Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-09-06
The Issue at Homestead.

The struggle at Homestead is of
vital importance to Labor wherever
and however employed. If Union
Labor men are forced to surrender,
all their organizations elsewhere may
as well be disbanded; hut if the
Carnegie Company is defeated, it will
be we're long time before any other
large manufacturer ventures to defy
the reasonable demands of his en-
ployees.
Labor must surrender unless it de-
velops sufficient wisdom to employ
for self-defence>a new weapon which
Carnegie dares not resist. Fortu-
nately such weapon is now within
easy reach, and Labor may use it
with the greatest effect. We assume
that Union LABOR Republicans have
sagacity enough to appreciate that
victory at Homestead means victory
in every State, and that the surrender
of Carnegie will be of more value to
them than mere party success at one
election.
Let US clearly understand the issue.
II manufacturers are protected
against foreign competition, they OBJ
tain higher price. The American
consumer pays this higher price to
enable the manufacturer to give bet
ter wages. The Republican tariff
plank declares:
We (viz: the Republican leaders,
believe that duties should be levied
equal to the difference between for
eign and American wages.
An illustration explains the prac-
teal working of this theory.
The duty on a ton of steel rails
(viz: protection given to Carnegie
is 1874. The difference between
English and American wages, in a
ton of his rails, is 1878. Excess of
protection over difference in wages,
is $9.66.
The Carnegie Company say they
will not employ men who combine to
demand fair divide of this excess.
Manufacturers have trusts, pools and
every combination ingenuity can sug-
gest to regulate wages and advance
prices; but the contention is, that
ope ratives shall not organize to de-
mand fair divide of the increased
price paid for their benefit by Amer
lean customers Carnegie says:
working-men must not combine to
demand the benefit; of law passed
for their benefit and which could
not be passed without their votes.-
If Carnegie wins his fight other man
ufacturers will adopt his proposition;
but if he loses, then labor may COM
bine to resist combination.
The situation is such that the best
weapon for labor to use is the ballot
box. With this weapon it is invinci-
BILE. Let Labor confront the party
managers for President Harrison with
the alternative of losing his election
unless they face Carnegie to surren-
der. Therefore, let Union Labor men
hasten to make public proclamation
as follows.
Unless the Carnegie Company rec
ognizes the officials of organized La
Dor and settles the Homestead strike
within 40 days, Union Labor Repub-
licans pledge themselves to vote for
all Demo cratic candidates for politi-
cal Office at the coming election.
If such pledge be signed by 10,
600 Republicans in New York and
the other doubtful States, the fight
at Homestead would Immediately
cease to be struggle between hun
cry women and rich corporation:
and at once become an issue between
Carnegie on the one side and the
millionaire manufactures who are
supporting Harrison on the other.
The book-makers at the races will of
fer ten to one nolabor as againstICar-
negie, if the alternative be his I'M
conditional surrender or Harrison's
defeat. J. N. MASON.
State Executive Committee.