The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-09-05
FREE TRADERS WEEP
NO ARGUMENT FOR THEM IN THE
LABOR TROUBLES.
The Wages of tho Men Are Shown TO he
Several Times rs Large as Those Paid
in Europe for More Hours of the Same
Work-Three Democratic Governors.

Several Times rs Large as Those Paid
in Europe for More Hours of the Same
work-Three Democratic Governors.
Everybody has noticed the feverish
anxiety Of Democratic journals to ex-
tract some political capital from the
labor controversies In various states.
But the political influence of these
strikes, Judging from present appear
ances, will be decidedly adverse to Dem
ocratic hopes. The disclosure about
wages paid perhaps affects public opin-
ion more than anything else. The
switchmen at Buffalo on eastern roads
were receiving $3.50 per day for ten
hours, and struck because they demand
ed the wages paid on roads running
west from Buffalo-$2.70 for ten hours.
The work does not require long train
ing nor exceptional skill, and thousands
who have had experience, but who have
since tried other avocations or who have
been thrown out of work by previous
unsuccessful strikes, are readily found
to take the place of strikers. In Eng.
land, France, Germany or Austria men
at such labor get SO per week or less,
while at Buffalo they receive $15, not
including Sundays or extra time, and
demanded $500.
The dispute about the exact wages OF
the men at Homestead has done good
for it comes out that even the most igno.
rant and unskilled laborers received 81. 4C
to $l.68 per day and substantially nll
the skilled labor more than 81 per day
while quite large percentage OF skilled
workers received 81 per day, and from
that to $40 or even more. Men who
know anything of the conditions of Ia.
Dor abroad contrast these wages will
those paid in other countries, and ask
themselves whether it is really true that
protection does nothing for labor, g.
Mr.. Cleveland and his friends assert.
When it appears that prices of prod
ucts in the iron and steel industry have
been so greatly depressed by home com
petition that all the iron workers have
now gone back to work, asserting tc
some reduction of the higher wages
while the steel company proposed nc
NANNpb lOl aipbt IL ltltAiA Vi VIZ
men who were paid very high wages
the effect upon pubs;s opinion as to the
tariff does not benefit the free traders.
Neither are the Democrats likely tc
get any advantage from the dissatisfac-
ton Of strikers. 1t happens that the
governors of Pennsylvania. New York
and Tennessee ire Ill Democrats. Every
order to use troops fer the protection Of
property and the suppression Of disorder
whether too long delayed or timely. was
given by n Democratic governor. If the
NE Cf troops seems censurable to any o!
the strikers they have only Democratic
officials to blame. Governor Pattisou
tried hard To cvade an obvious duty
Governor Flower acted with great
promptress; Governor buchanan pal
tered with armed instruction so long
that he never did his full duty at all.
But they are all Democratic governors
The communistic tendency manifested
in these outbreaks, the lawless Spirit
shown in destruction of property. in as,
saults upon men who wished to WORK
and in shooting of guards and others.
have caused not a little feeling 81
alarm. \ multitude of conservative
and law abiding citizens fear that thu
demand of organizations, their powe,
over weak and ambitious politicians
and the lawless conduct seen in connec
ton with many strikes may presently
bring the country into great peril
Whether such fears are exaggerated oi
not, men of any party can find but one
safe and certain remedy, and that is t.
keep in power the party which never
hesitates to enforce law and preserv,
order.
All conservative citizens have come Il
know that President Harrison does moi
take counsel of his fears or his persona
ambition when there is any duty to b,
done. All conservative citizens ar,
aware that the Republican party, how
ever Jealous it has been to promote tn,
interests of labor by protection, neve
. countenances lawless violence. Thus al
the apprehensions Of conservative peopl
tend to strengthen the hold of the Re
publican party upon their confidence
and support. In the important doubtful
states this fact is likely to have not
little weight. New York Tribune.