Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-25
MAlNrlIy TBr WAGE STANDARD.

MAINTAIN THE WAGE STANDARD.
In one Of his speeches just before re-
turning TO Washington President RoOse-
welt said that the tariff rate must never
fall below that which win protect the
American wOrkingman by allowing for
the difference between the general labor
cost here and abroad. so as to at least
equalize the conditions arising from the
difference in the standards Of labor here
and abroad-"a difference which 1t
should be u aim to foster insofar as
II represents the needs of better edu-
Gated. better paid. better fed and better
clothed -workingmen Of a higher class
than any to be found in a foreign coun-
try" Mr.. Roosevelt added that at all
hazards and no matter what else is
sought for by changes Of the tariff, the
American workman must be protected
in his standard OF wages-that is, in his
standard Of living-and he must be
secured the fullest opportunity Of EN-
ployment." This is the sound American
policy. always observed by the repub-
llcan party.
Wages in England. according to a re-
cent official report, have materially de-
clined in all Of the Industries within the
past year and a further decrease is
threatened. The explanation is readily
found in the decline Of British industries,
which in the opinion Of so competent an
authority as Andrew Carnegie are not
likely to recover fully their former stand
ing. In Germany wages have not been
so low at any other time since the be-
ginning of the industrial development of
that country, a quarter of a century
ago, as at present. In other countries
Of continental Europe the labor con-
ditions are no better. and In some of
them much worse, than in Germany. An
American who recently returned from
an extended tour Of Europe stated that
he found the condition of the working
classes in nearly every country deplor-
able. Evidence Of this is seen in the
large European emigration.
Certainly no considerable body Of
Americans can wish to see labor in this
country reduced to European. conditions.
Well employed and well paid labor is
the basis of prosperity. When all the
people are at work at good wages every
industry thrives. ITO insure u growth
in civilization and wealth. said one of
the wisest Of American statesmen, eve
must not only have wages as high as
are now, but constantly and steadily
increasing. In my judgment upon
wages and the consequent distribution
of consumable wealth is based all our
hopes Of the future and all the possible
of our civilization" How shall
the wage standard be maintained?
Manifestly by continuing the policy that
has given the United States the first
place among the Industrial nations and
created here the greatest labor market
of the world. The democratic tariff
policy proposes a departure from this.
1t demands the overthrow Of protection,
the only guarantee of the American
rate and the American standard of
1t proposes that which would
destroy thousands Of industries, throw
millions Of people out of employment
and bring down the wages Of labor here
to the European level,
No class Of our people are 81 deeply
concerned in this as the wage earners,
with whom it largely rests to determine
whether or not republican tariff policy
shall be sustained and continued.