Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-09


Taylor, etc. Straight Kentucky Whistles, Fam
9-303m
any provision adjusting his compensa-
tion, or providing for legal redress
against tariff beneficiary, who, in full
enjoyment of fortune derived from
general taxation, declined to pay the
remuneration which the given services
justified. The investigating mechanic
within the mills OF Homestead found
that the Mckinley bill imposes tariff
upon steel rails exceeding the amount
OF at least 81 So per ton, the total labor
cost OF the manufacture. He saw new
and effective mechanism introduced,
whereby the daily output Of the institu-
tion in which he was laboring, would be
enormously augmented. This augmen-
tation he knew would result ultimately
in over production, in the lessening Of
the days OF employment, in the reduc-
tion of the hours during which he would
be enabled to supply the wants of him
self and his family. He reasoned, and
1t seemed to me with much justice, that
there should be at least no reduction in
his compensation, and that, If any
thing, there should be an in
crease. But his appeals were in
vain. He was not only threat
ened with annihilation by the Re-
publican newspapers of the United
States, but hired assassins were turned
loose upon him; he was treated not as
the beneficiary of the tariff, but as an
outlaw, and today an important Repub-
lican judicial officer of Pennsylvania
charges a jury in effect, that the go
called rioters at Homested were guilty
of high treason. And yet this is the
American republic, and the Mckinley
bill lis IN full force and effect.
Mr.. Powderly, who though not an ad-
vocate of either the Democratic or Re-
Publican presidential candidate. is the
leader of the Knights of Labor, and is a
man who may be considered careful
exponent OF the views OF the great or
ganization over which he presides. He
expresses the condition of affairs in an
article published in the September
number of the North American Review,
in the following language:
"The Carnegie Steel company and like
concerns owe their prosperity to the
protective laws of the United States.
These laws were passed in the interest
of labor. During the discussion on the
tariff laws it was never advanced as
reason why they should be passed that
capital would be protected. lhe work.
man has not been protected from for
eign competition by the government.
He has had to fight the battle for him.
self through the labor organization. Not
only has he had to fight against foreign
competition, largely attracted by our
delusive tariff laws, but he has had to
wage war with the employer for share
of that protection which his government
decreed by law he should have. Our
government has enacted protective legis-
lation in the interest OF labor, if we read
| congressional speeches Alright, but it
quiescently allows the manufactures to
absorb the bulk of protection, and then
throws its armies around the establish
ment at the slightest provocation when
the workmen ask for what their govern
ment admitted that they had a right to
enjoy"
A congressional committee was APP
pointed to investigate this Homestead
affair, and to place the facts before the
country. 1t was shown that few of
the more skilled laborers were paid high
prices. For instance, some of those
whose duties it was to attend to the
most delicate and difficult operations
conducted within the factory walls,
were compensated by the payment of
more than 5000 per month. But these
few men stood almost without peers.
Their aptitude was and is the result not
merely of lifetime of endeavor, but is
due likewise to the possession of abnor-
NAL natural ability; and if they are or
have been paid for their days work less
than the average compensation said to
be received by metropolitan police
court shyster, are we prepared to say
that they have been over compensated? :?
Mr.. Carnegie is worth more than $780,
600, ,000-the assets of his employees have
not been deemed worth computation.
During the progress of his congress
sional investigation, the manager of Mr..
Carnegie's firm peremptorily refused to
inform the committee as to the exact
amount of cost of the production of
commodity upon which heavy pro-
tective tax was imposed. He was asked
the p ice of ore. This he was willing to
and did give. Then the inquiry was
made: "What wages do you pay your
employes?" There was no hesitancy in
the response. Afterwards the investi-
gator propounded this interrogatory
"What does it cost you to make ton
of iron ?" Then said this beneficiary of
Republican protection: "That is our
private business" We find the Repub-
lican platform solemnly (if there is any
solemnity in that declaration) declaring
that on all imports coming into competi-
tion with the products OF American labor,
there should be levied duties equal to
the difference between the wages abroad
and at home. But Mr.. Carnegie's chief
man refused to state the cost Of produc-
tion to congressional committee, MEM
bers of that body upon whom it must
devolve to fix the tariff tax. To these
workmen who have been thus repudi-
ated, by manufacturer who has re-
ceived from taxed people more than
twenty millions of dollars of profits, Mr..
Harrison appeals and says that he in
vites 1.-THE workingmen in our great in
dustries to settle the tariff contest in
the calm light of their November fire.
side."
/ know that it will be asserted, and
doubtless proven, that there have been
many strikes in countries where protec-
1~4 - II l. s<~h