The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-13

consuming nothing but necessaries. and
some OF them a. scanty supply even Of
these.
Two years ago, In speaking at I.oGans-
THE one consideration which must
never, be omitted in a tariff change is
the imperative need Of preserving the
American standard #of living for the
must never fall below that which will
protect the American workingman by
allowing for the difference between the
general 1labor-cost here and abroad, so
arising from the difference In the
standard or labor here and abroad
standard of labor here and abroad-a
difference hichsit should be 9 ur ain! to
needs OF better educated, better paid,
better fed, and better clothed working
men Of a higher type than ANY to be &
found In Il forelgn country. AZ AL haz-
ards. and no ma tier what else Is
sought for or accomplished by changes
of the tariff, the American work ing
[, man must be protected il. his standard
Of wages. that is. In his standard of
living, and must be secured the fullest
opportunity of employment Our laws
should,.ln no event afford advantage
duslries They should IL no event do
less han eoualize the difference in con
ditions at home and abroad
Definitely Established.
ct Is a matter Of regret Tint the pro
last forty odd years, has become part or
tire very fiber OF the conntry,i is. not now
accepted rs definitely established Surely
we haye,a right 70 say that y has passed
to expect that not only Its original advo-
ca ties, but those who at&one time dis
trusted 1t on theoretic grounds. should
now acquiesce In the results that have
been proved over and over again by act
ual experience. These forty-odd years have
been the most prosperous years this ma
ton has ever. seen; more prosperous years
than any other nation has ever seen.
Beyond question this prosperity could not
have come IT, the American people had
not possessed the necessary thrift. energy,
and business Intelligence to turn their
vast material resources to account, But
1t is no less true that it Is our economic
policy as regards the tariff and finance
which has enabled us as a nation to make
such good use Of the individual npacltles
OF our citizens, and the natural resources
OF our country. Every class of our people
Is benefited by the protective tariff. Dur
Ing the last few years the merchant has
seen the export trade Of this country
grow faster than ever in our previous his
tory, The manufactures could not keep
his factory running II II were not for ti!e
protective tariff The wage-Worker would
do we'll to a'emember that II protection Is
robbery and is to be punished accord
ingly, Ge will be the first to pay the pen
atty; for either he will be turned adrift
entirely, or his wages will be cut down
to the stryation 1int AS concuslvely
shown by the bulletins OF the Bureau OF
Labor, the purchasing power of the aver
age wage received by the wage worker has
grown faster than the cost of living. and
this In spite of the continual shortening
Of working hours. The accumulated say.
ings of the workingmen of the country, as
shown by the, deposits In the savings
bounds. Atyno time in the history of this
or any other country has there been an
era so productive of material benel, alike
TO workingman and employer, as during
the seven years that have just passed.
Farmer Benefited,
"rhe farmer has benefited quite as much
as the manufacturer, the merchant. and
the wage-worker, The, most welcome and
impressive fact established by the las
census Is the wide and even distribution
| of wealth among all classes of our cour
| trymen, The chief agencies In producing
| this distribution are shown bS the census
! 10 be the development of manufactures
| and the application of new inventions Z
| universal use, The result has been an In
| creasing interdepCn6ence Of agriculture
and manufactures. Agriculture IL now
| as II always has been. The basis Of civil
cation. The six million farms Of tht
| United States operated by men who, al
| a class. are steadfast, sinElc-minded dnr
| industrious, form the basis Of all TIL
| other aehieyemen,s Of the American PEG