West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-09-03
PROTECTION DERIDED.
The Textile Workers Of Phila-
delphia Jeer at II.
wASrrHER sHARrorpRospERrrY

Low Wages and Hfsh Psice. preak
Down the Protection Fesfeh Ia the
House of Ius Friend.--rhe Trust.
aud the Corporations Have Cob
sicd All the Prosperity.
The prolonged strike OF the textile
workers at Philadelphia Is having one
good effect that VIII AID the whole
country In throwing OF the incubus OF
the protective tariff. Special dispatch
es from the Quaker City report that
during the last few weeks the trend
OF political feeling has been changing
rapidly, and In every street parade
made by the strikers banners are car
ried bearing sarcastic announcements
and questions such as, I'VE are pro-
tected by tariff, but the Republican
mill owners say we will be starved
into submission" "why are the tarifr
protected mills closed2" and many
others OF n like nature. ono motto
was especially Significant: III pros
perlty is 40 general. why can't we have
n bit OF III"
The workers are at last discovering
that the protective tariff means high
prices for what they have TO buy and
taxing the many for the profits OF tho
few. They now discover what Il has
been difficult 20 make them before be-
heve-that the trusts and combines are
unwilling TO increase wnges 10 par
with the increased cost OF living or,
indeed, anywhere near IT,
Only two excuses have been made for
protection TO control the home
market for American manufacturers
and second 10 protect American labor.
Tho first excuse has been pretty fully
accomplished Mt the expense OF tho con-
sumner The tarlff has prevented COM
petition and has allowed the trusts 20
raise prices until the average cost of
living has increased about 40 per cent.
The second excuse has been an arrant
failure or the workingmnn would not
be striking for fair share OF the pros.
perity that tho trusts enjoy. Tho
wages received by these workers are
certainly less than will keep them I'm
comfort at the present high price OF
living.
The hours OF labor OF the Philndel-
phia textile workers have been too
long, when Il II considered that n ma
jority OF the workers are women, girls
and children, and ten hours day or
sixty hours n week I'm badly ventilated
workshops IL more than their tender
years should bo asked TO endure. The
wages paid range from $13 n week for
the expert weavers 10 81 week for the
children. DO the hours or the wages
protect these workers as the protection
lists would have us believe? The manu.
facturers have advanced the price of
the products Of the mills and carpets
ana tho other textiles tho workers pro-
duce have increased fully % per cent.
ana those who buy them have TO pay
that increase. SO In Philadelphia we
have an acute exposure OF the work.
ings OF the protective tariff-the work
ers dissatisfied with their condition. in
stead OF the good wnges and comfort
that the champions OF the protective
system would have us believe always
accompany H.
The manufacturers, who are mostly
combined In trusts, are tho sole bene-
hciaries OF this extraordinary system.
have become rich and are still growing
richer. They sell to the American peo-
pie at exorbItant prices and export
similar goods and sell them in Europe
2pd elsewhere at much lower prices.
And yet the Republican leaders say
stand pat" "let well enough alone"
The friends Of protection only must
reform the thrift" When some I'm.
qulsitive or impatient voter asks when
reformation will begin, the answer nj
ways IL after election" and like the
spanish mamma" tomorrow never
comes. The tarin will never be re-
formed until the people elect major
ity OF congress that Is FREQ from the
trust taint and that the corporations
arc opposed TO. II is not human nature
to expect those who are receiving trust
and corporation favors 60 Ieglslate
against them.