distribution and eOnsuln ption What
| ever lowers the wages of labor affects its power
to consume. An average reduction OF per
ceatlun the cost OF goods imported Will not
compensate American labor for the loss OF lJU
perceutarp in wages in the lines affected, ana o.
rom ~ 10 80 peleeaibat in wages IL The ilhes OF
l. EN- ployment by the substitution OF the Tree
trade for the protective system hold it to he
far wiser craftsmanship to build up ana retain
our home market by u system that protests
American labor than to command a market Ia
foreign lands secured by the wholesale degra-
dation and pauperization OF our own people.
LEADING QUESTION.
| is by so much reduction OF holue I.porels
| wages This axiom Il not offset by the oeciara-
ton that there are more goods IN Ine imported
| dollars worth. The pos1llon of The protec-
ZIONIST is rather strengthened 10y such spec1out
presentation of the matter, because the ques-
lion is then ins1 antly forced upon every lntelll
| gent man. How can American Labor OF earn dol
lars il me industry IN which he Is experienced
| was transferred TO foreign lands?
| sThe theory of projection advocated by the
| Republican party is the same as The undefly lnt
principle upon which all labor organizations
. an a
believes in organization az means TO enhance
! and MAR tain wages cannot consistently oppose
r a party that apules to all labor The same prin
cipel OF projection from unfair competition
that the Individual trace organization gives Il
the single trade. Trace organizations 70 ala !
advanc pg wages in their respective trades am
ihe land similar fos $50 care nv LIE ne
''rhat tins Is clearly understood by most Q
The thinking leaders OF organized lanor Is
proved by the declaration recently made il
favor OF The American system and home mar
, ket by the presiding officers of the organ Ia
ton representing the iron ana glass Industries
OF The United states. There Is NO better organ
lzatiOn OF any one trade than the AInalgamatet
-Assoclation of iron and steel Workers
There liz no trade iI,ore thoroughly organ
ized or better disciplined than that OF the VIM
dow Glass workers, nor enc in which higl e
wages are paid. The warning OF Tie officers
Representing these trades against free trade are
Very significant ana should be lHeded.
a GRAVE CRISIS,
"A careful consideration of all these facts
convInces Inc that The present is grave crisl
i'll the political affairs of our country, and tina
/ have no right to remain SILENT My position
as general secretary of The knights 0. I-abul
has given me Intimate knowledge of the Var
, Gus phases OF he labor question: and nom the
knowledge thus gained do not hesitate TO say
that the triumph OF the Democratic party
dominated by Intolerance iii the South ant
British free trade sentiment i'll the North
would be The most serious Olow TO organized
lahoI it could possibly receive. / cannot re-
main inactive in such conflict Therefore, Il
You ard your associates ON the National kepub
l1can Committee, as the representatives of the
Republican party. ] offer my services in any
position or capacity where they may be deslr
able OF be thought most useful 10 aid in secur
ing the success OF Harrison and Mortoh, the
| representatives IN this campaign OF The Amerl
can 1uea OF protection to american labor.
have the honor to remain, yours to command
Is VI mi II