The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-08-17
Where Monopoly Reigns.

tial election.
Where Monopoly Reigns.
HOW "PRoTECTED" LABOR FARES AMONG
THE TARIFF BARoNs.
PRlNCELY FORTUNES GALORE HAVE BEEN
AMAssED THERE SINCE 1860, WHILE
WAGES HI We BEEN PERsIsTENTLY PA
RED AND RENTS HAVE GONE UP--BAL-
LOTS THAT ARE FREE IN NAME ONLY.
Pittsburg is the land of tariff barons
and protected" Workingmen. Here
are the Carnegies, the Joneses, the
divers, the iron, steel, coal and glass
manufacturers, mills and work;ngmen.
The tariff tree is here. What are its
fruitsi
Seventy-two millionaries who have
made their pile out of the american
System of Protection" live here.
Here are FIVE of whom tho public
hears a good deal:
Andrew Carnegie-Mr. Blaine's
coaching friend.
b. F. Jones-Ex- Chairman of the
Republican National Committee.
II. w. Oliver-Ex-member of the
Tariff Commission and Republican
platform maker at Chicago.
A. M. Byers-Republican platform
maker; heavy campaign contributor to
the Republican campaign funds.
Member of the iron firm of E. M.
Byers and Co.
John Chs,fant--Mr. Blaine's friend;
campaign contributor. Member Of
the firm of Spang, Chalfant and Co.
The autographs of these five 'pro-
tected" gentlemen at the bottom of q
check are good for $o5,OOO,OO,O all
made within the high-;ariff period of
Republican ascendancy. As makers
of tariffs and irons they are success.
No wonder they are strenuously in
favor of the "American System of
Protection" "There's millions in it"
literally for them, and it is vastly more
pratical than Mr.. Mulberry Sellers
water scheme. A few years ago
Mr.. Carnegie was poor boy living in
Barefoot square, Third Ward, Allegh-
eny. Twenty-one years ago Mr.. Oliv-
er was clerk for Graf, Bennet & Co.
at 5000 year. Thirty years ago Mr..
Jones had nothing but brains, industry
and Welsh aptitude for iron-monger-
ing. Twenty-Five years ago Messrs.
Chalfant and Byers were either max
ers of iron specialities on modest
scale or salesmen for iron firms. And
these princely fortunes, made in few
years, are one fruit. But there is a.
mother. Here is the hotbed of labor
dis-affection, of strikes sometimes
riots. Here organized labor makes
its annual struggle for "scale" of liv-
ing wages. Here ten per cent. reduc-
tions are made in mems wages while
coaching parties and castles in Scot
land are paid for with the profits from
their labor.
"Protecticn for American Labor" is
the unvarying declaration in Republic
can platforms and on the hustiugs,
but have not these protected "barOns"
resisted all attempts of the American
laborer to get protection" wagesi And
when labor becomes clamorous for its
rights, has not Millionaire Carnegie
summoned Pinkerton's men to keep
them quiet, and Oliver secured Europe
for psuper scum to take their places,
or imported old nails, while American
labor stood sullen and hungry "at the
outer gstei" Has not Chalfant and
his "protected" lsborers for conspiracy
for daring to demand share OF that
"protectiOn" which the Republican
platform guaranteed And lastly,
what was the condition OF those pro-
tected loborers in Pennsylvania while
their employers were making millions
from the tariff Their wages steadily
declined; their living expenses have
yearly increased; Rents have slmos,
doubled. A few figures will max,
this clear:
City debt OF Pittsburg In 1880 81 ,008 80
CITY DEBT OF PittsDurg IN 1888; 1900 90
Population OF Pittsburg In 1885,. ....... .SO0,0 90
Mayors salary per year In 1850. SO
City solicitors salary In isH sHi...............4O .4O
city solicitors salary In 1885 800
Animal city Il
The city debt, which is mortag
on the home of every "laborer," ha
grown fifteenfold, while population
has grown but fourfold. City expens
es have grown tenfold. Under "pro
lection heaters, and puddlers' wage
have declined Is to 20 per cent, cup'
la men 80 per cent, pitmen 40 pc
cent and so on.
On April 2S Mr.. Carnegie, in a
"authorized interview" said to tn
strikers at Braddocks: 81 give you m
word of honor that there is no earthl
inducement that will tempt US to ru
the Edgar Thompson works except u
on two turns, as our competitors ru
and except upon the sliding-sca
which is offered you"
While Harry Oliver was strngglir
at the Republican Convention at Ci
cago, David r. Oliver addressed Il
men here. The general depression,
said, was due to the fact that too lar,
proportion Of the receipts go out
wages.
The scale was accordingly reduo
at divers mills.
B. +. Jones, Ex-Chairman of Il
Republican Committee, said, June Z
sour works will close down to-morrc
and remain closed until satisfacto
scale is presented to US by the wol
men,
A. M. Byers, who assisted Mr.. n
Ginley to frame the tariff plank, So
June 20
"We are ready to resume work
tn men will work under our scale.
An iron specialist in this city ch
ges that Mr. Byers mill, in the p'