The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-02-03
SOUNDING THE TOCSIN.

NUNDlNd lhE WJNlN.
A Bell Wether Of a Numerous Flock
of Workingmen
Declares Against Nc Kinleyism.
A Letter From an Intelligent Son Of
Toll Who Knows whereof He Speaks,
Being One Of Thousands Affected by
the Class Legislation Of Recent Years.
The following is reprint of let
ter which was written by Republi-
can workingman of Etna, Pa, to the
editor of the Pittsburg Post. 1t is of
that class of reading matter known
as self explanatory. 1t is well worth
persual:
Permit lifelong Republican space
in your valuable paper to express
his opinion on the Mckinley tariff
bill and the general bard times which
exist all over this country to-day. /,
like thousands of my fellow work
men, was led to believe that should
this bill become law general pros
perity and good times would be 5he
result. But since it has become a
law / must truthfully say l am a
disappointed man. 1t has failed in
every particular to carry out what
was predicted and promised by my
own party.
Such being the facts, l take the
liberty through the columns of your
paper to deno1nce the Mckinley bill
as fraud and an imposition which
is practiced upon the workingmen
year after year to secure their votes
and influence on the day of election.
The action of the manufacturers in
reducing the wages of their employees
from 10 to so per cent. under the ex-
listing high tariff laws furnishes con-
elusive evidence to every intelligent
person that this bill is of no earthly
benefit to the ironworker or The lab
oring man. But on the other hand
it demonstrates beyond all doubt
that this bill was prepared and pass
ed by a Republican congress to ben
eft the manufacturers, and them
alone.
This bill has been tried and found
to be one sided affair, like the han
die of jug. 1t exhibits the cloven
foot in all its deformity, and it make
it plain to every intelligent man that
but about one-ninth of the people OF
this nation are benefited by these
high tariff laws.
And as the iron worker, mechanic
and laboring man are not benefited
by these laws, what interest have we
in Mckinley or his bill? None what
ever. Then why is it that the mem
bcrs of the A. A. of ]. 4 S. w. are so
much interested in our present tariff
laws, and why is it that they are at
this time so industriously circulating
petition to congress praying for
that honorable body to stand by the
Mckinley bill and oppose the Wilson
tariff measure, when every intelligent
iron worker in the country knows
that we have had nothing but dis
sension, strikes, lockouts and big
cuts in wages ever since it became a
law? And what has been the result
of all this? Poverty. distress, misery
and starvation are to be found every
where But notwithstanding these
terrible times they will sign and cir
culate petition in favor of our pres
ent laws to benefit the manufactur.
ers, who are at this very time secret
ly aiding and assisting in every pos
sible way the ironmasters who are
running non union to break up and
destroy this great labor organization,
which has for years back furnished
to the iron worker, the only protec-
tion which he ever had.
Be on your guard; stand by your
principles; build up your organiza-
ton and defend 1t, and by this means
protect your wages and uphold your
manhood, and do not be longer hum
bugged with this tariff bugaboo. If
you do not, you have only little
while longer to wait. The manufact-
urers are getting ready. preparing in
good shape the shackles to bind YOU
hand and foot Are you ready to re-
nounce your citizenship and become
a serf? Are you ready to become
the slaves of such a greedy, selfish,
avaricious set of masters? Don't all
speak at once
Although ! have always voted the
Republican ticket, had the honor
of reading the speech of Mr.. Wilson
on the revision of our present tariff
laws. l was highly pleased with
what be said, particularly on the
wage question. He said if protection
increased wages, made work for the
laboring people and improved the
well being of the American laborer,
he would hereafter be protectionist.
But be said neither reason nor ex-
perience gives maintenance to any
such idea. So far from maintaining
wages, the effect of the protection
system has been to lower the wages
of the industries of the country. Eel
low workmen, is this not true in ev-
cry particular? Has this not been
your sad experienced
l also read the speech of Hon. Tom
johnson, a heavy iron manufacturer,
who is an enemy of the Mckinley
bill, and gives good reasons for his
opposition. He pays $3.50 per day
for common labor and believes he is
benefited by so doing. How many
of our ironmasters in the city, claim
ing to be great protectionists, would
be willing to do the same thing2 Not
one. They amt built that way. l
favor the repeal of the Mckinley bill,
and we have thousands Of iron work
ers and laborers who vote the Repub-
lican ticket that are of the same
opinion. May success attend Mr..
Wilson and his bill.
''Treezin'."
Wetzel Democrat
The repuhlican editors are .hus