The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1904-04-28
Republican Platforms.

the greatest national issue is the main
tenance of prosperity, and we stand
squarely for the integrity of the prin-
ciple of protective tariff" That
principle is required to maintain the
highest scale of American wages and
the supremacy of the American work
shop" On the day following the con-
vention the press dispatches from New
York city announced that an enormous
crwOd of men and women, estimated
at 5000, stood around new depart
ment store seeking work at very low
wages, SO great was the crowd that a
large force of extra police were neces-
sary to keep order.
| The strenuous efforts of these poor
people to get chance for employment
did not verify the Republican claim
Of prosperity, nor did the small amount
of wages offered prove that protection
had maintained 1.-The highest scale of
American wages" rather the reverse
The prosperity that the Republicans
| used to boast Of was that the job was
seeking the man and not the man seek
| Ing the job. That boast can no longer
be made, for evidently there are thou
sands seeking work at low wages with
the protective tariff in full working
order. supposed to be automatically fix
ing high wages for the wage Garner.
More evidence was published in the
news dispatches on the same day that
the Republicans of New York so glibly
| resolved in favor of protection. that
some of the cog wheels of that de-
ceptive principle were out of gear.
From Lawrence, Mass, came the news
that the Arlington mills had reopened,
which had been closed on account of a
strike among the employees, whose
wages had recently been reduced, and
the employees were returning to work
at the reduced wages. At Palmer,
Mass, the mills of the Thorndike Man
ufacturiDg Company at Palmer and
West Warren began a curtailment in
the output by reducing the running
time to forty hours week. That
means but four days work a week,
and of course but two-thirds wages.
At Fall River similar condition was
announced. At Minneapolis. Minn.,
the flour mills were to be closed down
the end Of the week.
These announcements all appeared
in the New York Journal of Commerce
and Commercial Bulletin of April 13,
and nearly every day that newspaper,
which is devoted to business matters,
contains similar curtailments.
Meanwhile the protective tariff, by
Its shelter to the mOnopolists, keeps I'D
its deadly work of high prices, so that
the cost of living is higher than nearly
ever before. But the Republican plat
form of platitudes of President Roose-
velt's own State did not explain this
anomaly of diminishing wages and re-
dundant prices This platform was
doubtless presented to President Roose-
velt for his scrutiny before the con-
vention met and must have been ap-
proved by him or changed to suit his
views. so that, at last, the country
knows that he Stands squarely for the
integrity Of the principle of a protect
i've tariff" No reciprocity there, no
word for reforming the monstrous in
equalities.
If any of the wage earners of New
York ever read that platform, especial
" the thousands who are hunting the
job. instead of the job hunting them.
what hollow mockery it must seem
to be assured of protection and 1.-The
highest scale Of wages when their
pockets are empty and the cupboards
are bare.
Other Republican State platforms
may be relied upon to speak in the
same strain and the national platform
will only be a little more elaborate in
details, but will also ignore falling
wages and increased cost Of living.
The Republican Leaders and Trusts.
The Tawney tobacco bill has ripped
open the Republican party lines in the
Ways and Means Committee, 10 the
great disgust Of Chairman Payne. He
told the Republican members that he
thought it was foolish for the commit
tee to attempt to do any business at
this session and useless to have any
committee hearings. So because the
Republican members of the greatest
committee of the House of Represan-
tatives cannot all agree on one bill,
The whole machinery is to stop. What
a travesty on popular government.
The representatives of the people in
Congress assembled are supposed to
be engaged in legislating for the wants
of their constituents, but because some
of his associates do not agree with Mr..
Payne he threatens to shut up shop,
stand pat and go home. The pluck of
the Republican members has certainly
greatly deteriorated, or they wo,ld re-
sist this do-nothing policy wheH there |
is so much legislation that is demand
ed. Mr. Tawney's bill. the matter that |
raised this rumpuS. was TO prevent To-
bacco manufacturers from putting
prize coupons into packages of cigar |
cites. 1t is said to be in the interest |
Of the tobacco trust, and because some |
Of the Republican members of the |
committee voted with the Democrats
and defeated it led to this outburst of |
Chairman Payne. When a trust cannot |
be accommodated the Republican lead |
ers appear to think il is time TO quit |
doing business. Possibly the voters |
may take a different view of it when |
hey cast their ballots next fall.
Publishers Call for Action.
The International Paper Company. |
called the paper trust is
very indignant at the newspaper pub
fishers who lately appeared before the |
judiciary committee of the National |
House of Representatives. and gave
evidence that the paper company was
a trust and combination in restraint |
Of trade. The company, through its
presented an affidavit signed
by them denying practically all the
allegations made by the newspaper