Birmingham age-herald., 1894-09-09

ble weather in 1896.
 THE BEAUTY OF TARIFF REFORM.
 The sweating system in the large cities has long been disgrace to American civil- ization. In vain have efforts been made to ameliorate the condition of the workers who were shut up in their filthy work shops and eked out a miserable existence at starvation wages. The sweating sys- tenn was imported to this country along with anarchy, socialism, cholera and va rious other dreadful evils. This system has long fourished in the ready made clothing trade of London, Paris an other large cities of the old world. It is found in the most destitute quarters of the great cities. la Boston the law stepped in to mitigate it's evils, but that is the only city that has legislated in it's behalf. The men, women and children who work for these sweatera or contractors labor seven days in the week and earn less than g day. Even the Mckinley bill, which the Republicans said would increase the wages of American workingmen, did not increase the wages of these workers. But just Rs soon as the new tariff law was passed these people in New York struck and demanded living wages. Tn g Republican press said that they could not possibly win the fight, because the new tariff law reduced the duties on ready made clothing, and that the country would soon be flooded with the cheap ready made clothing of Europe. The partisan press went on to say that ready-made clothing was now very cheap, but 1t would become cheaper because of the importations; that the foreign sweaters will compete with the American sweaters, and that the most skilled American, workmen who now only get $7 week, will be forced to work for less, and these advocates of McKinleylsm went on to argue that the new tariff law would give the markets of this country to England aud Germany, and American workingmen would starve to death; that strike would not increase wages, becg1se the contractors would send their orders abroad where the sweaters would be glad to fi!l tnBfns at prices much lower than 161ere; that the strikers might be successful under the Mckinley law but could not pos- sbly hope for success under the Demo- cratic tariff law, and that wages here must fall to the European level.
 These false prophets of evil made their predictions too soon. It is really amusing to read them in the light of the subsequent settlement of the strike. All their argu. ments were based on false hypothesis. The strike in New York has ended and in favor of the strikers. Not only did the strikers get an increase in wages, but they will now receive double the wages they formerly worked for. Instead of receiving S7 week, which they were glad to get un- der the Mckinley law, they now get S15 ha DenonnTatin hill The sweating system Is dead. The predictions of the Republican croakers have been set at naught. A miracle has been worked. The protectionists have been dumbfounded. Can such thin gs be and overcome us like a summer cloud without exciting our won der7
 The very first fight made by labor under the new law for living wages was won. But how Is it that these clothing con. tractors can afford to pay their workfneh higher wages under low tariff than high tariff The answer Involves the living principle of tariff reform. They can afford to pay their workmen higher wages be- cause they get free wool and cheaper cotton goods. The amount they thus save on ma terals they can add to wages. And free materials make the clothing cheaper and more men can afford to buy. The con. sumption of the article is increased and
 production stimulated. Protection is g Chinese wall, shutting off country from the world. Knock down the wall, trade receives an impetus, wages go higher, | workmen can afford to spend more and everything becomes prosperous. Sweet | are the uses of freer trade, which, like the veuomous toad, looks ugly at first sight, | but conceals beautiful jewel in it's head.