Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-04-19
"Tn the Cheapest Market"

"SANDwICH, Mass, April There is SOM
dissatisfaction here over the a rival OF a num-
Der of fishermen from Nova Scotia to operat,
the fish traps of 7. l.. Mayo & Co, Bostoa. a
number here who formerly followed tn occu
patton and were employed on these traps ar,
unable to secure situations, claiming that il
is because foreigners are allowed to com,
here under contract. Ii is reported that o
complaint has been made 10 the commissioners
on immigration
1t is practical test of free trade, carrie
out to it's LOGICAL sequence, which the fish
ermen of Sandwich are experiencing
Free trade teaches that cheapuess is tn
end and aim Of human existence, and tina,
all commodities should lie purchased il
the market. wherever lot atetl, where the,
can be procured at rhe lOaest price
Labor, strictly speaking, is II cpmmcd,i,
which the workman sells to his employer
Under free trade it is as unsuitable for II,
employer of labor to seek his labor in the
lowest market as il is for him to buy hi
supplies there, and if that lowest marke
happens to lie in Il foreign country, sa'
the British provinces, he has parfcc.
right to 90 there and hire his l,borers an,
bring them here to work, even if it Il g
reduce some of his fel!pw-countrymen
ruin and starvation. That is the theory
of free trade. s mewhat boldly but yer,
truthfully stated. Ii the owners of til
Sandwich fish traps have done rs they ar,
accused of doing, they have merely an.
ticipaGed the results of Democrat
tariff for revenue only.
The contract labor law is the compli
ment of the Mckinley tariff The on,
prohibits free trade in labor; the other
free trade in goods. If one is in:quitou
and unconstitutional, the other is alsc
iniquitous ana unconstitutional, for they
are both measures of distinctly protectiv,
legislation. That fact was recogniz ed
when the contract law was enacted TIL,
free trade Democratic senators opposed i.
to man. The free trade politicians ana
the free trade press lose no opportunity &c
iistOrt its character and deride its work
ings, and if it is only fee5ly and imper.
fectly enforced under free trade ad
ministration. it is just what might ma
turally be expected.
Consistent tariff reformers'' vehem.
emily oppose the idea of protecting Amer
lean workingmen by checking the free in
dux of cheap foreigners. President Eio
describes such a policy as IAN ungener
Gus and inhospita bic delusion," and Ed
ward Atkinson says of it: Il have no sym
pathy whatever with the proposal to r.
strict imm igratio3." Believing, us they
do. in the free admission of all foreigl
comm ODDITIES, they cannot logically ex
clude the commodity Of labor. Aud il
free trade ever becomes the accepte d
economic policy of the United States.
American manufacturers and employers
generally should and must in equity b,
permitted to range the world over for tn.
cheapest labor they can find. even if it is
necessary to Danish from our mills ana
| factories every operative of America n
birth, and fill them, from cellar to roof.
with Huns, Hottentots and Cinnamon.
If the free trade dogma of the blessed
ness of cheapness is the great and glori.
Gus thing its advocates say it is this
| country cannot have TOO much of it,
| boston Journal.