The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-11-06
THE MCKINLEY BILL AND LABOR.

THE MCKINLEY BILL AND LABOh.
EDrroR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: noticed an article
In your paper of Oct relative TO the Mckinley
bill and its effect throughout Europe in which you
say that will be the of throwing out of en-
ployment several millions OF European working
men, thereby giving moro employment TO our own
people. Admitting such TO be the case, do you not
think that, so long tho laws regulating immi-
grafton remain as they are, that it (the Mckinley
bil) Will also he the means Of increasing immigra-
ton TO shores. thereby creating still greater
surplus of labor the market than Mt present
exists. This is the question that is agitatng the
minds OF the American woriiugmen / consider
that this is the only point in which the Mckinley
bill is defective. It tas place high tariff upon
the only commodity which worlSiugman has to
seli-his labor. thereby leaving him unprotected
against foreign competition. / solicit your indi-
vidual opinion upon this.-WM. @. LEES, Philadel-
phia, Pa.
We are glad to discuss this question with
our correspondent, for we have keen
anxiety for the interests of our working
men, rs we have for all classes of our people.
Zach class is entitled to the same amount of
protection from the Government, and it is
only by carefully considering the interests
of each, and doing whatever wise policy
suggests to foster them, that the country can
be built up TO the best that is possible. Did
we believe for an instant that there would
as would take the work away from our own,
we should certainly favor restrictive legisla-
ton. But we do not fear any such flood
of immigration. The contract labor laws
will prevent manufacturers bringing them
over in bodies, and if there is any defect
in the operation of these laws, it should be
brought to the attention of the next session
of Congress.
We think that but small proportion of the
foreigners employed in factories Frustrated
by the Mckinley bill will imsrigrate hither,
and these will be the best of their class, who
have the brains and energy to immigrate on
their own account. They will be acceptable,
because they will bring with them trade
secrets and mechanical skill, which our peo-
pie will quickly profit by, and the new
corners will readily assimilate with our own
people and become part of us.
We can rely on the versatility and intelli-
gence of our own people TO speedily fill all
the manufactures which will spring up
under the operations of the Mckinley bill
with as fine class of operatives as there are
in the world.
At the same time, keeniy alive as we are
TO the evils Of unrestricted immigration, we
would say that if the Mckinley bill resulted
in bringing TO this country every working
man in Europe who has heretofore been
employed in making American goods, still
the country would be immensely better OF
than 1t is at present, Now they buy of us
but small proportion of what they eat and
drink and wear. Once settled here, they
will have to buy everything of us. Now
the money paid for the products of their
skill goes out Of the country, and is perma-
nentIy lost TO us; with them all over here,
the money would go right back into circu-
latiOn among our own people. This fact is
clear to everyone.