The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-09-08
An Honest Republican.

An Honest Republican,.
The textile fabric manufacturers
of New Bedford, Mass, recently de
clared reduction Of 10 per cent in
wages. The operatives refused to
submit and a strike has been trans
formed into general shutdown, in
volving 1000 employees and $1l,-
600, 1000 capital.
Among those who refused to ac-
quiesce in the supposed necessity tor
such conduct was Mr.. w. d. How
land, treasurer of three of the largest
corporations in New Bedford. Re
plying to inquiries by reporter OF
the Boston Advertiser, Mr.. Rowland
says:
suppose / regard the industrial
outlook differently from the others
when | say that | feel great deal
of confidence that business is going
to pick up before very long. If we
could be content to go along just
making a living for awhile, l believe
the crisis would be passed and the
necessity for stopping work alto
gether averted. / have no criticism
to offer however, because the others
may view the prospects of recuper-
alton from different standpoint
than | do.
am a thoroughgoing Republican,
but do not believe that the present
depression is entirely due to Demo
cratic tariff tinkering That has
probably accumulated the evil, but l
believe this period of depression was
bound to come anyhow. The condi-
tions of trade for some time have all
tended toward this state of affairs,
the element of supply and demand
entering into the matter, there hav-
ing been a gradual increase Of pro-
duction over the demand. We have
been passing through the inevitable
and it appears to me that it has
about spent its force. One reason
why | have felt that we need not
shut down, is that help is cheaper
now than it was year ago, owing to
our 10 per cent reduction at that
time, and that cotton is cheaper. So
while we have not been making
much money, we have been able to
live, and as long as we can do that
we should keep our men employed.
And that is the truth. These New
England corporations made a 10 per
cent reduction in wages last year
for political purposes, and the pres
ent effort to repeat the reduction
has consequently met with the
strenuous opposition of the opera
tives, who aver that while they we're
willing to assist their employers
last year when times were hard they
do not believe they should be called
upon to carry an additional burden
when all the indications point to a
revival of trade.
There is such thing as being
politically honest and fair. Mr..
Rowland seems to have gone long
way toward meeting the just expec-
tations of his employees and should
be commended accordingly.
w. L. Wilson, in speaking of the
new tariff law, says: 1--WE saved
enough of the House bill to make a
very substantial contribution to the
great cause, and to make very per-
ceptible breach in the protective
system. And we brought out of the
fight a lesson which ought to warn,
and which / believe will warn, the
American people that the purity of
our institutions, indeed, may say,
free government itself, depends upon
the continuing and successful pros
ecution of that fight" Greater
truths could not have been expressed
in so little space. The tariff fight
was, indeed, between autocratic rule
and Republican government; be-
tween slavery and freedom; between
opposers of PRONUNCIATION of indie
pendent institutions of learning and
promoters of education; and, in fact,
between detesters OF human rights
and lovers of common citizenship.
As Mr.. Wilson truthfully declares,
the bitter fight is but the beginning
of the battle, and will not cease I'M
til just apportionment of taxes has
been secured, not until the baron
bias been made to quit his throne of
tyranny, and the laborer given lu-
crative wages.-Clarksburg Ne,os.
Don't forget the democratic coun-
ty convention on the 18th. The par
ty should turn ont en- masse and
show their approval OF the fight just
made for tariff reform and the relief
Of the people.
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Nineteen OF every twenty men in
the United States approve Of the in