The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-08-10

and the cost Of living out there is so little
more than 1t is here, that they have much
greater comfort and are able to save more
rapidly True, house rent was higher there,
but the necessities OF life to workingmen
and their families were very cheap. The
best class Of clothing was also more expen-
sive, but that for workingmen was not" 1
wish to call the attention of the senator from
Kentucky to Mr.. Rogers statement, that
he purchased suit for his own use at fifty
two shillings which he did not think he
could have bought so cheapy in England.
He also speaks of the tin-plate industry of
this country as follows: "The manufac-
ture of tin.plate is, however, very rapidly
taking root in the United States, and some
very magnificent plants have been erected.
In one works which visited was the finest
plant which l have ever seem" He, at
least, does not seem to doubt the already
substantial success of the Mckinley act in
establishing the tn.pate industry in this
country. | do not wish to discuss the rela-
tive cost of living in this country and Great
Britain, but there is an object-lesson which
L am sure many senators have seen, and
which can be seen in any town in England,
fortunately and thanks to republican adj
ministration, American farm products do
not now have to beg the privilege or apollo
gize for being seen In foreign markets. Go
into the market houses in England and you
will see over the stalls american beef"
American hams" American 'G lard"
" American butter" American cheese"
" American -four and corn meal" This is a
convincing argument in itself. For the sub
stantials of life English workmen pay Amer
lean prices, with freight and profits added.
1t seems that the charge had been made by
member of parliament that to erect works
" in the states before waiting to see the
result of the November election was not
only selfish and suicidal but also ill
timed, misjudged, and unpatriotic' That
Is, to erect works here before election would
be to furnish evidence in favor of the Nc
Kinley act and aid the republican party.
Therefore it would be "ill-timed and un-
patriotic " from the English point Of view.
In reply Mr.. Rogers partly confesses and
partly tries to avoid the charge. He claims
that his action in starting works here is not
entirely due to the Mckinley act, but in
part to labor troubles in England. So it
seems they have labor difficulties even in
that free-trade paradise. Strikes are unfor-
tunate, but they evidence a demand for
labor The republican party has no other
responsibility for labor troubles than that
it has increased the demand for and the
rewards of labor. When there are great
numbers unable to obtain employment,
those who are fortunate enough to have it
do not seek by strike to join the great
army of unemployed. But cripple or de-
stroy our great industries and there will be
labor trouble will be to find an opportunity
to labor. In the darkest days of the French
Revolution it is said that it was one of the
gibes OF the mob, as the head of an aristo-
crat rolled from the guillotine into the bas-
ket, " He will never be troubled with tooth
ache any more" So, if we destroy the OPP
portunities for profitable labor, we may
avoid strikes and kindred troubles. For
my part, | had rather save my head and
risk being able to cure the toothache. 1
had rather preserve and protect the indus
tries of the country and trust to Anglo
Saxon civilization and good sense to rightly
solve the labor problem. With great enter
prises, brisk business, and large employ
ment of labor, there may be more or less
friction until the millennium, but it will
grow less as the world advances in civiliza-
ton and we learn better how to deal with
such questions. / have faith in the Ameri-
can people that while we make ourselves
the leaders in business enterprises, in COM
merce, in trade, as well as in the direction
of higher and better civilization, we
shall prove ourselves competent to deal
with and overcome the minor difficulties
that accompany these prosperous condi-
tiOnS.