Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-10-15
"rARoR,s sHARr.

"The wages oflabor in the manufactures are
but little more than II per cent Of the product.
In other words the amount that fails to labor out
or the total value Of the products in only 81 out OF
every 500. Now. does it not stand to reason that
II tariff be at all necessary average tariff duty
Of II per cent would be amply sufficient to pro
,ect American labor against foreign labor, even il
the latter got no wages ataip Yet the ayerage OF
tariff duties now is A. per cent, although the diff.
ference In the wages between this aud other cour-
tries is not per cent calculated upon the relative
productiveness Of labor. Why. then, IS this extra
70 per cent. put on2 We see It cannot protect la
Dor. 1t does protect the manufacturers not merely
against foreign competition, but most efeetaally
against all our efforts 10 compel them to treat us
Justly II Is this 50 per cent extra that secures to
them all the beuei, from protection and makes it
impossible for Us 70 even wiring from them share
oft. II makes them free from competition and
fortifes them agaus, Our just demands, and II yet
leaves them free 10 draw their labor freely from
The markets of the world. and the inevitable and
natural result Is cheap labor and dear goods.
Mr. President manufacturers should not pre-
sent themselves 10 the public as ilSnthropists,
hi they do the facts OF history would overthrow
he claim. Until a Democratic House originated
a law which prohibited H. they hesitated not TO
i,,tr,ort the pauper labor OF Europe BY contracts
earnings place IL side by side with the American
labor. with no other purpose IN view Than TO re-
duce IT, value.
more numerous than now. Then, the laborer
was IN the power Of the capitalist; he could be
turued cut OF employment his family reduced 70
a state Of starvation, aud himself 10 that condi-
ton OF desperation that would make HIM weld 10
the demand Of his employer; for u he refused 10
accept the wages offered. the markets OF EUROPE
were open. and they could be drawn on 10 supply
TnanrH AZ OF
REPRESENTATIVES., this can no longer be done, and
ial or NAV now treat with capital upon more
equal footing
The information furnished MS BY the Govern
mrut shows that the view taken by the Working
meas Tariff Reform Association as 70 the per
cent " labor iu the prots ctcd manufactures =
t-rc. ard those statistics further show serious
depression iu te yaiue Of labor under the protec-
ton given 20 the manufactured commodities since
.fhe census OF 1850 shows that the value o. man
ufscturcd product Of this country IN 1900 was 81
SIS .ti 90 aud the wages paid 10 produce those
coinmo htie- Amounted 70 S3-s SIS qoo, or 20 per
cent OF the product We learn from the sainc
asfhoritv that la r,So the value Of the marciac-
tutcd products was $500 CO.. 7co, aud me value OF
tae wa ges paid was sq,7 s9 ora traction over =
nee cent after twenty wears Of high protection.
fhe wages ~ isto under one ofthe lowest ta.iii,
lhi~ couuify has ever known. Il beiug lower thth
the rates h.,co by the revenue tana ~ 1912 iesen
ing only tfq on the Sloo. were s pct cent hisie'
than those paid during the period % twenty years
shru high protective tariff was IN iOTcr. the
low tariff during thai time enabling the nanuiae-
turers 10 keen wa res al the higher ugure
"a considering The value OF wages Tor workmen
iu gland and America, the question = sus-
Cested whether the higher prices paid for labor IN
ttis county are not neg;ralifed by the Increased
cost Of living caused by theeuhanced prices given
10 articles OF universal use by the high duties inn
posed upon their production or importation BY the
tariff act
We must not forget, sir. that the laborer Is
consumer and one Of the largest class OF cousuin-
ers OF those commodities which are highly pro
tected He consequently paws his iuil share OF
Federal taxation. and far beyond his equitable
proportion Of the bouuties 10 the manufacturers.
Every article Of clothing purchased by him, or by
his family whether II consists OF woolleu or COT
ton goods the tools Of his trade. the china crock,
cry and glassware uSrd IN his kitchen or placed
on his table. his knives and forks. the stove on
which he cooks his meals, the skiiets ana pots ~
which they are prepared. the TN bucket IN which
he carries his dIuuer. every article that adds 10
his comfort is taxed from SIS TO So on the sioo
This necessarily reduces the value OF his LABOR,
which i sold in q free market with no assistance
by artificial means OF increasing its price.
In esfimating therefore. the value OF labor be
tween two countries the cost of living Is
srutiai element. aud between England and the
United states It Is that ten ds largely 10 equal
ize wages.
HAS rRR rARIFF BESEFrrrED The FARMER.
But. Mr. President. has the high tariff from 1851
to the present time been beneficial to that largest
class Of cur population. those who are engaged IN