The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-31

American labor for the loss Of 100 per
centum in wages in the lines afIeete'
and Of from TOTO so pcrccntum in wage
in the lines Of employment, by the sub
stitution OF the Free Trade for the Pro
tective system. ! hold it to be far wise
craftsmanship to build up and retair
our home market by system that pro
tects American labor than to command
market in foreign lands secured by thu
WHOLESALE DEGRADATION ASD PAvPERI
zATIOS
of our own people. Everydollar's wortl
OF labor value imported is so much re
duction OF home laborers wages.
This axiom is not Offset by the deelara
ton that there are more goods in the
imported dollars worth. The position
OF the protective system is rather
strengthened by such audacious pre-
sentation OF the matter, because the
question is then instantly forced upon
everyintelligent man, how can the Amer
lean laborer earn dollars ii the industry
in which he is experienctdis transferred
to foreign lands? The theory OF prOtec'
ton advocated by the Republican party
is the same as the underlying principle
upon which all labor organizations are
founded. A friend TO organized labor
tina: believes in organization as means
to enhance and maintain wages cannot
consistently oppose party that applies
to all labor the same principle Of Pro-
lection from unfair competition that the
individual trade organization gives to
the single trade. Trade organizations do
AID Is ADVANCING WAGES
in their respective trades, and the Pro-
tective system demanded by the Rcpub'
lican party will secure for all the toilers
in the land similar fostering care. That
this is clearly understood by most OF
the thinking leaders OF organized labor,
is proved by the declaration recently
made in favor OF the American system
and home market by the presiding
officers OF the organization representing
the iron and glass industries OF the
United States.
There is no better organization In any
one trade than
TIE .AMA1G GAMATEp ASSOCIATION
OF Iron and Steel Workers. There is no
more thoroughly organized or better dis
ciplined than that of the Window Glass
Workers, nor one in which higher wages
are made, The warning OF the officers
representing those trades against Free
Trade is very significant and should be
Needed.
A careful consideration Of all these
facts convincGs me that the present is n
grave crisis in the political affairs OF our
country, and that | have no right to re.
main silent. My position as General
Secretary OF tue Knights Of Labor has
given me an intimate knowledge OF the
various phases OF the labor question,
aud from the knowledge thus gained, l
do not hesitate to say that the triumph
OF the Democratic party dominated by
intolerance in the South and British Free
Trade sentiment in the North would be
the most serious blow to organized labor
it could possibly receive. | cannot re-
main inactive in such conflict. There
fore, to you and your associates on the
National Republican Committee, us the
representatives OF the Republican party,
offer my services in any position or
capacity where they may be desirable,
or be thought most useful 10 aid in se-
curing the success OF Harrison and Nor.
ION, the representatives in this campaign
ot the American idea Of Protection TO
American labor.
have the honor to remain,
Yours to command,
CHARLES II. LITCnMAN.