People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-02-09

tnat We need .Oy way OF examples lust rs IN
the statements OF her political economists we
shall find all that is necessary for advice, for
guidance and instruction
After qnoting statistics to show the
great rise in wages since 1860, Mr..
Reed continued:
The truth is that this very question OF risin,
wages is what makes a good many men free
traders People with fixed incomes think
that anything which raises wages Is inimical
10 them and manufacturers who have foreign
markets are naturally anxious 10 have wages
on the foreign standard / confess to you that
this question OF wages is 10 me the vital Ques.
ton. To insure our growth in civilization and
wealth, we must not only have wa es as hiyh
as they are now. but constantly and steadily
increasing This desire OF mine for constant.
~ increasing wages does not have its Origin in
love for the individual but in love for the ma
tion.
Mr.. Reed eulogized the American
market as being the best in the world
owing to the high wages paid here,
enabling workingmen to purchase
largely Of the comforts of life. In
stead of increasing this market, he
said by leaving it to the steady in
crease of wages, which the figures OF
the Aldrich report so conclusively
showed and which had not only re-
ceived the sanction of the members
from New York, the secretary of the
treasury and the Democratic bureau
of statistics, this congress proposed tc
lower the wages and so lessen the
market and then divide the market
with some one else and all on the
chance of getting the markets of the
world. He continued:
To sum it up, If this protection gives US
money and men and our vast country needs
both, 1t may show why we have so wonder
fully prospered II it does l am inclined to
think that the way TO have two jobs hunting
one man IS to keep on making new mills and
try TO prevent the committee on ways and
means from pulling down old ones
But wh2. do you say about the farmer
Well, on that subject / do not profess any
special learning but there is one simple state.
ment wish TO make aud leave the question
there II, with cities growing up like magic,
manufacturing villages dotting every eligible
sight each and all swarming with mouths to
be filled, the producers OF food are worse of
than when half this country was q desert I
abandon sense in favor Of political economy
One other thing have noticed in this de-
bate When the gentleman from Kansas (Mr
simpson, -ets little money ahead he does
not put II into these immensely profitable
manufactures He has too much sense He
adds TO his farm ana mas told US so Example
is richer than precept
II the hope OF agrculturists is in English
free trade they had better ponder on the fact
that while the wages Of artisans have in
creased In England say Sl4} per week since
ha ~ arrfo Lab ~,
only increased ~ cents and while the Ian.
caShire operatives in the factories live as well
as anybody, except Americans the agricul.
tural laborers are hardly better OF than the
continental pelsantry. Englands example
Will not do for agriculture
Nobody knows so well as do how much !
have failed TO present even of my own com.
prehension OF the great argument which
should control this vote. | have SAID not
word Of the great fall of prices which has al
ways come from the competition Of the whole
world rendered possible by protection and
substituted fer the competition OF q single
island have said not word OF the great
difference between the attitude of employers
who find their own wOrkmen their best Gus.
toners in their own land, and WHO are there.
fore, moved by their own best intere IS to
give their workmen fair wages and those who
sell abroad and are therefore anxious for low
wages at home, and on whom works unre.
strictedly that pernicious doctrinc-as wages
fall profits rise These and much more have
! omitted, for there is limit to all speaking
We know, my friends, that before this tri.
bunal we all OF US plead in vain Why we fail
let those answer who read the touching words
OF Abraham Lincoln's first inaugural and re-
member that he pleaded In vain with these
men and their predecessors Where he failed
we cannot expect to succeed. But though we
fail here to-day, like our great leader OF other
days IN the larger field before the. mightier
tribunal which will finally and forever decide
this question. we shall be more than conquer
ors: Tor this great nation, shaking of, as II has
once before the influence Of q lower civiliZa-
tion, will 20 on 10 fill its hiIh destiny until
over the South, as well as over the North,
shall be spread the full measure OF that amaz.
in prosperity which is the wonder OF the
world
Throughout Mr.. Reeds speech he
was frequently interrupted with ap-
plause and at times the Democrats
Joined in the general laughter.
Speaker Crisp relinquished the
chair to MIR. Hatch of Missouri and re-
sumed the old seat which he had oc-
cupied in the days before he was ele-
waited to speakership. When he arose
in his place he received an ovation.
Mr.. CRIsP's ARGUMENT.
Until he warmed up Mr.. Crisp spoke
with the hesitation of man weighing
each word and with a perceptible
tremor of the lip. As he became
aroused, however, he displayed more
freedom and ease until the words came
in perfect torrent. As he proceeded
he was given generous applause by
his Democratic associates on the
floor, but his points were of an argu-
mentative character which appealed
to the students of the question rather
than to the galleries. He referred to
the minority report and criticised that
feature which declared that the
foreigner paid the tax. In particular
he addressed himself to the ex-
speaker. although the latter was still
held in the cloak room by the con-
gratulatory hand shakes.
He said: II assume that the cause OF
protection has no more able advocate,
assume that the arguments for pro-
lection can be put in no more forcible
form than that to which you have
listened to-day and l shall ask you
dispassionately to examine with me
that argument and then ask the judg.
ment of the house as to whether the
cause attempted to be sustained can
be established consistently with right
and justice to the people of the United
States"
Mr.. Crisp declared that an examina-
ton of the protective system would
show that while it was built up foi
the ostensible benefit Of labor it was
in truth constructed for the benefit o.
the manufacturing classes. He pointed
out that the wages of laborers in pro
tected industries went down and those
in unprotected industries went up as ;
result of the Mckinley act.
Mr.. Crisp was greeted with ap-
plause when he said that the thirty
years of protection was period OF
unrest during which the masse.