The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-20
FREE TRADERS WEEP
NO ARGUMENT FOR THEM m THE
LABOR TROUBLES.


Work-Three Democratic Governor.
Everybody has noticed the feverish
anxiety Of Denocratic journals to cx-
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 elsc. 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 tho 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 $i5, not
including Sundays or extra time, and
demanded 5000.
The dispute about the exact wages Of
the men at Homestead has done good,
for ID comes out that even the most igno-
rant and unskilled laborers received 81 40
to $1.6S per day and substantially all
the skilled labor more than 50 per day,
while quite q large percentage Of skilled
workers received a per day, and from
that to $40 or even more. Men who
know anything Of the conditions Of Ia
Dor abroad contrast these wages with
those paid in other countries, and ask
themselves whether it is really true that
protection does nothing for labor, as
Mr.. Cleveland and his friends assert.
Whom 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 to
some reduction Of the higher wages,
while the steel company proposed no
change except for about tenth Of the
men who were paid very high wages,
the effect upon pubic opinion as to the
tariff does not benefit the free traders.
Neither are the Democrats likely to
get any advantage from the dissatisfac-
ton Of strikers. 1t happens that the
governors Of Pennsylvania, New York
and Tennessee are all Democrats. Every
order to use troops for the protection Of
property and the suppression Of disorder,
whether too long delayed or timely. was
given by Democratic governor. II the
use OF troops seems censurable to any of
the strikers they have only Democratic
officials to blame. Governor Pattison
tried hard 10 evade an obvious duty;
Governor Flower acted with great
promptness; Governor Buchanan pal
tered with armed instruction so long
that he mover did his full duty at all.
But they are all Democratic governors.
The communistic tendency manifested
in these outbreaks, the lawlees 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 little feeling Of
alarm. A multitude of conservative
and law abiding citizens fear that the
demand of organizations. their power
over weak and ambitious politicians
and the lawless conduct seen in connec-
tion with many strikes may presently
bring the country into great peril.
Whether such fears are exaggerated or
not, men Of any party can find but one
safe and certain remedy, and that is to
keep in power the party which never
hesitates to enforce law and preserve
order.
All conservative citizens have come to
know that President Harrison does not
take counsel of his fears or his personal
ambition when there is any duty to be
done. All conservative citizens are
aware that the Republican party, how
ever jealous it has been to promote the
interests Of labor by protection, never
countenances lawless violence. Thus all
the apprehensions of conservative people
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.