Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-10-30
A Republican Lie Nailed.

The Republican managers in this sec
ton of the country have not used the
Mckinley bill racket to any great extent
in their campaign. The reason is no
doubt that the workingmen here have
been studying the tariff question long
and eagerly in order to get down to the
facts of the so-called benefits they are
said to derive from the protection.
The various workingmen's societies
have been debating tariff matters for the
last couple of years. and many mechanics
and workingmen are better posted on the
subject than the majority of Congress
men.
So far, the only effect of the passage of
| the Mex inley bill that has been apparent
| to workingmen is that the prices of nee
/ essaries have been increased, but there
| has so far not been any increase in
wages. Hence the Republicans cannot
make use of any protective tariff gags in
| the State contest. In the Congressional
| fights also other lines of campaign work
are being followed
This is not so in other States, however,
where the old chestnuty arguments are
being doled out for the benefit of the
ignorant farmers and workingmen who
have not studied the question in its true
bearings. In Mckinley's own district in
Ohio the originator of the latest tariff
bill is having hard fight. Every means
has been tried to make capital for the
father of the latest revised edition of the
tariff.
A favorite argument of the Republican
managers in Ohio is to show the benefits
the Mex inley bill has already had in in
creasing the wages of the workingmen in
various parts of the country. As a rule
the places mentioned are fictitious, or so
far away that there is no means of Veri-
flying the statements of the Republican
orators. They have of late been Dragging
of Philadelphia shirt making firm
which has greatly increased the wages of
their hands since the passage of the Nc
Kinley bill. On investigation the story
proves to be tissue of lies, and, in
truth, the case is exactly the reverse.
The firm mentioned is that of Jacob
Miller, Sons & Co., of 92G and 92S Market
street. This firm the Republicans in
| Ohio claim has increased the wages of the
hands at their factory in Bordertown, n.
j., and have been so well pleased with
| the effect of the Mckinley bill on their
trade that they have sent heavy contri-
buttons to the gallant Major to help him
in his fight against the Democratic free
traders who are trying to deprive him OF
his seat in Congress.
The truth is that the ink on the Nc
Kinley bill had hardly had time to dry
before this firm made reduction in the
wages of their hands at the Bordentown
factory. The reduction was not a mild
one either, but a regular slaughter, in
some instances being over 50 per cent. II
the case of their fine shirts, composed o.
cotton and silk on which there is no duty
the price of making them was reduced
from thirty-seven to eighteen cents each
The reduction led to strike in the
factory of the concern at Bordentown OF
October 10, which has not yet been set
tied. An account of the strike appeared
in the Bordentown Register published tn
week following the strike. An accoun
r of trouble at Miller's Bordentown factor
S also appeared in the Burlington (N. J.
Enterprise.
/ Elect John B. Reynolds to Congress
. and he will vote for the repeal of thi
? bill.