West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1892-08-11
PROTECTION IN Pennsylvania.

Tho Constant i.ahor Troubles In That
State Easily Explained.
Yet, all protectionist state rs il is. it
can hardly have escaped observation
that Pennsylvania is also the state in
which there have been the most serious
disturbances as regards labor. There
are almost always labor troubles in
Pennsylvania. The excuse for high tar
ifs of late years is chiefly that high
tariffs are in the interest Of labor Yet
here is II state in which high tariff has
been longer relied upon and is applied
to more Industries than in any other.
and yet labor in it is moro dissatisfied.
more unhappy, more aggrieved and
more turbulent than anywhere else in
the country.
There is lesson 10 be learned from
this rs regards which there is no excuse
for mistaking. 1t is that rish protec-
tion, when the most fully applied. is a
failure in IFS effect upon labor. High
protection does enable those who are
assumed 10 benefit by il TO make great
fortunes. No one Will doubt that who
knows of the millions accumulated by
the Scots, the CaInegies and the Besse-
mer steel magnates; but while these
princely returns arc being realized the
workmen are in a condition which re-
suits in chronic discomfort. too often
hnding vent in bloody outbreaks like
that now appalling the people.
But why do You attribute this to the
tariff we may be asked. We reply.
first, because i'm PENNSYLVANIA the tariff
is supposed to do its most complete work
Here is the test Of it. If there is to be n
test anywhere. Pennsylvania is IA state
of such resources in her soil. in her min.
eral products and in the character OF her
people that industry if left alone. would
win success there if it will win success
anywh -. III industry left alone had
failed there, We would have been willing
to admit that the failure was the failure
of the American people engaged in in
dustry when unshacklod by government.
and to have looked for the cause of it i'm
some mistaken action on the part of
themselves.
But when government steps in, and
against the protest of q large portion OF
the intelligent citizens Of the republic
including among them nearly all those
who have studied the principles which
apply to the productive labor of men
and have taken pains 20 observe their
operation IN our own and other cour
tries-when government, we say. in the
face OF this rcmOn3trance undertakes TO
establish another system, under which
enormous fortunes are built up, while
labor is conrtantly dissatisfied and often
in open outbreak, "a in the case i'm Penn
sylvania, il seems 10 MS that we are JUS
tiiied in holding the action Of govern
ment as largely responsible for the
trouble.
The advocates Of protection in Penn
sylvania, as everywhere else. insist upon
attributing every symptom Of prosperity
to the tariff. Do they seriously expect
that they are to be allowed to claim all
the credit Of everything that is good in
it's results IN the tariff, and 10 be freed
from the responsibility for all that is
not good at the same time? They have
vaunted Of the effects Of Legislation that
have made Carnegie rich enough 10
build barOnial castle and live i'm Eu-
rope. Are they to shirk the response
bility for that same legislation when the
effect Of it is seen in the turning Of
thousands Of men out Of employment
and tho driving them TO desperation and
bloodshed? If the tariff did the one. we
respectfully ask why it has not done the
otherl The American people are too in
telligent to be bamboozled in the an
swer TO this question: Boston Herald.