The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-09-06

tno ube OF JhOse earning less than u ,OOt
per annum, has decreased up to May
1892, 3-4 per cent.-while in farm pro
ducts there has been an increase in prices,
owing in part TO an increased foreign de
mand and the opening of new markets.
! Second There has been an average ad.
vance in the rate of wages of rs Of ons
per cent.
Third--There has been an advance I'm
the price of all farm products of IL. 81 per
cent, and of all cereals 33. 80 per cent.
The ninth annual report of the chief OF
the bureau of labor statistics of the State
of New York-a Democratic officer-very
recently issued, strongly corroborates. as
to that State, the facts found by the Sen
ate committee. His extended inquiry
shows that in the year Immediately fol-
lowing the passage of the tariff act of
1870 the aggregate sum paid in wages in
that State was So, 377, 92j in excess, and
the aggregate production S31, 315, 1870 in
excess of the preceding year.
In view of this showing of an increase
in wages, of a reduction in the cost of ar
ticles of common necessity, and of a
marked advance in the prices of agricul-
tural products, it is plain that this tariff
law has not imposed burdens, but has
conferred benefits, upon the farmer and
the workiugman.
Some special effects of the act should
here be noticed. 1t was a courageous
attempt to rid our people of long main
tanned foreign monopoly in the produc-
tion of tin-plate, pearl buttons, silk
plush, linens, lace, etc.
Once or twice in our history the pro-
ducton of tin-plate had been attempted
and the prices obtained by the Welsh
makers would have enabled our makers
to produce it at profit. But the Welsh
makers at once cut prices to point that
drove the American beginners out of the
business, and, when this was acc om-
plished, made their own prices.
The official returns to the Treasury
Department of the production of tin and
terne plates, in the United States during
the last fiscal year, show a total produc-
tion of 1920, $40 pounds and a compari-
son of the first quarter 926, 922 pounds
with the lasts, 600, 900 pounds-shows
the rapid development of the industry.
Over 1000, 600 pounds during the last
quarter were made from American black
plates, the remainder from foreign plates.
Mr., Aver, the Treasury agent in Oh arge,
estimates, as the result of careful inqu iry,
that the production of the current year
will be loo, 100000 pounds, and that by
the end of the year our production will be
at the rate of 200, 900, 900 pounds per
annum.
Another industry that has been practi-
cally created by the Mckinley bill is the
making of pearl buttons Few articles
coming to us from abroad were so dis
tinctly the product of starvation wages.
This tariff law has given employment
to many thousands of American men and
women, and will each year give employ
ment to increasing thousands is repeal
would throw thousands ouJ OF employ
ment, and give work to others only at
reduced wages. The appeals of the free
trader to the workingman are largely ad-
dressed to his prejudices or to his passions
and not tnfrequently are pronouucedly
communistic. The new Democratic lead
ership RACES at the employer, and seeks
TO communicates this rage to the employe
l regret that all employers Of labor are
not just and considerlte and that capital
sometimes takes too large a share of the
profits. But l do not see that these evils
will be ameliorated by a tariff policy. the
first necessary step of which is a severe
wage cut and the second a large dimnu-
tion of the aggregate amount of work to
be done in this country. II the injustice
Of his employer tempts the workman to
strike back, he shonld be very sure that
his blow does not fall upon his own head,
or upon his wife and children
The Southern States have had a liberal
participation in the benefits of the tariff
law, and, though their representa-
tiyes have generally opposed the protec-
tion policy, l rejoice that their sugar,
rice, COAL ores iron, fruits, cotton cloths,
and other products, have not been left to
the fate which the votes of their represen-
tatives would have brought upon them.
In the construction of the Nicaraugua
canal, in the new trade with South and
Central America, in the establishment of
American steamship lines, these States
have also special interests, and all these
interests will not always consent to
be without representation at Washington.
FREE COINAGE OF SILVER.
The resolution of the convention in
favor of be-metallism declares. l think.
the true and necessary conditions of a
movement that has, upon these lines, my
cordial adherence and support. l am
thoroughly convinced that the free coin.
age of silver at such ratio to gold as
will maintain the equality in their com.
mercial uses Of the two coined dollars,
would conduce to the prosperity of all the
great producing and commercial nations
of the world. The one essential condi-
tion is that these dollars shall have and
retain AN equal acceptability and value in
all commercial transactions.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The Civil Service system has been ex
tended and the law enforced with yigor
and impartial ity. There has been no bar.
tisan juggling with the law in any of the
departments or bureaus, as before hap.
ap poinJments to the classi.
fed service have been made impartiauy
from the eligi ble list The system in all
the departments has for the first time
placed promo tions strictly upon the basis
Of merit
HONEST ELECTIONS.
1t seemed to me at the time Of writing
my last annual message, that an appeal
TO our people to consider the question of
re-adjusting our legislation upon alb
solutely tair non partisan lines might
ind some effective response Many times
have had occasion TO say that laws and
alpeLlOu nathpla dagi.ruaA b., .r;,., a.. f..s.