The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1907-08-30
WITH OPEN TARIFF
HOW EMPLOYERS MIGHT DEAL
WITH TRADE UNIoNlsM.
Instead Of Raising Millions with
Which to Fight Organized Labor
the Manufacturers Might Spend
Their Money IN Breaking Down
Tariff Protection.


shop on the part of the National Asso-
citation of Manufacturers has subsidized
In favor of zeal for the open tariff.
At least one would infer as muck
| from the strenuous propaganda latelI
| inaugurated for an ail-round overhaul.
ing OF the tariff schedules. At TIE
recent annual meeting Of the assocla.
ton declaration was made for tariff
revision at the earliest practicable
moment and also for a general system
of trade treaties involving still
further reduction of tariff duties.
Perhaps the impression prevails
among some OF the wage payers OF
the association that the quickest way
to get the open shop ia through the
tariff. Probably they are right. Than
wage reduction because Of tariff re-
duction nothing Is more certain TO
break the ranks OF trades unionism.
When prices OF commodities have
been forced downward by the larger
inflow OF competitive goods from
abroad that must follow lower tariff
|
When lack OF employment comes as
consequence OF allowing foreigners to
do a larger portion Of the work that
Americans have been doing, and
when three men are looking for two
mems jobs, instead of two men being
hard to get for three mems JOBS, the
open shop problem will have solved
itself. Men do not strike for higher
wages or shorter hours when work Is
scarce; only when work Is plenty.
Open the tariff gates and you will
have the open shop. There will then
be no need of the mlllion.dollar fund
with which to fight trades unionism.
Indeed, there is a better way to pro-
duce the desired result: Use the
million.dollar fpnd to fight tariff pro-
lection.
The impression that the National
Association Of Manufacturers is domi.
mated by forces which care more for
an open tariff than for an open shop,
and would rather fight labor by In
creasing competitive imports than cul-
! llNult dllllNdbit ttlu|lDut WIN "dBt
earners by unfolding the tariff protec-
thou. which alone can insure both en-
ploymcnt and wages at high water
mark, is strengthened by the views ex-
pressed IN recent interview in the
New York Herald. by II. Z. Miles,
chairman OF the committee on tariff
and reciprocity Of the National As.
sociation of Manufacturers. also a
member Of the committee on resolu.
tons. and, presumably, author OF the
tariff ripping and reciprocity declara.
ton already alluded 10. Ia this inter.
view Mr.. Miles expresses a desire for
downward tariff revision at the EARL.
est practicable moment. lie wants
the tariff torn open at the next win.
ters session OF congress.
The inequalities OF the tarlff SEIZED.
ules now operative are unnecessarily.
needlessly, improperly taking, by gov.
ornamental sanction. hundreds of mil.
lions Of dollars from the many and
adding them to the fortunes that tho
president is watching with alarm"
, This is the way Mr. Miles puts the
case II is only another way Of saying
! that protection Is robbery" Mr.. Miles
, might safely be trusted to write the
tariff plank OF the next Democratic
/ platform. Too many people are doing
too we'll therefore, let us see to 1t
. that opportunities for doing well are
: without delay circumscrlhed Tariff re
duction will do the trick. Let us have
r tariff reduction forthwith Thus Mr.
r Miles. as We read him.
r That Chairman Miles Of the tariff
and reciprocity committee correctly
d represents the views and purposes OF
+ the forces that are permitted to con
J troll the acts and dellverances OF the
: National Association OF Manufactur
> ers on the tariff question we do not
( for a moment dispute. For Iona
= time past the fact that halfway pro
= tectlonists and all.thc.way free trad
ers held the reins in that organization
has been increasingly apparent. Just
now the association Is being very ex
!, tensiVely quoted and most fatterlngly
commended In the free trade news
papers. That tariff ripping and reel
: procity resolution OF last May hal
! made q great hit In this direction
But We do not believe that anywher,
!, near 0ne.half-probably not one-thirC
of the associations membership sub
: scribe to the views OF the Miles fac
ton. They have been led by the most
to voting the approval of that which
they had not looked into and did no
: rightly comprehend. We believe tina
! n large majority OF the manufacturer
. In the association are protectionists
i but not of the Miles type. Ferhap
the day is coming when this fact will
b be made more evident. Digging one
> own grave is not permanently cheer
u full occupation.