The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-03-02
PROTECT AMERICAN LABOR.

of prostration to which the coun
try has been subjected since March,
1898, involving in its course an
unprecedented volume of ruin and
wreckage, the closing of factories
and the idleness of labor, suggests
the imperative necessity for the
adoption of some course that will
adequately protect American labor
from absolute want, and from fur
ther competition in the labor mar
ket which the free trade party has
so disastrously cause.1 to be, over
supplied.
1t has been the policy of the
American government for upward
of quarter of a century to invite
labor and settlers from abroad.
This policy had built up the coun-
try to an unprecedented degree.
The large number of new arrivals
created a greater demand for our
home products and manufactures,
stimulating both. Our lands were
opened up and settled upon. The
country grew greater and richer
just so long as protection was
afforded to the products of our
lands and looms.
But the very moment that the
shadow of free trade overcast our
system of protection the condition
of the country and of the people
began to change. The terrible
effect of the fear of the free trade
policy of prostration Was shown,
in few short months, by million
idle laborers scattered throughout
every state in the union. Even
now those men who have been
fortunate enough to gain secure
work have done so, in most instan-
ces, at a reduction of wages. Their
earning power has been lessened,
but through no fault of their own.
Immediately before the presi-
dental election of 1892 the ques
ton of protection to labor was
worked for all it was worth by the
New York Herald, that free trade
organ deluding the voters with one
of its many catchpenny cries
But nothing has been done to
assist labor. The old election cry
was forgotten more than a yeal
ago, and the free trade party which
lthe Herald represented and advo.
Gated, Immediately upon its
assumption of administrative au-
thority began to degrade and ruin
labor by imposing its policy OF
prostralion to American labor and
industries. So great has been the
injury wrought upon labor by this
policy of prostration that the Her
aid has been compelled to aid in
the aleviation of the distress
wrought by its party, by the char
liable distribution of free clothing
What does this free clothing
mean? Ii means a direct insult
| to honest labor. Men are not beg
ging for clothes. They are begging
for WORK. The Herald and its ilb
dragged American labor down tc
| begeary in he interests of foreigr
labor. But they have done moth
ing and advocated nothing fol
American labor since November
1892. Their ante election utter
ances have vanished like vapor
Labor can no more believe what
they say or promise, and does mo-
believe them. Why does not the
Herald now prepare and publish
an act to prohibit immigration il
the interests of that American
labor which it loves so we'll a
election time, but which it merely
uses at other times as an adver
tising catchpenny to add copperi
to its Golfers?
Labor needs now, more thar
ever it has done, the strongest form
of protection. The ruinous policy
of prostration has ruined and pros
trated American labor. The i'm
migration of foreign pauper
should be absolutely prohibited
We do not mean to restrict immi
grants who come here amply sup
piled with means to settle dowl
on farms in the west or elsewhere
and who will make good citizens
but we do mean the absolute
entire, thorough and complete
restriction and prohibition of al
paupers who come to compet'
| directly with the surplus of Amer
ican labor that we do possess
such paupers, especially, as w
now see the large ocean steamship
lines are arranging to bring her
from Russia and elsewhere a
reduced rates of passage money.
| Let American labor be rigidl.
protected, we say, and let the pro
ttoof;o,> ho ,>ro,o,>flxy oiror nc ~ g,