New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-29
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
DIDN'T KNOW 1T WAS LOADED.
FREE TRADERS ALI. THOUGHT IT WAS THE
OTHER FELLOW" THAT FREE TRADE
WOULD HIT-A LESSON TO
NEW-YOIK VOTERS


WOULD HIT-A LESSON TO
NETWORK VOTERS.
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Nothing which has occurred during the last
year more clearly shows the utter rottenness and
insincerity of the free trade movement than the
position just taken by the Democratic Congress-
men from Louisiana. and from various districts
which have industries depending a protective
tariff for their prosperity Listen to these repre-
sentatives of the protected sugar industry as
they Indignantly ask their Democratic brethren
"Do you suppose that Louisiana would have given
her electoral votes to Grover Cleveland II she had
suspected that his party would destry her chief
Industry" This means. protection necessary
to chief industry and voted for free trade,
expecting 10 have it applied in every State except
ours. ana - every industry except sugar."
They were willing enough that all other indus
tries to which protection was an equal necessity
should be destroyed. but what did that matter to
them? The wool men of Ohio and Montana. the
coal men Of Pennsylvania and West Virginia. the
lumber men OF Maine and Michigan, the farmers OF
the States bordering Canada, and millions OF
workmen in our Northern factories might their
chief Industries destroyed" ana open soup-houses
take the place of closed factories: but none OF
these things moved them" so long their "chef
Industry thrved under protective bounty, Surely
these Congressman from the sugar districts did not
stop think how this plain speech would sound to
the masses Of the American people,
But this is all. Up come other Congressman.
elected a free trade PLATFORM and denounc!ng
protection as robbery begging that protection
may still be continued to some great industry IN
their own districts Some OF them the people
robbed for the benefit OF the coal miners in their
particular districts; others want the people robbed
still further for the benefit of collar and cuff
makers in their bailiwicks others plead for rob
berry that the hat makers and the woollen manu-
hat fhai nd
destroyed; and If the tariff debates continue long
enough shall doubtless half the men who
We're elected for the express purpose of striking
,oov On ho rohH, % 90 ~ hsrnn, ~ nor
constituents but demanding that the 'lniqutH
Country. What confession, Even the sworn pub
lie enemies Of protection testfyng in Congressional
debate that protection is necessary in an In
dustres which they represent. but is a robbery in
the case OF all other industries,
Two Congressman Will be elected from New-York
next Tuesday The districts they viii represent
have one great. overshadowing industry. which on
its face seems not to be affected 10y protective
look at the facts. In 1891 the country booming
along in good shape under 'robner tariff" Tho
last quarter Of that year si2coOoD invested IN
new buildings in this city. The last quarter or
l~2. two-ihirds Of which followed he triumphs OF
free trade at the polls. saw about $1"onJ only in
vested in new buildings. Why? Because every
iong-headed man saw that free trade meaning
lower wages III factories. necessarily meant lower
vases also in building material ami in all labor
fully $500 OF that represents labor. first and last
Indeed the value OF the clay. ore. rock and trees
before the hand OF labor touched them. is paced
very high at $500. Now. builders foresaw big
shr!nkage In this principal item Of cost. and 90
many Of them decided 10 walt until free trade has
brought labor down to bottom figures. and that -
what is the matter with the building trade to-day
The shrinkagc OF building continues at = fearful
rate. for the last quarter OF 1893 showed only 1900
c00 In buildings
Now. it is safe to guess that the great majority ~
iaborers in the building trade voted In lNC fcr
Cleveland and free trade. They ala not think Il
would hurt them They knew Il would reduce The
wages Of factory operatives. but they could not
any connection between that fact and their own
bread and butter II Is also safe II guess that
many OF them have learned. by rOte at least. thar
noble truth Of humanity which forms the cardinal
principle OF the Knights Of Labor. V.Z: An injury
to one Is the concern OF all" At all events thcy
did not realize that injury t. the 81 Ds factory
operatives Of New-York City would by lis reflex
action. prove TO be- the very serious concern 81 all
the operatives Of New-York. whether In protected
or unprotected industries. Yet 80 It has proved
ana 50 II VIII always prove. down 70 the end ~
time. Like the sugar congressman. and the coal
congressman. and the cOllar-aud-cuff Congrc<smer
this vast army OF needless took NJ the cry
against the "rObber tariff and voted its overthrow
only 10 find. In the pinch that followed. that the
knights OF Labor maxim had real anl NJ, 4
poetic meaning. and that II should be broadcnci 10
read: An injury to one Industry is the concern
OF al MndusirlesD YANKEE COLONEL.
New-York, Jan. "a 1894