Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-08
PROTECTED AMERICAN LABOR.

a few days ago were chleuy ldle roles
and Italians, who were melted by the
ineendiary harapgueS Of labor leaders
The accounts OF the strike on the
Mesaba range 10 the Lake Superior iron
ore region says that 1.-The strikers are
ugly and restless. They are mostly Fla
landers and a desperate set. II they
start a fight il will be bloody one.'
The coke workers and coal miners who
have made the Connelsville region In
Pennsylvania the bloodiest battle
ground OF labor are mainly HungariahS.
The frequent outbreaks Of lawlessness
among the lower classes OF WorKingmen
in aud about PittSburg have been con-
fined chiefly TO the Poles and toe Hun
garians. In the anthracite coal region
of Eastern Pennsylvania the murderous
element, which gives special terror TO
any uprising among the miners, is most
" made up of the same natioaalitles.
These facts furnish a terrible object
lesson OF the unprotected workingman
and the protected employer. We hear
so much about the intense American
ism of our manufacturers, so much
obout their desire to build up Amerl-
can industries and TO protect the Ameri-
can workingman so that he may De
employed az high wages, there Is so
much talk by protected manufacturers
about shielding their employees from
the ''pauyer labor" Of Europe, that the
conspicuous presence Of vast hordes OF
the worst Of cheap foreign labor IN the
most protected industries impreSses the
most casual observer with the sublime
inconsistency OF the protected employ
er's "Americanism. The perpetual
argument Of the manufacturer by whlca
he resists any reduction OF duty IS
plea for the American workinEman.
Yet, while one hand has been raised
ostepsiDly in defense. OF the poor Amer
lean wage-worker, the other hand has
beckOued % the "pauper labor OF Tor
eign countries. With all the Dretense
OF desire 10 protect American labor,
there has been 90 manifestations OF
willingness 20 afford the true protection
against the cheap labor Of Europe.
In nearly all the frequent labor dis
turbances in this country the influence
Of the foreigner aud ayowed enemy OF
American institutions is plainly mani
fest. Unrestricted immigration has
done more 10 organize labor and capt
tai than ever has been done or ever can
be done by any manipulations OF the
tariff. Europe is pouring her paupers'
criminals and surplus laborers upon our
shores by the hundreds OF thousands
every year Our ports are always open
wide TO them, and there is practically
no restraint upon their entrance 10 our
country. The formalities OF inspection
under our present laws are trivial and
practically offer no obstacle TO the most
undesirable aud most dangerous classes
The presence Of countless Anarchists
and other enemies of law and order in
our midst proves this. We have room
and need for desirable immigrants,
those who will make this country their
own and Identify themselves with all us
interests, but there is no place for the
offscourings of Over-populated Europe.
FOr those who are no longer tolerated
in their native land there should be no
liberation here.
Protection as now administered rec
OgnizeS only the employer, the oel-eht
which the iabOriGg men receives is en-
tirelv optional with mis- employer. The
pretense Of protecting American work
ingmen by the imposition OF duties
which shut out foreign products is a
farce. So long as immigration Is un-
regulated bv any restrictions the Amer
lean wage worker is subjected 70 en-
tireiy free trade in his only commodity
the labor of his hands. The exist
ing conditions permit the American
manufacturer TO maintain the price OF
his products at the highest point and to
depress the price Of labor to the lowest
degree. These frequent outbursts OF
disconnected foreign laborers come as
lust retributiOn % those who encourage
their coming hither and give them en-
ployment. Protection 10 American
labor is n farce, as at present admins
tered; the real protection consists in
restricting immigration. Senator Gull
lOm Dramatically deC,aims: "StriKe
down the sword which the Wilson bill
holds overwhelmingly at the very throat
OF American labor But the real
weapon that threatens the American
workingman is the stiletto of the Ital-
ian or the murderOuS sword which the
Hungarian desperate fashions from
the tine of a coke fork. And then Sen
atOr Cullom tells Us: The music OF I'M
numbered industries again keeping time
with the voices OF cheerful and pros
porous w0rkirgmen and women will give
new meaning to our national hymn. and
all the people will rejoice, as from East
70 West they sing
My country, 'tis Of thee"
In sentiment this is very fine, but in
fact the conspicuous element among
those now most ciamorouS for work
neither recognizes this country as It's
own nor knows the sound Of our nation
eli anthem. II any desire 20 see how
the tariff protects and elevates Ameri-
can labor let them visit the mining
towns of PENNSYLVANIA, in many OF
which the English language is almost
al unknown tongue.