The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-29
A Satisfactory Substitute.

Inc plank submitted Dy the majority was
timid irresolute proposition to attack
protection without hurting anything that
is protected. 1t began with an apology to
workingmen and an explanation that
there was no intention to interfere with
their wages, as follows:
We reiterate the oft-repeated doctrines
OF the democratic party that the necessity
OF the government IS the only justification
for taxation and whenever a tax is I'M
necessary 1t is unjustifiable that, when
custom house taxation is levied upon arti-
cles of any kind produced in this country,
the difference between the cost of labor
here and abroad. when such difference
exists, fully measures any possible bene-
hts TO labor, and the enormous additional
impOsltlOns of the existing tariff fall with
crushing force upon our farmers and
workingmen and, for the mere advantage
of the Jew whom il enriches, exact from
labor a grossly unjust share of the ex-
penses OF the government; and We de-
msnd such revision of the tariff laws as
will remove their iniquitous inequalities,
tighten their oppression and put them on
a constitutional and equitable basis.
This was an error. 1t is an assumption
of claim very frequently made by pro-
tectiOnsts in the past that the tariff in
increases wages, and it is an assumption
that has very foolishly been made in'pre-
vious democratic platforms. No one of
any intelligence who has examined the
wage question believes any such thing,
and. least of all, do wage-workers believe
it. 1t is a common mistake of politicians
TO suppose that wage-workers do not I'M
derstand their own interests, that they
must be coddled by ia Sc pretenses, and
that they have been deceived by the talk
about competition with the 'pauper labor"
of foreign countries Nothing could be
more preposterous. There is no class of
people in the country 30 well informed on
the tariff question as organized labor.
There is no class that so clearly under
stands that, as a rule, employers in this
country will get their work done as
cheaply as possible, just as in any other
country. There is no class so educated by
experience to the tact that, aside from
natural conditions and supply and de-
mand of labor, the most potent cause of
good wages is organization and resistance
Ierly acquainted with the fact that a policy
that cuts off markets, causes ''over-pro-
duction" and makes long stoppages of en-
ployment is the worst enemy the working
man can have.
Workingmen do not need education on
the tariff question. They have it. They
were not scared by the English system
bugaboo OF 1888. They walked up to the
polls and voted the democratic ticket. In
that election the democratic party suffered
no loss from a detection of workingmen.
As a rule we gained in cities, and especial
ly did We gain in manufacturing districts.
And what was true then is equally true
now. The interim of republican power,
and the operations of the Mckinley legis-
lation 'for the protection OF American
labor" have not tended to weaken their
faith. The weakening has all been on the
other side. We have reached stage when
even the Bulletin of the American pro-
tective tariff league says:
Wages will be reduced and advanced
from time to time in obedience to laws be-
yond the power of man to control. no
lust as the price of wheat or beef will be
high one year and low the next.
We have reached stage when MCKIN-
LEY himself declares that mo one ever
claimed that the tariff increases wages"
We have reached stage when the pro-
tective press of Pennsylvania, confronted
by sweeping reduction of wages in the
;ob ind
is explaining that wages do not depend on
the tariff, and when the working men af-
fected are preparing for appeal, not
to q tariff, but to organized effort.
At such a time as this it would be
objectionable folly to cumber a tariff re-
form platform with any rot about the
difference of wages between this country
and foreign countries.
The remainder of the rejected plank Is
not so Objectionable in what it says as in
what il might be construed to imply. 1t
is as follows:
But in making reduction in taxes IL is
not proposed to injure any domestic indus
tries. but rather to promote their healthy
growth. From the foundation of this gov
eminent taxes collected at the customs
house have been the chief source OF fed
eral revenue. Such they must continue
to be. Moreover, many Industries have
come to rely upon legislation for success
full continuance, so that any change of
law must be at every step regardful of the
labor and capital thus involved. The
process of reform must be subjected to the
execution OF this plain dictate of justice.
1t is not probable that any congress of
moderately honest men would deliberate
ly ruin, or even injure, any legitimate in
dustry, but these words would certainly
be taken to made the protected industries
largely the judges of what will be neces-
sary Tor them. That has been the policy
of the republican party, and under 1t there
has been a steady increase OF demand-a
continual asking for more. 1t is time the
infant industries were weaned. Their
powers Of suction have increased to such