Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-09-20
uTCHMAN'S LETTER.
The General Secretary of che knights o
Labor for Harrison.

The General Secretary of che knights al
Labor for Harrison.
Senator Quay, Chairman of the Re-
publican National Committee, furnishes
the following letter for publication:
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Aug s7.-Hon- r. s.
QaGy. Chairman Of R.pH5iieIa National Com
faits' Etsre.. Hozs., Ven lori: Dear Sir
My connection with the labor movement for
the past fourteen years has made II necessary
for me 10 be . close student OF the causes OF
laeor depressions and of the needs of those
who toll
While os q body labor organization may re-
frain from active participation in politics, so
much Of what organized labor demands must
be obtained through legislation that the iad.-
vidual member OF the labor organization
must act politically as in his Judgment viii
best aid the aims ard objects expressed in the
principles of the organization he represents,
and whose success he desires. In the gigantic
political struggle now begun, side issues count
Us nothing, except 10 aid or hinder one OF the
principle combatants in the political arena.
However sincere may be the advocates OF the
measures to secure which these separate polIt-
ical organizations are formed, aad whatever
strength in votes may be shown at tbs polls,
The fact remains that the candidate OF sitaer
the Republican or of the Democratic party will
be the next President OF the United States
Therefore, to him who has the good Of his
country and the welfare OF her people at
heart. the necessity exists to choose which OF
these two old party organizations shall be
given aid, either directly or indirectly by voice
or vote.
While 1t may be that neither party offers all
that labor organizations desire, believe that
the Republican party, in adopting and advocat-
ing the American system OF encouragement
and protection to the labor and wages OF our
a
sIres OF organized labor than its tree-trade OPP
ponent, the Demo cratic party.
WHERE THE CONFLICT LIES.
The conf ct is between the American sys-
tenn, as represented by the Republican party,
which would foster and encourage the labor Of
our own people and retain for them the market
and wages of our own country and the British
system as represented by the Democratic
party, which would break down the barriers OF
protection aad throw open our homo market to
the productions OF foreign factories and
foreign labor, thus making idle our own toierS
and reducing to a lower level tie STANDARD Of
American wages. When the Knights of Labor
and kindred organizations shall have OBJ
tanned in foreign lands the same commanding
position and influence enjoyed in the United
States, the inequality IN wages will disappear,
not by levelling our wages down but by level
ling their wages up. 1t is far better TO level
up than 10 level down as the larger the in
come the larger the power 20 consume.
Until this equalization can be accom- plished,
and until the wages OF labor abroad shall
equal those ut home, there must be proper
restriction Of immigration, so that our land
may not be tho dumping-ground OF the pau
per and degraded labor of the balance Of the
world. THIS restriction, supplemented by =
continuation OF thorough, systematic organi-
ZRIion OF the labor aireHdy here, in coniunc-
ton with the American idea OF protection 10
American labor, can not fail 10 secure for our
people the best results OF their toll, and by
our example LIS the labor OF tine whole world
10 O ghor and better plane OF existence.
Whichever party wins, some thiEg must be
done 70 regulate more strictly this importation
of foreign labor under contract and the immi-
grafton of paupers and dependents. II nothing
should he done, then Democratic success would
mean not oGly free trade in goods made by
pauper labor, but the importation Of both tho
labor and the goods. While under free trade
goods may be cheaper to the consumer in GER
tain lines. the labor made idle in these lines
must turn TO other means OF employment and
thus by competition compel lower rate Of
wages to those already employed therein.
THE POWER or LABOR.
The rower OF n working-man to consume de-
ponds upon what he receives for his labor. Tn
employed, his power to consume, except on char
ity theft, ceases. 1 prefer tina I America
should be land Of workers rather than land
OF thieves and paupers-
What IS true OF the individual is equally true
of the Nation. The primary elements OF Ma
tional wealth and National prosperity are pro-
duction, distribution and consumption. What
ever affects the power Of labor TO consume af-
fects the entire interests of the Nation What
ever lowers this wages OF labor affects its power
to consume. An IS average reduction" off per
cent. on the cost of gpods imported will not
Linz q of
rer cent. in wages in the lines affected, and
from 10 to 30 per centuun in wages i'll the lines
OF employment by the s;Ibst tuGlon OF the free
trade for the protective. system ! hold it to
be far wiser craftsmanship to build up and re-
ta n our home markets. by a system that pro-
tects americans than to command . market in
foreign lands secured by the wholesale degra-
dat:ol and pauperism OF our own people.
Every dollars worth of labor value imported
is by so much reduction Of home laborerS
wages. Tn axiom is not Offset by the declare
ton that there are more goods in the i'm
ported dollars worth The position OF the pro-
tectionist is rather siren gthened by such q
specious presentation of the matter because
the question is then instantly forced upon
every intelligent man-how can American Ia
borearn dollars if the industry i'll which he IS
experienced IS transferred 10 foreign lands!
The theory OF protection advocated By the Re-
publican party is the same as the underlying
principle upon which all labor organizations
are founded.
TRADE ORGANIZATIONS
friend to organized labor that believes In
organization q means to enhance and main
tan wages can not con sis;entiy oppose party
that applies 10 all labor the same principle of
protection from unfair competition that the
individual trade organization gives to the
single trade. Trade Organizations do aid in ad
vancing wages in. their respective trades, and
the protective system demanded by the Re-
publican party will secure for all the toll
ers IN tho land similar fostering care. That
this is clearly understood by most of
the thinking leaders of organized labor
IS proved by the. declarations recent.
~ made IN favor OF riie American sys-
tenn and g home market by the presiding
officers OF the organization representing the
iron and the glass Industries OF the United
States. There is no better organization OF any
one trade than the Amalgamated Association
OF Iron and Steel Workers There is no trade
more thoroughly organized or letter disciplined
than that OF the " ndow-glaSs workers. nor one
in VIII ch hi.her wages are paid The warning
of the officers representing those trades ganSt
free trade are very significant and should DO
needed. a careful consideration OF all these
facts couvilces me that She present is a grave
CT sis in the political Affairs of our country.
and that have righ: TO remain silent. Ny
position as general secretary Of the knights OF
Labor has gwen me an intimate knowledge of
the var Gus phases or the labor question. and
frem the knowledge thus gained l do not hest
tate to say that the triumph OF the Democratic
party, dominated by the intolerance in the
South and the British free-trade sentiment in