The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-12-28
Plea For Its Masters.

uldslSlS, pul Noiy Su'Siy ooe0 ~ W Va
pressing a world of sympathy for the
working classes. Here is the appeal of
The Economist:
At the recent annual convention in
Minneapolis of the American Federation
of Labor, the sentiment of wage earners
on the subject of tarll revision down.
ward was subjected to practical test.
A resolution offered by the structural
iron workers asking the federation to
frame a bill to be presented to congress
by some friendly representative provld-
ing for a revision of the tariff schedules
on steel and iron products started a dis
cussion which for a time threatened to
drag the federation into the field of poll
tics. The resolution was voted down
by the convention. 1t might well be
voted down. A reduction of the tariff
on iron and steel could have but one
intention and one effect-that of beat
ing down the price of domestic products
through the importation of larger guam
titles from Europe. Of course a reduc-
ton in price would be followed by a re-
duction of wages, not alone among the
workers in iron and steel, but in prac
tically all lines of production. There
is encouragement to hope that prosper
ity and high wages will continue when
wage earners take so sensible view
of tariff tinkering as that indicated in
the voting down of the resolution at
Minneapolis.
1t is the same old argument, but has
no more point to it than a drum head.
American made steel and iron is sold
abroad in direct competition with the
home product, and at prices which do
not compare favorably with those which
country. That being the case, we know
of no reason why the steel trust could
not meet competition in this country
and still pay the same wages to it's
workmen that it is now paying them.
Every time there is a suggestion made
that the tariff should be revised so that
the consumers shall receive a measure
of benefit, the trust organs make pitt
full plea for the working classes. That
is the case when the revisionists advise
lowering the tariff on steel and iron.
The appeal of the 'magnates is heart
rending. They are, however, making a
fight to keep their own incomes secure,
but using the workmen as the pounding
blocks
Possibly the dividends accruing to the
already hundreds of millionaries that
have been created by the steel industry
would be cut into, but the plutocrats
could stand that easily. They are now
rolling in the lap of luxury. They could
continue to do SO, and it would not be
at all necessary to take from the work
men one cent of the wages which they
are now receiving. The manufacture of
iron and steel should no longer be con-
sidered an infant industry. 1t needs no
further dosing with public pap, and can
get along very nicely without that pro-
lection which it has so long enjoyed.
Give the people relief from the excess
sive tariff duty which is but benefiting
a trust-one of the most gigantic this
country has to deal with.
Never before has there been such an
activity in the steel industry. A tele-
gram firm Pittsburg says that rarely, if
ever, in the history of modern industry,
has been witnessed such an extraordinary
condition as that. which confronts the
steel industry in the United States. Al
ready the rail mills are crowded with
orders to such an extent that their total
output to the end of next year will
barely serve to meet the present demand,
and the mills which are devoted to the
production of structural steel are over
loaded with work, and must be pushed
to the very utmost to fill orders due to
be delivered before the spring of 1907.
Even more acute conditions prevail at
the plate mills, the demands for whose
output is to be attributed very largely
to the growing popularity of steel cars.
These mills have sufficient orders on the
books to keep them going at full pres
sure, practically for the whole of next
year. The situation is unprecedented in
the United States steel industry. In
the face of this stupendous activity the
steel trust demands its government pap
in the shape of high protection, and is
retarding other industries.
AS matter of fact several railroads
in this country could use tons upon tons
OF steel rails right away, but they are
denied them because the plants in this
country cannot begin to produce the
article. In consequence railroad extern
sions contemplated are stifed. Yet we
are told that should the duty on steel
rails be lowered the steel industry would
be disturbed to such an extent that the
wages of the workmen must be reduced
In our opinion it is clear case of the
bunco being worked on the suffering
people of this country to complete fin
ish.
The Midway News raps the demo-
Gratis over the knuckles: "True to their
non partisan proclivities, our non -parti-