New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-02
,ursT WAGES COME DOWN?
-r OF THE HARD TINES AGAIN

.,,p,rroSIST WHO THINKS THEY AXE
TO pR1NK-HE ASKS IF WAGES
,our NOT TO BE READJUsTED NOW.
.,s Editor OF The Tribune
10 u' am a new subscriber TO The Tribune ana
Sir r,,,ch interested in its perusal, especially
~ articles Of Mr.. Horr
n u. occurred TO me that Mr.. Horn has not
"a nj all upon some phases or the great queS
"" r,bich are agitating the puohc milu' rot
Ho Mr. Horr constantly insists tnd' "'c
msla", ,ba existing distress IS the election or
cs"'' c,,,oland and the consequent change IN the
MI 800, Now will be please explain the
adn' =, che cause-that is, the reason for MT.
ca'' ,,Ts election? l. the country was 50 pros
Ce' and the people were so contented as nc
peV .ho, were under Republican rule, IL IL not
b''s hat they should have risen up ana de-
su~ sud by an overwhelming majority ehange
NJ administration ..,..,, =, Tho
MI mon certain classes Of theIn) ana IN
iaoo' their wages shall not be reduced. Now
ssS t. I. right or Just THAT people should be
~uad 10 pay the same price for labor Win the
~ labor reduced in price one-half or more?
pS.,,a the manufacturer of farm implements De
.,-,nsIled 10 pay as much for the laoor oi P'o-
gu , "a when he received double the present
ou@"e OR his machinery? Is II Just that farm
P .,ould receive the same wages as when the
ha received double the present prices Ior ms
REDUCED ,ss IN farmer be compelled 20 pay as much
iCI s SIot 1aI His 'V wool 1ne and beef?
cesoe i The farmer be compelled to pay the same
for nas'sb usne for it when he received 81
Sus isa' FOR II? The same can be a s1ld r OF
an snced in price Is fair that the farmer shall pay
former prices 70 his from or nsrtisan point
- View W. but in the interest OF the poor nave nave
I believe that
uo, ss ~ the hard times is to be found IN me
immense amount Of MONEY wa eoee we e" shall have
ng nrosperous and happy people. with fuA reVenue
Sor ali the expenses or government '"
'uayesvile, Ohio. June D. 1874
am surprised that the author OF the letter
- sbouId request The Tribune to withhold
ST. tvu name There IS nothing in the letter
N.s,.h should lead him to make the request.
ur,,,ng as do entirely over my own signature
r.rcb nrefer that people who write me letters
for publication anu answer ' w
their own names.
W. letter has a directness which Ike. Every
-.o.or,ert Is made without eQuvocation. The
u-,,,ar states his own positions clearly and asks
-. questions which he really desires TO nave
answered. .
am not a little surprised that he should
.-,,,c,se me because in some OF my FORMER
o-ocIes I have attempted 10 give reasons lor
49, existence Of the hard times" and in doing
a. have not explained the reason for something
.,sa He asks me how 1t happened thal MI
csveland was elected by such a large majority
n the people were prosperous during the Oi'io1'''
term of President Harrison
WHY THEY WENT WRONG IN 1892
have frequently stated in former articles
m. business during the Harrison Adnnis'ra-
,,on was good all over the United STATES
.ansa. that statement. The important question
4. am I right or am l not? Was business
,rosnarons under the operations OF the Mch1h-
,a, hill or was II not? l repeat that since 'He
,ossaee OF that bill up 10 the change OF the Au-
ro,n,stration the people OF this country "e'e
IN .r,nlovsd and prosperous. The people voted
,o- change. but that in no way proves ny
statement Incorrect
-, ,ou.over answer WIS question frankly.
r.o naon,A voted for a change. both in Admin
...~.,,on ord the tariff Jaws, because they were
"a n believe that such change would oetier
49,, condition. They were told all over the
,,,vsa states that Protection was robbery
rnsv were made 10 believe that under low
tor,S levied for revenue purposes only me-
.hs,,cs would retain their high wages ana Sc
curs mora steady employment, and that farmers
rvoul3 huv all their manufactured goods cheaper
and get better prices for their products. BON
casses were told that Protection simply hlled
the rockets OF a few rich manufacturers WIN
gold but that II in no way aided the FARMER OF
vorkine1nan They came 20 believe that Pro-
lection actually creates favored classes and - OF
No advantage TO the masses. They were taught
that such a policy creates antagonisms between
capital and labor and ends only In the Denent
OF capital and the unfortunate struggle between
the rioting workInen Of Homestead, Penn,
few Of whom had had their wages reduced be
cause the Mckinley bill had lowered the protec-
ton on their product, helped confirm the popular
belief In that antsgonism. They were told 10
vote for Cleveland and that higher prices would
follow not only for labor. but all the products OF
labor. The people, deluded. buncoed and led
astray, came to believe all these things Iney
voted tho Democratic ticket. not because at that
time they not doing well. but because they
honestly supposed that under Democratic rule
they would do still better. This Is the exact
truth Of the matter
FOR thirty years. the protective policy or the
fepuohcan party has been in practical opera
ton here in the United States. AL that time
the Democrats had been preaching against 1t
ana declaring that low tariff policy would I'M
prove the condition Of the people OF the Nation
During those thirty years the Republicans had
constantly asserted That disaster would follow
the change. which these men sought TO make.
Tne great bulk Of the working people OF the
united States however had never seen low
tarn tried and they finally concluded to give
The Democrats a chance TO put in practice the
beautiful theories which they preached. For the
hrst time in the history OF this Nation. a great
patriotic. high-rninded and useful party was ut
tery overthrown at the polls. at time when
the business Of the country was generally pros
porous.
experience IS a costly teacher; but sometimes
is the only teacher 10 whom men will listen
the country has now tried It's experiment The
Democratic party has been in full management
VI 'his Nation for nearly sixteen months The
oenehts of the Mckinley bill were constantly neu