Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-08-08
THE STRIKE AND POLITICS.

THE STRIKE n POLITICS.
There are still three days left II
which the steel strike may be averted
though there is small hope.
1t is hardly likely that the trust vii
yield sufficiently to take advantage o.
the l~oophole for a settlement left by
President Shaffer. who allowed foui
days of grace between the Issuance OF MS
strike order and the date on which 1t Is
to go into effect.
There are a good many points of more
or less vital interest for the trust 10
take into consideration in connection
with this great conflict outside of the
question at issue between it and organ
lied labor. Not the least of these is
the effect of such a strike in politics.
and the trust is decidedly interested In
the political situation since it is enjoy
ing a high protective" tariff that per-
mits it to sell cheaper abroad than at
thome-at the expense of the American
consumer.
This matter in connection with the
strike has already gotten well into the
political arena. And, by the way, it
isn't Democrats who are taking politi-
cal advantage of the present situation
but the tariff reformers within the Re-
publican partly Y
CONGRESSMAN Babcock
) written a letter in which he shows
D the difference between legitimate
; protection and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
only.
1.-The theory of Republican protection is
and has been to build up our own insti-
buttons by protecting labor and material
so that in the end we might as a nation
become industrially, as well as politically.
Independent of the world. BY the prac-
tice of this Republican policy we are to-
day not only making all that we consume
of many commodities. but also are able to
manufacture some for less than any other
people. So 1t has come to pass that some
articles, the like of which years ago We
imported nearly all we consumed. we can
to-day produce and undersell the world. "
Mr.. Babcock follows up this state
ment with the following pertinent
query:
.Shall we continue a tariff on articles
that yield no revenue. need no protection,
and that. in fact. Ike the products of our
farms, are articles of export? If Congress
maintains a tariff IN such articles the
whole theory of protection fails to the
ground and it simply nures to the bene-
Mt of those who may secure the control
OF any such commodity. since by its aid
they can fix exorbitant prices in the do
r.estic market. ! maintain that it is a
part of the policy of protection TO pro-
tect the consumers"
MIR. Babcock addressed this letter to
the Southwest Wisconsin, a Republican
paper which takes the occasion to jump
brio The United States Steel Corpora
ton with both feet, sustaining the posi-
ton of Congressman Babcock and de-
cIaring that it seems to be the object Of
the great trust to obtain not only abso-
lutte control over the in the
American market, but also over Ameri-
can labor, that it may be absolute die
tator OF the situation. This Republican
editor says that the steel trust is "a
fesh-eating, voracious beast OF Wall
street. 1t is the creation of ~plunderers
for the purpose Of plumber. Its prodi-
gsous over-eapitalization reveals the
first and only law of its being. OF
course, its creators buiided it with the
thought of its ultimate attainment to
the power of a monopoly: but they were
not blind, certainly, to the need of tariff
phosphates TO give its &zes hardness
and supply enamel for its teeth" And
he states the primary question to be
whether or not the Republican party
is to continue as the party of the peo-
pie. conservative. yet prudent, or sim
ply become an organization in
the interest OF the millionaires of tbs
East who would forge cur gifts into
chains wherewith to bind u.s.
Bear in mind, it is not a free trade
Democrat" who. says all this, but a Re
publican editor who has always favored
the protective policy.
1t is a straw which may indicate
70 observant officials OF the big stee
corporation how the wind blows, ant
that q prolongation of the strike int
: bitter struggle between the highl!
protected trust and its labor, Whose
only protection is its organization, vii
not be conducive to a prolongation o
the government tariff favors which tn
trust now enjoys at the expense of tn
American OF its highly pro