Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-15
Manifested in Mass Meeting at
Meonian Saturday Night.
Held Under Auspices of the State
Protective Tariff League.
Stirring Addresses BY Mr.. Mclean Of Brook
lyn and Hon. S. w. Matthews.

terest, yes, and of the kind that means
much.
! This meeting held under the auspices of
the State Workingmen's Protect Tariff
League, was attended largely 0y wage
earners, and their intense interest in the
addresses which they frequently app!auded,
| indicated that the workingmen's protective
tariff leagues in Maine are made up Of
earnest men. who feel deep interest in
the tariff questions now agitating the coun-
try.
| The first speaker to address this meeting
was Mr.. David Mclean of Brooklyn,
NY.
| Mr.. Mclean is a natural orator,
thoroughly imbued with the belief that the
system of protection stands between the
self-respecting and prosperous American
laborer. Mr.. Mclean is one OF then,
and the degradation attending the con-
dillon of the urderpaid European work
insmen. He is rather slightia appearance,
a native of Scotland, as his speech indi-
Gates, and is nervous in temperament, a
fact that perhaps renders his ea-nestne So
more impressive. He asserts that he is a
workingman and confines himself not to
theories, but to the practical features Of
protection and free trade, as applied 10 the
work in which he is engaged, the jute in
dustry. His knowledge of this branch of
industry has been perfected by long expert
ence in Scotland, Germany and India, as
well as in this country. He is recognized
authority on the subject, coming to this
country in connection with the establish
ment of the jute industry here. He has
had opportunity to thoroughly acquaint
himself with the conditions of labor in Eu-
rope. To these features of the tariff ques-
ton he confines himself, and his words are
consequently entitled to great weight. He
SAYS that if the condition of the
European laborcr were raised to level
with that of the American laborer he should
not favor the protective tariff. Eut when
he came to describe the condition of the
European laborers as he had seen it, one
shudjered to think of the prospect of Amer
lean labor being reduced to the same level.
Mr.. Mcl.ain spoke without notes and in
the manner of one workingman to others.
Though reared in Scotland he had no edu.
cation until 80 years old. He now speaks
several languages quite fuently. He said
he shrunk from depicting the conditions IN.
der which he was born. He described the
increase in the jute industry in Scotland
from 1861 to 1873. In the latter year there
were III iute industries in Scotland and
from - to so per cent. Of the product of
the loom, was sold in America. This work
was almost confined to his native county,
Forfor. He then described the commence
ment of the industry in the United States
under tariff of IS per ton on the jute.
This duty handicapped the manufacturers
here. Six years ago they got free jute,
fibre which grows in only one place in the
world. Then the Industry flourished Won
derfully in this country.
He illustrated p-otect on in practice.
When he came to this country in 1888 he
was paid Sl3 q week fo. doing the same
work that he dill in the old country for Sc
week. "Do you wonder I'm for protec-
ton and the American laborer:' he asked.
He had been here but short time when
the company loaned him 5000 10 bring his
family over here. lie paid this back in the
! first six months and spen. the first year
! in dressing his family SO that they could
wear as good clothes as other American
laborers' families, as much as his entire
wears wages in the old country would have
amounted to- And he had plenty of illus
trations to show that many kinds Of cloth
! ing arc as cheap, and some cheaper, 10 this
country. One of his children who got
50 so in the old country, earns 81 so in this,
and so with other members of his family
who are employed.
The proposed reduction of the protection
to the jute industry would either kill 1t or
lower the wages. These were the only
alternatives afforded by the free trade
theory which looms in the air.
He said he attended jast before
coming here from New York, monster
mass meeting in Cooper Union where repre-
sensations of 100 different industries were
in attendance crying out against the Wilson
bill. The fsct of protection was that in
1892 his mill had so many orders that the
work men were not allowed their holidays.
| In the loss Of six months work in his mill
dufing ls93,we had the other fact, what the
theory of free trade would do. This theory
had been propounded and the industries OF
New York had been psralyzed. The con-
| trast he made between the theory of protec-
ton and the theory of free trade in practice
was vivid and striking one. The picture
that lie faithfully presented ofihs condition
of idleness AMI starvation was well calcula-
ted to linger in the memory. He said that
| had it not been for charity IN the city OF
New York PEOPLE there would have died
this winter As they did in India during the