The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-07-14
An Idle Army of Labor.
From Philadelphia CPal Record. July 8.

From Philadelphia (Pa) Record, July g.
1t is stated that more than 10000 wage earners
were thrown out of employment by the stoppage of
mills and factures in Pittsburg and vicinity on SIT
urday afternoon This is not the ordinary stoppage
| that takes place in the summer in order to make
needed repairs of works and machinery, and Incl
dentally to give workingmen week or two of rest
Last summer there hardly the suspension of a
day. so busy were the mills in filling orders at rising
prices for all their products. This appears to be
stopplge for an indefinite period; least no hint
has been given of the prospect of early Tesump
ton. The explanation of the suspension is that it
is due to collapse of the market for iron aud steel
products, notwithstanding the recent decline in
prices and the great increase of mportatons 1t is
alleged that this is the relapse from enormously
stimulated over production-a term sometimes nsed
tor undercOnsumption In one respect the stop
page is extremely inopportune in occurring within
week of the Republican National Convention,
whose platform and whose orators boasted Of the
tariff the one miraculous source of industrial
prospertg ard siTe only guarantee of constant
pIoymeut At high wages for American workingmen.
During the Convention the Hon. ChaIncey NJ.
Depew, in laudiug the tariff divinity, made the
tonishing statement that the ovcrproduction in the
United states last year amounted to not less than
S2,O00OO0OoO. BY what statistical process such a
result ohtaiuei it would he hard TO conceive.
The rrsUlt has perhaps, been evolved from Protec
ZIONIST science andhas been thrown out by Mr.. De-
pew dazz ing proof of the wondrous power Of
the tariff in stimulating production. Why should
system which falsely and unnaturally urges pro-
dnctiou so far in excess Of the markets normal de-
mandS be regarded rs a boon. By what statistical
methods has it been discovered that production has
outstripped consumption to such degree that the
American people accumulated last yeAr two billions
more than they requirei Of the neceSSlries OF liv
ing. 10 >sy nothing Of its comforts and luxures
Even 1t the exports OF merchandise should exceed
the imports by this amount n series Of years that
would be iar from proving that the masses Of Amer
ican consumers have within reach at reasonable
prices all the commodities they need. from the
sugar that sweetens their morning TO the mate
Fals for constructing comfortable dwellings
IN regard to overproduciion, never made blas;
Of until now, there is question that in spite Of
the shrewdess calculations the markets often refuse
to absorb the supply Manufacturers find that they
have no sale for their products even at prices far
below the rates they formerly obtaine,i. They keep
on producing their goods and employing labor in
the reasonable hope that wholesome reaction
sooner or later will lif their accumulated stocks.
Bat when such phenomenon oyertakes a vast in
dusirisl community in the midst OF prosperity and
throws out OF employment 10000 workers 1t
stroke its cause must Dc sought in something else
than the ordinary yicissitudes Of tradc.
Il isa significant fact tina. the mills and factories
that closed their doors GA saturday are an under
control Of tariff favorca trusts There is need
designate them The Tiuplate Trust foz whose
bened, the protective duty was Increased Boy the
pingIey tariff at the expense of American con>nm-
ers. has made idle souOO men by the suspension Of
is mills secure in its control Of the home market
through the ulrif the Trust went GA from month to
-HF4 fF IA,
reaction cnsued People could I've without buying
tiugiate and they refused a. last - pay the exorbi
price Of the Trust Bat spite the reaction
proiacgiou continu,l At high pressure until Al
last stoppsse of the mills has bccn ordered
50 with the structural Steel Trus, and the steel
rail combination Raiir,a,i compauie, that needed
uev materials - rstair their lines could not pay
the eXorbiiaut prices without heavy loss without
causing pablic complaint by increase Of rates for
freight, snd lassengers Prices for structural steel
uf every description psissl 50 ish that many
larss builiias operations throughout the country
were suspended ami many builiiug projects
were altogether abandoned u WAS found at last
that there was uo use in the ttrd benehciaries
hancins the priegs Of products to such degree that
people could not or would not has them. But
shea the steel and iron trusts began 20 arbitrarily
put down their scale OF prices they found no de
mand at The reduced rates. their expected con
sumsrs had made other arrangements. Thus the
trusts in their gresd had rulnei their markets
aud nothing remained but 10 close the Pitisburg
mills ludeaaiiely Ia order that drInaud might
take supply. Under system II which the bngley
tariff tho latest trult such viessiiudes frequent
sad Inevitable. when Industrial rcactlen arose
bate ia isSl under IN hoiesome stimulation Of
proiue,!oa tbs pscadomAuiacs OF Protection
scrtsd that it was due 90 the Wilson tariff, which
had not yet been formulated, It would have been
we'll i0g every interest la the country the trusts in
elalcd had that moderate measure uf taria reform
h-rn len guft.sturbssi