The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-31
LIqCHMAN,
GENERAL SECRETARY OF
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR
Out for tIrc cause of Protection
IN American Labor
And against British'DemOcratie
Free Trade.
AStroag Letter to ting National
Republican Committee
o.,,Oizcd Labor vitality Inter-
pstcd in this Campaign.
AcRlsIs FOR THE AMERICAN
wAGE.EARNERS.
Competition Through Free Trade
Means Lower Wages.
The Republican Party Represents
the True American Idea,
While the Democracy is Rapidly
Drifting toward Free Trade.
Restricted Immigration and Pro-
tcclion are the WatchwOrdS
for American W0rkmen.
competilion Through Free Trade
Means Lower Wages.
The Republican Party Represents
thc True American Idea,
While thc Democracy is Rapidly
Drifting toward Free Trade.
Restricted Immigration and Pro-
trclion are the WatchwOrds
for American W0rkmeR.

,,or opay. Chairman Of the Republican
National Committee, furnishes the fol-
lowing letter for publication:
pnlLADrLruA, Pa, August 97, 1883.
U,,. nritiocS 9nay, ChGirmr", Mo rore:
pnG Sm?-My connection with the
l.lor movement for the past fourteen
wears bad made it necessary for me to lie
acIose student OF the causes of labor de-
preston and OF the needs Of those who
Toll. While, MS u body, labor organization
NAV refrain irom active participation in
politics so much OF what organized labor
demands must be obtained through
legislation that the individual mem
ber Of the labor organization must act
politically as in his Judgment will best
aid the aims and objects expressed in
the principles OF the organization he
represents and whose success he de-
SreS.
In the gigantic political struggle now
begun,
SIDE ISSUES COUNT As NOTHING
except to aid or hinder one OF the prin-
cipc combatants in the political arena.
However sincere may be the advocates
Of the measures, to secure which these
separate political organizations are form
eI, anil whatever strength in votes may
BE- shown at the polls, the iact remains
that the candidate ofcither the Rcpubli-
can or the Democrat party will be the
mex: President OF the United States.
Therefore, TO him who has the good Of
his country and the welfare of her peo-
pie at heart, the necessity exists TO
choose to which OF these two old party
organizations shall be given aid either
directly or indirectly, by his vote.
While it may be that neither party
offers all that labor organizations desire,
believe that the Republican party, in
adopting and advocating the American
system Of encouragement and
PROTECTION TO LABOR
and wages to our own land, is nearer
the declarations aud desires OF organized
labor than its Free Trade opponent, the
Democratic party. The conflict is be-
tween the American system, as repre-
seB'eI By the Republican party, which
would foster aud encourage the labor Of
our own people and retain for them the
market and wages of our own country,
and the British system, Us represented
by the Democratic party, which would
break down the barriers OF Protection
aud throw open our home market to the
productions Of foreign factories and for
egn labor, thus making IDLE our own
tolIers and reducing to lower level the
standard Of American wages.
When the Knights of Labor and kin
dred organizations shall have obtained
in foreign lands the same commanding
position and influence enjoyed in the
United States the
INEQUALITY N WAGES Will pIsAprEAu,
notify lcvcIiug our wages down, but by
Ieyclins their wages up.
ltis far better to leyelup 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 n
proper restriction OF immigration, so that
our land maynotbe the dumping ground
9I The pauper and degraded labor OF the
balance OF the world. This restriction,
supplemented by continuation Of
thorough systematic organization OF the
.@OoF already here, in conjunction with
!hc American idea OF Protection to
American labor, cannot fail to secure for
our people the best results OF their toll,
and By our example lift the labor Of the
%hoie world to ahigher and better plane
Of existence,
Nhlchever party wins, something
Wa"Ss oc donc to regulate more strictly
snIs Importation OF foreign labor under
contract and :he immigration OF paupers
IN dependents. ii nothing should be
uohc, then Democratic success would
mean not only Free Trade in goods
made by pauPer labor, but the importa-
hon OF both the labor and the goods,
While under Free Trade goods may be
cheaper To tue consumer in certain
lines, the
LABOR MADE IDLE
IN these lines must turn to other mean.
Unemployment, and thusby competition
compel lower rate OF wagcs to thosc
already employed therein.
The power OF a working man to con
sumS depends upon what he receive
for his labor. Unemployed, his powe
TO consume, except on charity or theft
yyeases. l prefer that America shoul,
oe land Of workers than land O
thieves and paupeB.
What is true OF the individual
equally true OF the Nation. The pr
mary elements Of national wealth nm
national prosperity are production, dii
mouton and consumption. WhatevG
Affects the power Of labor to consum
Affects Mct the entire interests Of the Natiol
NhateYef lowers the wnpes of labo