Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-04-04
PROTECT OUR LABOR.
KEEP PAUPERS OUT OF THE COUN-
TRY FOR THE PRESENT.

The Polscy of Prostitution Has Reduced
Wages and Lessened the Opportunities
For Work-The Ante-election Cry For
extraordinarily Is an Insult.
The destructive free trade policy of
prostration to which the country haC
been subjected since March, 1898, in
volving IN It's course an unprecedented
volume of ruin and wreckage, the clos
ing of factories and the idleness of labor,
suggests the imperative necessity for the
adoption of some course that will ade-
Quately protect American labor from alb
solute want and from further COMPETE
ton IN the labor market which the free
trade party has so d1sastrously caused to
be oversupplied.
1t has been the policy of the American
government for upward of a quarter of
century to invite labor and settlers from
abroad. This policy has built up the
country to an unprecedented degree.
The large number of new arrivals created
a greater demand for our home products
ana manufactures, stimulating both.
Our lands were opened up and settled
upon. The country grew greater and
richer just so long as protection was af-
forded to the products of our lands and
looms.
But the very moment that the shadow
of free trade overcast our system of pro-
lection the condition Of the country and
of the people began to change. The ter
rible effect of the fear of the free trade
policy of prostration was shown in a
few short months by million idle la
borers scattered throughout every state
in the union. Even now those men who
have been fortunate enough to again Sc
cure work have done so, in most in
stances, at reduction of wages. Their
earning power has been lessened, but
through no fault of their own.
Immediately before the presidential
election of 1899 the question Of protec-
ton 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 year ago, and the free trade party,
which The Herald represented and advo-
Gated, Immediately upon its assumption
Of administrative authority began to de-
grade and ruin labor by imposing its pol
icy of prostration to American labor and
industries. So great has been the injury
wrought upon labor by this policy Of
prostration that The Herald has been
compelled to aid in the alienation of the
distress wrought by its party by the
charitable distribution of free clothing.
What does this free clothing mean? It
means direct insult to honest labor.
Men are not begging for clothes. They
are begging for work. The Herald and
its ilk dragged American labor down to
beggary in the interests Of foreign labor.
But they have done nothing and advo-
Gated nothing for American labor since
November, 1892. Their ante-election ut
terances have vanished like vaDor. La
Dor can no more believe what they say
or promise and does not believe them.
Why does not The Herald now prepare
and publish an act to prohibit immigra-
ton in the interest of that American
labor which it loves so we'll at election
time. but which it merely uses at other
times as an advertising catchpenny to
add coppers to its Golfers?
Labor needs now more than ever it has
done the strongest form of protection.
The ruinous policy of prostration has
ruined and FRUSTRATED American labor
The immigration of foreign paupers
should be absolutely prohibited. We do
not mean TO restrict immigrants who
come here apply supplied with means to
settle down on farms in the west or else
where, and who will make good citizens,
but We do mean the absolute, entire,
thorough and complete restriction and
prohibition Of all paupers who come to
compete directly with the surplus of
American labor that we do possess-such
paupers especially as we now see the
large ocean steamship lines are arrang-
ing to bring here from Russia and else
where at reduced rates Of passage money
Let American labor be rigidly pro-
fected, we say, and let this protection be
promptly given, as it is so urgently need
ed. This is the first political duty of the
hour. It is a duty that comes long be-
fore the enforcement of the policy of