Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-07-28
INDIFFERENCE TO LABOR.
Record OF the Chicago Convention In Re-
gard to wagsworkers.

Record OF the Chicago Convention In Re-
gard to wagsworkers.
Democratic attempts TO make capital
out of the Homestead troubles, whether
in congress or in the press, are miscal.
culated and futile. The Chicago con-
vention made a record on the question
Of the interests Of workingmen as af-
fected by tariff legislation, and II can
not be repudiated. The resolutions re-
ported TO the convention recognized the
expedicncy OF protecting American in
dustrics to the extent OF maintaining
the difference OF level in wages paid
here and in Europe. Those resolutions
were voted down by an overwhelming
majority, and u ra'ical proposition con-
demning protection as robbery and I'M
constitutional, and advocating n tariff
for revenue only, was adopted. BY
that uncompromising action the demo
cratic party placed itself on record as
IN favor OF tariff revision without ref.
erencc TO it's effect on wages. II stands
committed TO the policy Of striking out
all the protective features of the tariff
without regard for the interests OF
wage-carners II demands n tariff for
revenue only. II wages 20 down to
the European level under such a tariff
the workingmep are 10 adjust them
selves TO the new condition as best
they may. Democracy, when judged
by its own utterances and action, is in
different TO their losses.
In view Of this record, how prepos-
ferrous are the attempts on that side 10
hold protection and the Mckinley act
responsible for the labor conflict at
Homestead! How insignificant are the
reductions In the proposed schedules
there in comparison with the enormous
cut in wages which will have to he
made II the steel works are TO be CON
Quoted hereafter on the basis OF reve-
nue. tariff Let il be granted for argu-
ment's sake that the managers are not
justified in their claim that the work.
men can earn more money under the
new schedule than they could a few
years ago before the plant was inn
proved and their own productive capac-
ity largely increased. Let IL be as
sumed that there would be slight re.
duction of wages for certain classes OF
workmen in the mills under the new
schedules. How would IL be possible
70 operate those works at all under a
revenue tariff without scaling down the
wages of all classes OF workmen to the
level Of English, Belgian and German
operatives? What the democratic party
will bring about, II II controls the next
congress in both branches and has Mr..
Cleveland in office TO sign u revenue
tariff bill, is general reduction of
wages throughout the country. This
will be the logical and necessary effect
Of its tariff policy. There Is not
democratic orator who will dare TO as
sert on the stump this year that wages
will be higher when foreign labor is
brought into direct competition with
American labor. Mr.. Cleveland is the
candidate of the low-wagc party, which
proclaimed at Chicago its Indifference
TO the interests Of labor. Therefore, II
III becomes the leaders and press OF that
party 10 condemn the Homestead man
ayers for attempting slight readjust-
ment of wages or To snccr at the Me
kinlcy act as II low-wage tariff.
Then, too, there is the vital question
OF employment. At Homestead there
are now five thousand men out OF work.
II a compromise be effected through
arbitration or otherwise, they will be
again employedi or at the worst there
are iron mills at other industrial cen
tiers where they can eventually And
work. But under revenue tariff mills
and factories will be closed, and there
will he no work TO be had, even at
heavily reduced wages, While many
employers might be willing TO continue
manufacturing operations under free
trade conditions with heavy cut In
wages, many more would not maze the
effort, but would abandon the field to
foreign competitors Not only would
there be lower wages, but there would
be vastly less work under a revenue
tHrin. This will be another Of the log
ical results Of democratic tariff policy;
and the Chicago convention, by repudi
htng the majority resolutions, has de
elared in advance that II is indifferent
10 the abandonment OF American indus.
tries and to the withdrawal OF sources
Of employment for working people
" Y. Tribune.