Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-08-03
LABOR AND THE TARIFF.

The most persistent, and what may be regarded as the most effective, objection which the republicans advance against a move towards a reduction of import duties means a corresponding reduction in the wages of our workingnen. The force of this argument is not inconsiderable, it's force consisting chiefly in its plausibility with those who have not given the matter thorough investigation. That the reasoning is false, based on false premises and car ried through false deductions, is made evident by a consideration of the facts.
 The rate of wages is fixed chiefly by the law of supply and demand, and the lowest available rate is the popular standard with employers These latter are not primarily philanthropic, and the cases are not numerous where the price of labor owes its enhancement to their voluntary liberal ity. Under system of high protection capital becomes practically a monopoly, and labor profits but very little thereby. Production is regulated by consumption, and it may be accepted as a practice with manufacturers that they will not turn out their products in excess of the demand therefor. Hence, when the market which is available for their wares is supplied, they must look elsewhere for an outlet, else production must stop. Under the present methods of unreasonable taxation consumption must come principally, if Y,pt from the bpIOa market and as this is constantly narrowing field owing to the increasing influx that con stantly comes with growing industries and larger resources, it is evident that production must feel the strain and the demand for labor be restricted. Give our manufacturers wider field, let them go out competitors in the markets of the world and he demand for our goods will be stimulated, creating demand for labor and thus putting a premium on it's services. Anyone knows that when the supply of labor is plentiful and the demand for it is small wages suffer, and this is a con dition that is an ever menacing consequence of high tariff. Unduly high tariff rates are practically prohibitive, and consequent ly retaliatory, cramping consumption and so restricting production. Larger fields of supply mean larger consumption; a larger consumption induces necessarily larger production; the latter stimulates a greater demand for labor; and this again puts n higher value on its services. Hence it is that labor is not indebted to high pro lection for the regulation of wages in any thing like it is to the general law of supply and demand. The protectionists, to be logical, should show that high taxes in crease production, since this is the chief element i'll creating demand for labor and so regulating its compensation. General Harrison was more honest than his party when he said in a recent address to a dele gation of workingmen: II speak to men who know that when the product of their toll is in demand in the market, when buyers are seeking it, wages advance with the demand, but when the market for your product is depressed and the manufacturer is begging for buyers, then wages go down."
 The manufacturers, with a tariff that effectually shields them from anything like fair competition, can reap the large profits of the system, while they pay for their labor just what they are compelled to by the law which regulates it. Trusts and combines are called into service to regulate the conditions of the home market and fix the standard of production. Protection does, indeed, protect-the manufacturer. It creates for him monopoly which is fos- tered at the expense of the consumer. It
 is no wonder that the demand for tariff re-
 form is to him doleful sound. Monopoly
 is always selfish, but it will not always profit at the expense of labor.