The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-04

articles. and their Importation would be
lessened. The reduction of the revenue by
such a process could do the people no good
whatever, but would do them infinite harm.
A high duty on imported m erchandise increases
the price of such merchandise to the consumer.
The domestic producer OF like merchandise, or
articles, will fix a price on the same approx
imating that OF the imported merchandise.
Thus it is that high tariffincreases the cost OF
all consumable articles TO the consumer. no
matter whether they are produced at home or
abroad. The people of the United States con-
sumo annually so much manufactured products
no matter whether our importations are large
or small Therefore a reduction of the revenue
by increasing the tariff SO as TO diminish i'm
portations lays an additional burden on the
masses of the people by increasing the cost TO
them of consumable articles: and at the same
time il lines the pockets OF the domestic pro-
Queer OF such articles with money, because il
has enabled him to increase the price of mis-
productions without having been put TO any
additional expense in producing and market
ing them.
The revenue received on dutiable goods dur
ing the last fiscal year nearly $500, 0OO. 600.
This large sum of money was eventually paid
by those who consumed these dutiable ports.
From the best information obtainable 1t Is safe
10 estimate that the American people consume
at least five times much of the domestic as
they do OF the foreign article. Therefore, If, as
is already shown, the tariff increases the price
10 the consumer of the foreign article $40
domestic article to the consumer i've times that
amount, viz, 81 100 0OO. GEO annually, which goes
into the pockets OF domestic manufacturers.
But the monster iniqGity of this amazing
scheme Is that the tariff is laid highest on
the plain, common necessaries OF life,
which the labOring, poorer and middle
classes are compelled TO have, thereby
casting the great weight OF the burden
those VINO least able TO bear It, The
truth is the Mckinley bill was not passed
80 much to reduce the revenues OF the govern
ment IL was TO increase the revenues OF IN
solent cOrmOrants and republican raschls, that
they might give financial aid and assistance 20
the republican party, and that the people
should be compelled in this indirect way TO
assist in continuing that party In power
Labor and 4 Agriculture.
But it is insisted by the advocates of pro-
tective tariff that such tariff builds up the
diversified ind ustries of the country and in
cresses the wages paid for labor Also, that it
restricts our foreign trade, and thereby
creates a home market for our agricultural
people which gives them an in
creased price for their productions These
claims OF the republican party are found to be
false in TACT when we view the present condition
OF labor and agriculture. What industry pro-
tected by the fostering care of the Mckinley
bill has increased the wage earnings of a single
employe? What agricultural product, either
at home or abroad, sells for a better or a higher
price than il did before the passage of the No
kinney bill? The answer to these questions
and the present condition of our lAbOring and
agricultural people show concluslvely, that q
protective tariff does not benefit either labor or
agriculture, but that il is a positive injury to
both, because it increases the price OF every
article that the laboring and agricultural peo-
pie are compelled to consume.
1t is claimed by tho false prophets OF the re-
publican party that protective tariff is neces-
sary 10 enable the employers OF labor TO paw
the lAbOring people the difference in wages
paid here above what Is paid for the same serv-
Ice abroad. a protective tariff does not meas
ure the price paid for labor. ii il did the price
paid would be the SAME the country over where
protection exists. Yet the fact is that in our
own country. where the Mckinley bill pre-
walls. there is no uniformity of price paid the
working people. In the East, which embraces
the greater part OF our protected industries,
less wages are paid than those paid in unprO-
tected industries, and much less than those
paid in the middle. western and far western
states. If the Mckinley bill makes high
wages in Oregon, Colorado and
California, il ought to make high
wages in Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode
/ Island. II q protective tariff makes high
wages here, why does it not also make high
| wages in Russia Italy, France, Spain and Ger
many. all of whom are high protective coun-
/ tries,but are paying the meanest and lowest
! wages on earth? There is no country in Europe
/ where protection prevails that pays as high
wages as does England, practically free trade
/ country. Governor Mckinley, the author OF
| the Mckinley bill, during his campaign last
year for the goyernorship OF Ohio, in public
! speech at Akron In that state. stated:
/ Protection can not tix the price of wages
/ any more than 1t can nix the price OF a con-
| modify. Itsometimes seems as ii men in their
greed 10 get rich fail TO leaven their prosperity
with the teachings of the golden rule, and on
/ every pretext cut the wages OF their laborers.
/ 1t is a demonstration that the entire labor
/ cost OF the product OF our protected industries
does not reach 20 per cent. OF the entire cost OF
/ that product. ct on the false aud hypoeritcal
| plea of protection to labor the Mckinley bill
/ was passed which carries an average protective
! tariff OF 90 per cent. II pays back the capital
eide of the protected industries all their labor
cost, and gives them 20 per cent. extra Tbs
| only lRbOrers the Mckinley bill protects
are the poor sickly, down-trodden monopolists
and millionaires who own the business not the
men, women ana children who do the work.
The Mckinley bill, the very embodiment OF
protection, excludes the products of cheap
| labor from abroad, but IL does not prohibit
| cheap laborers coming here IN violation oil
| law, and competing with our own laboring
people, thereby debasing and degrnding the
com peusatiOn paid for labor here. The
Italian, Scandinavian, Chinese, and indeed
! the lowest and cheapest labor classes Of all
! Europe are brought here by the owners oil
| protected establishments, aud are put to work
in competition with working men and
/ women. Such conditions are IN part the Kea
sons why the owners of protected industrie,
amass colossal fortunes, while labor does mol
receive its just reward.
| The Illinois state federation OF labor re
Gently held great meeting and on this subject
/ said:
''The year 1891, with its bountiful harvests
witnessed increased dizziness in many callingl
and an increased army of unemployed wage
/ earners.
"Unscrupulous employers scour Europe anc
import, in violation Of law. the victims of tx
norance and misrule."
On this subject ! can best express myself BY
quoting paragraph or two from the very abb,
and eloquent speech delivered in the house 0
representatives on the 2lst day Of last month
by the Hon. J. Dewitt Warner OF New York
He said:
II have already referred. sir, to the example
blOssOming into beauty while this discussion il
pending, of how the Mckinley act, having
helped its authors and benehciaries to create
profits has also enabled them to cut the wages o
their employees.
THE labor question, Mr.. Speaker. is one il
place, sir, / come from district which in til,
amount of wages paid for skilled labor eacl
year. and in the extent and variety of its indus
tries is perhaps the greatest manufacturing
district In the United States; more than that
come from a district where there is perhaps
more thorough organization OF skilled labor OF
an intelligent and independent basis than IL
any other district in the United States.