Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1892-04-15
McRLNLEY ADMITS TT

Murat Halstead says: Campbell has one
thing to say and says IL all the time-the
Mckinley law has not raised the wages of
workingmen. Mr.. Mckinley has pointed
out that the law docs well II it sustains
wages, as wages are higher with us than
elsewhere In the world"
Hastead feared his party would not take
proper cognlzance of this important admis-
sion, so he volunteered TO give it wider
circulation. He is the only Republican
who has been honest enough to do so. 1t
is most important and eventful admission
in more ways than one. 1t gives the lie 10
McKinley's own oft repeated assertions that
the prime object of high tariff is To increase
wagss-to protect our workingmen against
the pauper labor Of other countries. The
entire discussion of the tariff question was
made TO cluster about that one pont-that
wages were higher in America than any.
where else because Of our protective system.
The unsoundness of that proposition has
been demonstrated again and again by the
Democracy. 1t has been pointed out that
wages were higher In America than in
Europe and that in Australia under British
tariff wages are higher than here. Statistics
fully support the assertion that under the
tariff of as, known as the Walker tariff, the
rates of wages steadily increased at greater
rate than it ever has since. 1t has been re-
peatedly pointed out that England and Bel
GUM have the lowest tariffs and The highest
wages in all Europe.
All this has not been sufficient TO con-
vince Mckinley that his position was alb.
surd. But now he sees it. He admits that
a high tariff does not raise wages and that
II is doing well If il even keeps them from
decreasing. He changes to position that
no one will dispute with him. His tariff will
be doing remarkably II II prevents Carnegie
and the rest of that lot from making their
Tread ustments," it will be doing better than
any one can reasonably expect Of it, for there
is not clause, section, or single word in the
whole act that prevents or protests against
any mans reducing the pay of his men as
much and as often as the men will stand it.
That il does not prevent these reductions on
every side is clearly shown by the news
columns Of every newspaper in the land.
McKiDley's conversion is due entirely to
the logic of events. He was asked TO find
single man In all the country whose
wages had been increased by reason of the
tariff and he could not find him. He dis.
proved Of the question by conceding that he
had been wrong Though this pretext, that
duties have something to do directly with
wages, has long held most prominent
place in the tariff discussion, it is by nc
means vital point in the real considera-
ton Of the question. Hamilton in his plea
for mild tariff saw in it only help for the
manufacturer Of that day, and Henry Clay,
the father Of our present system, in all his
forcible arguments, eloquent pleadings and
shrewd tricks TO catch popular feeling, made
no mention whatever Of wages being even
remotely affected. 1t remained for Nc
Kinley 10 pretend 10 sec a relation between
the two, to stubbornly and stupidity pro-
claim it--fnaly be forced to renounce it.