The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-07-04
Aworking Miners Talk.

a working miner contributes a suggeS-
tive article to the T-aiiey -Neirs-Jouraal,
published in the Ohio coal region.
Why asks this working miner, is
not the Mckinley tariff on coal a good
thing to have going around just now I?
Last year We imported I.O0.O0O tons OF
coal, despite the 70 cents duty, and had
there been no duty, or but a Accent duty,
as the amended Wilson bill provides, 0l
course we should have imported much
more. Now" continues the miner, ''the
object of the strike is to raise the price Of
coal, and consequently the wages OF labor.
by curtailment Of the output of Ameri-
can mines. 80 that the - cents duty il
working distinctly on the side of the
American workman in coal mines. And, :"
says this far-seeing workman, IF a pro-
tective duty Is good for those who work
in coal il is good for those who work in
iron, wood, cotton. tin, wool, or any
American industry. For when wages
are high all Of Us have plenty 10 eat, and
all Of Us wear good clothes, and all who
are prudent have money in bank. The
free traders tell as" says this working
miner, that tariff is a tax, but we well
can afford to pay tine tax when prOtec-
tive tariff puts more money into our pOck-
cts than the tax amounts 70.
what Is the use Of having cheap
goods asks this miner. ''if we have no
money to buy them with2 That IS what
ails Us now. If clothing were down TO
s. "A suit few of US could buy it. But
when wages are high We pay Sl5 or SD
and never miss the money.
" Mr.. Whitney" continues this work
man, land his associates in the Nova
Scotia coal syndicate will make millions
by free coal, or by such a reduction Of the
coal tariff as will let foreign coal into the
United States at low rates. but YOU AID /
will lose great part of those million ;.
For either we shall be thrown out OF
work or we shall have % work for les
money. And what shall we gain in the
way Of cheapness? Free coal will cheap
en- the cost Of shirtings by just one TWEEN
ty-thOusandth part of one cent per yard.
Assuming that the manufacturer does
not take fraction of this increased profit
20 himself, assuming that the Wholesalers
and retailers take none Of it, assuming
that the consumer gets all the benefit OF
it-why, then, after we have purchased
20,OOJ yards of shirting we shall have
saved cent. We might also save cents
on a suit Of clothes, though it Is an ex-
travagant estimate. But our wages would
be reduced by one-half if we were lucky
enough TO get any wages"
This working miner argues in straight
line, and concludes thus:
" In the few intervening months before
the next general election let Us discard
party prejudice and from w0rSingman's
standpoint study the great question OF
tariff, which in the intricate machinery
of government seems to be the balance
wheel that controls the industrial affairs
Of the country and, under favorable legis-
latiOn. makes it possible for the Ameri-
can laliorer to exchange the sweat Of
his brow for more Of the comforts Of life
than can the working people Of any other
nation ON the face Of the globe; and in
the light of the object lessons presented
during the past eventful year, give this
important question that affects the vital
interests Of every employee a. well as en-
plOyeT that careful consideration which
Il merits; and let our answer be at the
ballot box next fall, where it can he made
more effective for the good Of the country
than all the petitions in hoots.'r