The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-29

Nothing about the monument can be adj
mitted free of duty but the statue, and
that, to be so admitted must be produced
by an American artist. The pedestal is
no part of the statue-it is not a work of
art any more than the concrete foundation
upon which the whole structure may rest.
Even if it were a work of art, being the pro-
duction of Italian artists, it could not be
admitted free. The Journal was COM
PEELED to resort TO this deception to adorn
its tale
What are the facts and why is it that
American labor has been deprived of per-
forming this work upon the Hendricks
monument? The great disparity in the
rate of wages paid in Italy and the United
States has been shown to be partially. il
not wholly, equalized by the greater eff
cheney and energy of our own workmen.
The tariff, it is insisted, is for the benefit
OF labor, and if there is any difference in
the cost OF production it is certainly equal
lied by the rates of duty fixed. What
then has enabled Italian to outstrip Am
erican labor and to finish this product for
our present law in favor of American
monopolies and against the workingmen
of our country that has brought this
about. Secy. PRocToR was recently APP
pointed to position in the presidents
cabinet. 1t was said that this was a
splendid appointment; that he was a sue
cessful business man; that a few years
ago he was poor and that now he was
worth his millions-all made in fifteen
years without great mental exertion or
overwork. What business was he engaged
in that he had grown so fat? The an
swer was that he owned and operated
marble quarry. Had any of his employees
grown rich? No, not one of them had
saved cent Here is the fraud: Under
the present law there is a duty of 60 cents
per cubic foot on rough marble This is
for the protection of the owners OF the
marble quarries OF this country and en-
ables them to realize exorbitant profits
upon their granite, which, like all
other protected monopolists, they fail
to divide with their employees.
Ii the rough marble which is nothing
more than a raw material, had been adj
mitted free OF duty, instead OF being taxed
60 cents per cubic foot, American work
men would have performed every stroke
OF labor on the pedestal of the Hendricks
monument, and would have received
American wages for the same. But this
the owners of the granite hills OF Yer
mont will not permit. Therefore, where
Italian marble is used, it is cheapest to
import it in the manufactured state.
WOrkingmen OF Indianapolis, here is a
practical illustration of the so-called pro-
lection to American labor. The material
upon which you could have performed
thousands OF dollars worth of labor is kept
out of the country by an outrageous duty for
the benefit OF the owners of mountains of
granite in this country.
And, by the way, those Italians whoget
only 90 cents per day for working on the
Hendricks monument are protected" by
high tariff. Italy, like the United States,
has very high protective tariff. Ii pro-
lection means high wages, how does it
happen that these Italians can get only
80 cents day? Perhaps the Journal will
exDlain But prohablv II will not try