New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-03
PROSPECTS AND ca USES.

PROSPECTS AND CAUSES.
Connecticut town elections do not please
Democrats. Republican gains might be of little
consequence in some other States, but where
a change of only $50 votes would wipe out
Mr.. Cleveland's plurality four years ago and
give six electoral votes to the Republican can
ddates, any gain whatever is of vital i'm
portance. The returns indicate that Connect
cut sympathzes with Oregon, Vermont and
Maine. Especially in the manufacturing towns,
where the wage-earners understand that lower
tariff means lower wages, the Republican gains
are sufficient to justify the warning given by
"The New-York Herald" day or two ago,
that Connecticut could be saved for the Demo
cratic ticket only by most extraordinary efforts.
All the "teling blows" have been given, and
all the aggressive works of the campaign has
been done, that journal reports, by young men
whose free-trade clubs have preached the Brit
ISL gospel boldly. All the more experienced
leaders and workers have been hanging back,
said this warning report. And the answer Of
voters to the free-trade preachings Of the in
experienced young blood' is marked Re-
publican gain.
in Connecticut do not hasten to vote lower
wages for themselves. But possibly they have
not sufficiently reflected upon the solemn words
of the Slap-Dash Economist of The New
York World" who says: Cheaper wool
cheaper woollens, cheaper woolens larger
markets, larger markets more products, moro
products greater employment, greater employ
ment larger pay. That is the sum of the whole
matter, The wage Gamers Of Connecticut APP
pear to have sense enough to know that as
wool production in this country has decreased
over 6O,OOO,O 900 pounds already with present
duties, and would diminish far more with free
trade, the enormous increase in demand from
this country would then put up the price of
wool the world over. So cheaper wool is not
to be had that way much smaller increase in
the demand in 1S61-'6i put wool to 81 per
pound. But if wool were cheaper, the man
ufacturers here whose works are now idle be-
cause they cannot make any profit with aver
age duties of 81 per cent would be joined in
their idleness by the great majority of man
ufacturers if duties were reduced to an average
of 40 per cent That does not mean larger
employment" but no employment at all for
gle to get other places now filled by offering
to work at lower wages would necessarily end
in lower wages, and not in larger pay for
anybody. The wage-earners of Connecticut,
distressing Slap-Dash Economy Of the Texas
variety, are not disposed to vote for lower
wages this year.
But the Democratic party cannot elect Mr..
Cleveland if it loses Indiana and Connecticut,
and the men who assert that Indiana will vote
against General Harrison know that they are
saying what they do not believe. The wage
earners and wool growers of Indiana and Ohio,
Of Michigan and Wisconsin, are not fascinated
by the cheaper wool larger pay theory. SO
the wage-earners Of Connecticut in all prob
ability have the matter in their hands and can
vote for lower tariff. lover wages and De
mocracy, Or for Harrison, protection and
American wages for American labor, with rea-
sonabe confidence that their votes will decide
the matter.
They are not going to be alone. The wage
earners Of New ork and New-Jersey have as
much practical sense as those of Connecticut
The wool growers of New-York want " cheaper
wool" Just as little as the wool-growers Of Ohio
and Indiana and Oregon. Here and there man
ufacturerS who want lower wages or use for
egn materials exclusively fancy that they
could get both cheaper if there were no duties,
and they declare for free trade. But there
are more workers than employers. Where
there is one employer who wants lower wages
there are several wage-earner who do not.
There are 5000 woollen factories in the coun-
try and 700, 600 wool-growers; 200 woollen
factories in New York and New-Jersey, and
10000 to 10000 wool-growers. Wherever
there is manufacturer foolish enough to want
cheaper wool' there are several wool-growers
who do not The Texas political economy is
intended to produce the greatest good Of the
smallest number. That wins in Texas where
the few rule the many. But in Connecticut,
New-Jersey and New-Yorli the majority still
rules.