The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-04

In a few days the men whom he
I ad observed leaving the steamer were
gathered about the shop in which he
was employed and were conversirg g,
through an Interpreter, with the super
intendent,s and on the following morn
ing, when as usual the laborer went
to his work, lie was notified of a re-
duction of % per cent in wages, to
take effect the first of the ensuing
month and at the same time told that
If he chose he gould quit as the 1tes
of Castle Garden were swinging in
ward to the labor of che world
- THE working man, who was ar intel
ligent American, had always felt a
pride in his country and a love for its
Institutions, but when he saw govern
ment shielding the products, but not
petition, with wife and children de-
PENDENT upon his wages. he became
impressed with the conviction that
with corporations enthroned in high
places the dignity and independence of
American labor had departed.
1.-The workmen employed in the
shop made protest against the propos-
ed reduction, but to no effect. 1T is
matter of business, said the superin-
tendent, to buy labor where can OBJ
tain it the cheapest. You should I'M
derstand,' he said to the men, the
memorable law of supply and demand
fixes wages and you see with this great
supply of labor applying for work you
must expect reduction in pay
Besides continued the superin-
tendent. the men now in the shop are
a dangerous independence
in politics, questioning the wisdom and
have employees who will vote without
question in the interest of prosperity.
We must protect our business The
workman knew he was meant, for
when watching the steamer with the
superintendent he had remarked that
the proper definition of protection
would seem to be "a. bounty to manu-
facturers paid by farmers and shop
labor in the purchase price of dom estic
goods, from which millions of unearn-
of protected industries
Upon receiving notification of a
reduction in wages, the men desired
to see the directors, with whom they
wished a consultation, but were in
formed that this was impossible, as
three of them were travelling in
and the other two were
yachting in northern waters and
hence the action of the corporations
agent had to be accepted as final.
THE manufacturer is privileged to
purchase labor in the open market of
the world, while selling his finished
products at trust prices in a protected
market and so when money and labor
were dear the manufacturer claimed
he would not require protection ex-
cept for this expense. But as wages
and money cheapened the demand
Tor protection became more vehem-
ent. until so per cent protection is
protection does not involve political
principle, is not a question of belief or
but one of policy only which
may be expedient at one time and
wholly inexpedient at a subsequent
period. And as a question of pecuniary
advantage to favored classes it has done
more than all else to debauch and cor
rupt pohtfcal methods md legislation"
This might be said to be a clue TO fhe
book 1t furnishes an example of what If
contains and the argument throughout is
plain, convincing and straightforward
Mr. Kelly has appended (for reference
purposes only 4 few of the senate roll
ture.