The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-09-11
POWderly Speaks at Cooper
Union, New York.
Best Money Is None Too Good
For American Labor.
Sound Advice to Tailors on Present
Political Issues.

Ing IN Cooper Union last night, under
the auspices OF the campaign committee
OF the Mckinley league. attracted a great
crowd to the large hall The meeting
was a noisy one and at times became
very turbulent. Before the proceedings
began half dozen men, who had created
confusion by frequently asking: What's
the matter with Bryan" were elected.
Former Master Workman Terrence V.
Powderly, who was the principal speaker
Aef the evening, was introduced by Sen
ator Pavey, and spoke, in part, as fol-
lows:
Mr. Powderly began by saying that
he believed the right of the American
wage-earner TO receive the highest rate
of compensation for service rendered,
and the right TO claim and receive the
best kind Of money in exchange for his
labor should not be interfered with
Referring To the plank in the Chicago
platform which opposes any agitation
for further changes in our triff laws, ex-
cept such as are necessary TO meet the
deficit in revenue caused by the adverse
decision OF the supreme court on the In
come tax" he said:
when the Democratic congress as
sembled there was no deficit; the revenue
the government, and there was no in
come tax upon the statutes of this ma
ton. The income tax law was an after
consideration; IL was no part OF the DEM
ocratic platform of 1892. and was only
thought of when IL became manifest
TO its originators that they had sawed
off the revenue limb, on which they had
been sitting, in their mad attempt TO
undo what their Republican predeces-
sors had so well planned and so faith
fully executed. To make amends for
blunder. they would perpetrate crime,
and the income tax law was no less than
"a crime" The speaker then added that,
although a graduated income tax was
one OF the cardinal principles of the
knights of Labor, he had always opposed
such a measure.
Coming To the subject of protection.
Mr. Powderly asked. Does 1t not ap-
pear inconsistent in the defenders of the
Chicago platform TO assert that they are
opposed to English rule in America on
the financial question after they have
opened our ports 10 the product OF the
English factory and mill? Our chief
competitor in the domain of manufac-
ture is England, and he must be an
ignorant man, indeed, who will demand
the abolition of our tariff laws and not
know that the gamer by the abolition
OF these laws will be England. Pro-
lection is an issue in this campaign that
must not be forgotten; every dollar paid
for the product of the foreign lathe,
spindle or loom, Is a dollar taken from
American labor; and every article pur-
chased abroad, which car be manufac-
tured i'm this country, must be paid for by
A arisN lu hftv
farmer is told that the cause of his ills
Is because he has not been blessed with
free silver But whoever tells HIM that,
deceives him 10 his injury.
IF the farmer will reflect for mo-
ment, he Will recall the face that at tho
close OF the Civil War the evolution of
the truck wagon to the freight car wss
in the United States scarcely notice
able; that the Introduction OF machinery.
as an aid 10 production. was but little
known From 1865 TO 1873 the conditions
differed but little, so far as machinery
aud transportation we're concerned.
Since 1873, farming in the United States
has undergone "a radical, an almost
total, change, and causes other than the
demonetization Of silver have combined
to cheaper his product One man with
q gangplow. which turns two furrows at
oace, willeplow five acres a day; before
the introduction of that plow, IL took
two men five or seven days to plow as
many acres. With a three -gangplow.
the difference VIII be so per cent greater.
and with a steampow. the work accom-
pished will be from IS 10 100 per cent
greater. There Is no single thing pro-
duced upon the farm that is not aided
By the labor-saving process. even the
hens are spared the time trouble and
anxiety OF sitting on 10 or IL eggs for
three weeks, with a possibility OF hatch
ing out but one or two chickens.
But ali farmers are not able to buy
machinery all farms are not worked by
machinery. and therein lies q great deal
Of the trouble for the farmer. for those
who do own and operate machinery
have the advantage of the hand farm
ers. Is il any wonder then that the
prices of wheat, corn and other grain
have fallen, and does II not seem plain
to the observing man that the agencies
which have pointed out have been far
more potent in levelling prices than the
demonetization OF silver?
THE improved machines have worked
wonders, have upset the calculations OF
the wisest, and their Introduction has
worked total change In commerce,
trade and transportation. I am not
finding fault with machinery, but am
simply showing what IL has done 10 dis
place labor. TO level prices and reduce
wages.
THE on-sweeping tide OF immigration
engrafting degrading habits upon our
civilization, makes IL impossible for all
workmen In cities and towns 10 receive
the full, just reward for labor done, and
every new conner who displaces
an American workman at lower wages
deprives the farmer OF his legiti-
mate market to the extent to which
the wages are reduced. Here, then. are
two causes-the introduction of inn