West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1892-10-06
AMERICANS INJURED.
TWO-THIRDS or THE HOMESTEAD
STRIKERS ARE FOREIGNERS.

tic hi-utF in lhc itOtfftGI InGug-
tries Than In the Unprotected.
The word in the English language
that protcctionSts use oftenest is
American" They appeal to our selfish
and patriotic feelings by linking to-
gcther as often rs possible Protection"
and "American." On n banner dis.
played at the Minneapolis convention by
the Boston Home Market club was the
following:
American Wages for American workmcnl:
American Markets for American People!
Protection for American Honest
Is, then, "protection" the conservator
Of American workmen, markets and
homes? Does 1t keep ont foreigners
who como here to compete with AIneri-
cans and lower wages? Does il make
home markets where the American peo-
pie can supply themselves with goods at
the lowest possible price? Does it pro-
tect American homes by reducing the
expenses of running them, and thereby
encouraging their foundation and MAX
ing it possible TO bring up and educate
sequence Of American homes? Let us
examine history little
Our present protection" period began
with the high tariff act of July II. 1862.
and was perfected on June 80. 1861
that is, until the genius of Mckinley
took mp the subject. On the 4th of July,
1854, before real protection" was Il
week old, congress passed ana the presi-
dent signed the contract labor law"
entitled IAN act TO encourage immig-a-
ton" Its object, as explained bv Sena-
tor Sherman at that time, was "to en-
courage, facilitate and protect foreign
immigration to and within the United
States The avowed object was to
keep wages down by importing foreign
ers to take the place Of American work
men who were then absent fighting for
their country, and who on their return
would thus find their jobs permanent.
gone, unless they could underbid tho
foreigners whom their bosses had i'm
ported. That's the way our tariff was
planned TO work; certainly not much
American wages for American work
men" in it.
Laws in regard to contract labor"
nave been changed since 1864, but the
customs of prOtsctionists in importing
under contract the cheapest and most
degraded labor Of Europe and Asia has
not changed. There has probably not
<b9ea'a year since 1861 when protected
manufacturers did not have agents
securing the Old World Offering TO adj
vance passage money 10 those who were
70 poor and miserable that they were
willing 10 make any change. 1t is upon
this importation Of miserable wretches
that manufacturers often RELY to win
when American workmen strike for
American wages. Not that this class Of
workmen are always or generally cheap
er, but that they are useful to lower the
wage scale. after which American work
men viii be taken back into the mills to
work at European or Asiatic wages
alongside Of foreign wOrkmen. This is
one explanation Of why wages are lower
in protected than in unprotected in
dustries.
y typical illustration of the class of
men brought over by protectionists is
found at Homestead, Pa. THE total
population Of Miiiiin township. (which for
all practical purposes is nothing more
than Homestead, is lila, and the total
number Of foreign born and native white
of foreign parentage is 7,712. OF foreign
born males eighteen years Of axe and
over there are ma; OF native born males
Of the same age limit there are 1.747. A
precise division of the native and foreign
born in the total population shows that
in the former classification there are
7,525 as Of them colored), in the latter
3Gl9"
But many Of the males over eighteen
that are c,assed as Americans are the
offspring Of foreign parents, and in their
habits and customs ore as much foreign
as their foreign born brothers. Thus
nearly two-thirds Of the american"
workman C work at " American wages
IN this leading protected american" in
dustry. located at Homestead, are virtu-
ally foreigners.
Next. does protection" make markets
where American people can get the fun
worth Of their money! On tie contrary.
a tariff. whenever effective, always ON.
hanccs the cost Of goods increases the
cost q living. aud therefore virtually
lowers wages. Prices of all protected
articles are always higher in protected
than IN unprotected markets. whether
or not there ifauy economic necessity
for It, Often when goods arc made
cheaper bore than elsewhere our manu-
facturers utilize their protection and
sustain high prices at home, though they
cell much cheaper 20 fereiguars THE
d the case with axes, saws. agricultural
machinery, cartridge otc Drawback
duties al-9 enable foreigner to- procure
our uanufaeture8 90 lower Gyrrcs than
We must pay for them Mover. under
any circum tarcee. does protection" iu.
crc1fo tle amount Of goods frat ,tu DE
purchased for a certain s1m Of money!.
Many Of The loading aly0c. tos of pro.
lection hold tHat cloayunss is curse.
tHst 81 SIS un-Amciicau. etc hence DO is
moi strange that they so ieyIate that
reiiher our own nor foreign mmufac.
TIRES may bo sold cheap here. ta9u.b
both may BE- sold very lDw abroad Pro-
lection. then, makes tho worst market
imaginable iu which 20 buy.
Now ~ % this American home"
question. Just how does a hiyl tariff
protect American h1me2 j. itby ora.
Corm xr1 the importation Of contract
labor io lower The way.a ~ American