The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-02

NOT A time !, sc|NG
A Great Many Idle People in New
Jersey Whose Prospects are
Gloomy.
One Thousand Girls Thrown Out or
Employment just Before
the Holidays.
miserable Week In jersey Man ufactur.
Ing Towns-Wi,ere Does the Re-
sponsIbiiity Rest?

TRENTON, N. j., Jan. LIT was not the
fault of the Jersey protectionist that Christ
mas was day of joy and gladness nearly
everywhere in the state. The kind of a
Christmas that the high tariff advocates
turn out made it's appearance in Newark
Paterson and some of the south Jersey
towns. Christmas and Christianity geu-
ally 90 together, but neither Of them is on
speaking terms with the species OF holiday
that existed around the Clark thread works,
for instance. The alleged liberal protec-
tionists were responsible, and there is no
Sinking the fact, for pitifuI
amount Of misery and sorrow on Wednes-
day. The preachers who get part of
their salaries from the highly protected
manufacturers may assume to be shocked
at the absence Of the spirit of the Christ
around certain sections OF Newark and all
through the town of Kearney the middle Of
this week, but the truth is the gospel of
good will and gladness had no chance in
those localities. The lack of gladness WAS
due, and due entirely, to the lack of good
will on the part OF the millionaire tariff
manufacturers.
That over 1000 girls should be turned
ont OF work within few days of the
Christmas holidays is to be regretted any,
where. That they should have been turned
ont without cause is a shame worthy of con-
demnation. That they are to be kept ont
OF employment to please the whim Of an im-
ported foreman-imported by men who
claim that the foreigner is the bane of the
American laborer-is the height of
cruely and inhumanity. Yet that
is the situation in the Clark
Thread Works, at Newark, and all the
CLOSING over Of the facts BY the republican
organs of the state is of no avail. The
press has awakened public sentiment on
the subject, and the popular subscriptions
that are pouring in daily for the locked out
carders and spinners are proof that the
public recognizes the true condition of
affairs.
The Jersey protectionist has been quite
successful all these years in hoodwinking
the average citizen. He has by fulsome
nattery OF republican newspapers and by
picnics, excuriousi and various entertain
ments created the impression that he is
very kind and generous. and that he pays
toned was he to fooling the dear public
Anile crushing the poor workman that he
got reckless. and this winter he careiessly
leIt some cracks exposed through which
the truth got out and suddedly attained
publicity. 1t has been commonly supposed,
the thread works did better BY their
hands than any similar concern in the
world. The statement was made so often
and with such emphasis that somehow no
one thought of contradicting it. 1t came
to DC almost automatic, and the republican
orators OF the land, from the mesmeric
man of Maine to the CROSSROADS stump
speaker, used the statement with great gus
to, and as one Of the fundamental truths of
advanced political economy. Now it turns
out since the present lockout and strike be-
gan that the spinners of Fall River, where
no fuss was made have received from ~ to
Sb more week than men employed in
similar capacity at Newark. It has also
been discovered that the Rhode Island |
tbreadmaker hasn't complained of poverty
and hasn't howled SO loudly for additional |
protection at the hands of congress.
1t has been miserable week for several !
thousand workinRmen and their families |
throughout New Jersey. and a protective
tariff has been solely responsible for it all. !
of homes that have had Christ |
mas trees and Christmas gifts for a decade
or two have been deprived of their Gus
tomary cheer; and the tears of disappoint-
ment on childish cheeks mingled with the
tears of regret on the faces of fond parents
who wanted to celebrate appropriately that
long-ago event in Palestine, but could not,
This is, forsooth. one of the after
effects of the Mckinley bill that pro-
tectlve republican newspapers tell us are
sure to come, but were not under
stood by the American public when the bal
lots were cast i'll November. II the Nc
klnley measure only has to be understood |
In order to be appreciated, there are n good
many humble Jersey homes that grasped its
meaning very quickly and are app-eciating
the outcome. In the action of the big man
ufacturers at Newark, Trenton, Paterson,
keyport and Glnssborough is a correct fore
OF what will happen when the
bill has had time to get in run
ming order and get its machinery properly
in motion. Americas worst enemy can
wish nothing more direful than the speedy
consummatlon OF the consequences Of the
measure.
There have been busy mills humming
,way ali thig week in Jersey, and the en-
p!oyes III those mills had really merry
christmas and expect to have n decidedly
happy New Years. But they were the hives
Of industry where hig h-tarlff song did not
'un along with the noise of the machinery.
t was as it is to be hoped Major Mckinley
will notice, the unprotected industry that
hrived So well, and it was the low tariff
workman whose family felt the spirit of
Jhristendom's greatest holiday. 1t was the
heory OF buying i'll the cheapest markets
md selling III the dearest that was SO sue
essful. 1t is certainly n strange commer-
arv on the current protective argument
hat III ono little commonwealth of this
nion leading industries that have been
sustained by high duties should /
educe wages, discharge employees, and ,
lain that business was bad, while ,
ard by trades that never demanded !
nd never obtained much protection
hould be prosperous and keep up the
'aGes of their workmen. 1t is hard to
60. III tho face of these facts. what is to
ecome of the old stock doctrine of the re-
uolican leaders that the hope and happi-
ess OF the Americon iaborer are dependent
pom high tariff. IT existing events in
ew Jersey count for anything they Count
gainst protection, for the misery and 4
leanness are all beneath the shelter of n | i,
Ugh tariff. while prosperity and generosity
ppear in quarters that have rarely il ever J
.ceived the benedictions OF the protection )
It. d
Killed i'm the Elkhorn