Evening star., 1896-09-11
Mr.. Powderly Discusses the Effect of
Free Coinage.
VALUE OF WAGES WOULD Be Cut
Resolution Adopted lndorsing the
Republican Ticket.
MEETING OF WAGE FARMERS

A mass meeting was held in Cooper
Union. New York, last night, under the au-
spices Of the campaign committee of the
Mckinley League. Terrence v. Powderly,
former general master workman Of the
Knights of Labor. and ex-senator Warner
Miller were the chief speakers. The meet
Ing was planned for wage earners, and a
large audience was present early, and when
the speaking began the hall was crowded.
Several Bryan men were present, and made
their presence known by their loud cheers
for their candidate. This interruption was
stopped by the police, after which the pro-
gram Of the evening was carried out.
Mr.. Powderly said: Did believe an
apology for my presence on this platform
necessary I would say that believe the
right OF the American wage Garner to re-
ceive the highest rate Of compensation for
service rendered, and the right to claim
and receive the best kind OF money in ex-
change for his labor, should not be in
terfered with
Mr.. Powderly then took up the Chicago
platform and compared 1t with the pre-
vious platforms of the democratic party,
saying:
The platform of four years ago pledged
the party entering into power to the over
throw OF the American system of protec-
ton. and with all his and their power,
with all the force and influence at his
and their command, the man and party
upon whom the power was conferred la
oored TO place the foreign workingman
on higher plane than his American COM
pet1tor and that platform was anything
but meaningless. Four years ago the
pivotal point around which the democratic
platform swung was free trade.
When that Congress assembled there
was no deficit: the revenue was amply
sufhcient for the needs of government
and there was no income tax law upon
the statutes of this nation.
Opposed to Income Tax.
The income tax law was an after -consic-
GRAFTON: it was no part of the democratic
platform OF 1892, and was only thought Of
when 1t became manifest to its originators
that they had sawed of the revenue limb
on which they had been sitting in their
mad attempt to undo what their republican
predecessors had so well planned and SO
Ialtn1uIly executed. To make amends for
blunder they would perpetrate a crime.
and the fr come tax law was no less than
crime may be charged with opposing
one OF the cardinal principles OF the
hmghts OF Labor, which demanded that
a graduated income. tax be levied. That
section was adopted by the Knights of
Labor in opposition to my earnest and
emphatic protest. 1 never believed in 1t,
and have always opposed it.
Effect of Organization.
They tell us that the manufacturers are
robber barons, and that the tariff which
protects them and those who work for them
Is a robber tariff. Well, what of it? II
workingmen will not organize, as the win
COW glass trade and railroad workmen are
organized, 10 unite with employers In pro-
tecting their trades and callings, they have
themselves to blame for not securing all the
advantages of protection.
The fact that sS5O.OOO.OOO worth of agri-
cultural product was imported to this
country in one year, and that 1t was bought
and consumed by Americans, proves most
conclusively that to that extent, at least,
the agriculturists of this country were
the losers, and had they been protected In
consumers of the land would have bought
that product of their lands instead of that
which came from foreign lands, and that
vast sum Of money would be circulating
among the people Of the United States, pay
ing taxes and debts in the United States
instead of enriching the producers of for
eign Landslide robber barons' of Europe.
The farmer is told that the cause Of his
Ills is because he has not been blessed with
free silver. But who ever tells him that de-
ceiVes him TO his injury. Those who advo-
cate free silver tell the farmer that the
crime of 1873 is responsible for the ills he
bears bears. Since 1873 farming in the United
states has undergone radical, an almost
total change. and causes other than the
demonetization of silver have combined to
cheaper his product
Mr.. Powderly then compared the work
possible to be done with modern agricul-
tural implements with that under the old
methods.
Improved Machinery and Immigration
Mr.. Powderly told how improved ma
chinery had displaced hand labor in cities
as well. and called attention to the great
,f y6<c fv,t
and work cheaply, and continued:
Here, then, are two cause.-the intro
duction Of improved machinery and immi-
gration-which combine to lower the prices
of products and deprive the farmer Of his
market. and the crime of 1873 has had
nothing to do with either one"
Taking up the money question proper, Mr..
Powderly said
They tell us that we lack money, that
there Is not enough in circulation, and that
the niints should be started to coin silver in
unlimited quantities for the good of labor.
But just how the man who has no silver to
be coined Is to be benefited has not been
made clear to US yet, and believe 1t will
do the country more good to open our
mines, mills and factories to the unem-
ployed than to open our mnts to the unre-
stricted coinage of silver at the ratio Of 16
to 1.
Money Sent Abroad.
THAT there is not enough money in cir
culation may be true, but If so, it is be-
cause labor has not been employed; 1t is
because we have been importing rather
than exporting. When it is asserted that
our per capita is not sufficient it must not
be forgotten that labor itself is in no small
share responsible for this state Of affairs,
IL. indeed, 1T be true, or important, If true.
From the city Of Scranton alone laboring
men last year sent $4,000 In gold, or it's
equivalent, to foreign hands, and scarcely
q dollar Of it went to England. They sent
this money to their friends in the homes
Of the poor of Europe Every dollar sent
reduces the per capita circulation OF our
currency
The Chicago Strike.
Passing to the Chicago strike, Mr. Pow
derly said the lawless element Of the city.
and not the strikers. rioted. and added:
Il do not approve Of government by any
other power than the will Of the American
people; but If we will have government by
trucking. time-serving officials who fear
to do their sworn duty, then we invite gov
ernment by injunction. 1t was q gratuitous
act on the part of the Chicago convention
to indcrse the inactivity of the mayor of
Chicago and the governor of Illinois but
having done so, its members should be re-
minded that honest labor in no way feels
complimented by such doubtful recognition.
Government by injunction would never be
known in the United States had govern