Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1904-09-15

Labor Com missiOner Wright's Re-
ports Show That, While Prices of
Necessaries Have Advanced, Wages
tion.
1t is the boast of the Republican par
it's policies is registered In the welfare
Of the people and In the solidity and
soundness of the government finances.
Evidences Of the success Of Republic
an principles as embodied in econom-
ic laws placed upon the statute books
by the party are everywhere to be
found Protection has brought pros
perity because 1t has quickened the
pulse Of industry, given employment to
labor and brought new life to indus
trial conditions, which under Demo
cratic policies had reached the lowest
stage Of stagnation and decay during
the period of failure and ruin which
followed Democratic administration
and laws from 1898 to 1897.
The convincing proof that the pro-
tective policy re-established by the Re
publican party In the enactment of
the Dingley tariff law has brought ma
labor of the country is manifest to
every observing man. Increased pro-
duction in all lines, better prices, more
employment for labor at better wages
all these things are the natural and
sure attem.ants upon the prosperity
which protection to the Industries OF
the United States has brought to the
country.
Facts in support of this contention
of the friends Of the protective policy
have been produced by the investiga-
tion into the trend of wages and prices
ill the country during the past ten
years This investigation was conduct
ed by the Hon. Carroll ID. Wright, COM
missioner Of labor in the United States
department of commerce and labor. 1t
is perfectly natural also that these
nonpartisan scientifically deduced facts
regarding wages and prices should be
denounced by the free trade element
in the Democratic party and that from
the campaign managers OF that party
there should ut once go up shouts Of
derision and criticism of Colonel
Wrights facts and figures The free
traders vince under the showing made
for the cause Of protection, and they
exhibit the rage they feel and which
causes them to rush in blindly with
senseless criticism of these government
statistics.
In the first place, let us look for
moment ut just what the investigation
by the labor bureau demonstrates and
see if it is not squarely in accord with
the facts known Of all men.
The investigation covered the actual
expenditures in more than three thou
sand families widely scattered through
out the country for food alone. 1t Is
we'll known that amid the general rise
In prices which followed the return of
good times and confidence accompany
Ing the restoration Of the protective
policy by the passage Of the Dingley
tariff act in 1897 food prices rose more
rapidly and higher than other prices
The government investigation showed
that the rise in food prices averaged
15.5 per cent-that is to say, they were
approximately 50 much higher In 1903
compared with 1896. This covers more
than twenty different articles Of food.
During the same time, as Is shown by
the investigation into the changes In
wages, as illustrated by the cases Of
more than 10000 wage earners In all
kinds of Industries, chiefly the so called
protected industries, the rise in wages
registered 1853 per cent higher than
they were ten years previously.
Thus it Is officially recorded that the
sound economic principles recognized
by all students Of industrial conditions,
better prices in a good and protected
home market, increasing wages, short
er hours, more employment, greater
distribution of money wages among
the workers of the country-all these
have been the features Of the improved
industrial conditions since 1897, when
the Dingley tariff act, restoring pro-
lection and confidence amoug the peo-
pie, became q law and blessing to
the people of the United States.
The Wright report hits the cause OF
free trade telling blow. 1t is DEM
onstration of the practical utility,
soundness and efficiency Of the protec-
tive tariff law of the United States.