Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-09-01
or INTER ST TO LABOR.
what the Par &c Promise In Their
Ncw45ee = Platforms


Hcxgtc : Platforms,
erprNtets rbssro rrwacas1se mtrY5nx
We rcug~ eur IL N u the iassgest 4
The pslef Il tF6se Anas rltsn labor aud the
ta Americas iaaoF in aphltiag ot tha HetsinE-
that policy oar indus mau. as the earaefstone
tfieA have teen estah' Il lhe prosperity u eur
lished, Diversified and country, wa recommend
maintained rs pro. th4t CONGRESS create d
tettine she home mar. department "a labor Ia
ket, eosNpeti3en hes csatse 81 secretary.
hesu stimulated and with seat ii ths eahi
production eheapene,l. aef. believing That the
Cppatuasty 10 the elevation 81 the Aacri
seniiFa cenius q oar a0ecer viii bring
feople hiss tagn secuted with Il Increased pro-
ard wages iA every DO tettien and increased
paftmsat q labor main. prosperity 70 tua eaaA.
faiusd 81 higher raias- try a hetae and to cur
hgaeF now thaa ever commerce abroad
laiorsand always ais. -
tiaeuish,pg our wafk
iae people 10 tAeir eet
Ter eonaitieus q life
hau fhass q ans Gem.
getine country
Hers are the respective pianks of the
two platforms on the question 81 the
improvement Of the condition Of the
American werkingman. These planks
are worthy OF little study The Re-
publican plank Is positive, frnnk and
definite II distinctly says that the
Republican plan for hettcring the con-
tition ~ American labor II 90 maintain
the policy Of protection; 10 protect. by
tariff. the labor OF the United States
from the competition which free trade
would certainly produce IN allowing
the products Of nauper labor from both
Europe and Asia 10 come into the
American market and thus stopping
mills. factories. MINES ana the thou-
sands 81 industries now furnishing re-
munerative employment 10 American
skin.
What does the Democratic platform
promisef In another plank II opposes
protective tariff, and for the uplifting
of the condition OF American labor It
promises nothing mere aud nothing
better than the creation OF another of
fee. They say in effect. We love the
American iaborer SO much that In the
event ~ our success at the polls, we
promise to try TO create a secretary
and a lot OF olficeholders to look after
the interests Of laboring men. unmind-
fui Of the fact that there IL already d
nonpartisan department Of labor doing
efficient and satisfactory work for the
labor interests OF the country. Were
the labor interests OF the country to be
placed in charge Of cabinet officer
the matter by the very nature of the
case would have 10 become partisan.
Laboring men can easily weigh the
respective merits of the two parties
4..ft
question OF work and wages by com
pairing the tramping armies, the
charity souphonses, the silent fac
tories, the grass grown railroads and
the stagnation OF 1893 and 1904 -pro-
dnced by the Democratic threat Of a
policy Of free trade or revenue tariff
with the protective tariff and It's re-
suits rs seen today. with busy mills.
crowded railways, employed labor,
good wages and the heaviest exports
ever made by this or any other country
since nations began 20 exchange prod
ucts. Labor VIII be slow 20 give up an
evident, tangible. constant condition OF
prosperity for the promise of creating
another Office 10 be filed by a hench-
man Of tho boy orator of the Platte.
Bryan says Il Is better to open the
mints and cut the dollar In which
wages ARE paid ia two IN the middle.
President Mckinley says il e better
to open the mills and continue 70 pay
good wages in the best money the
world has ever known. 1t Is for labor
to decide which Of the two policies Is
most likely to butter its bread.