Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-09-05
WITH OPEN TARIFF
HOW EMPLOYERS MIGHT DEAL
WITH TRADE UNIoNISM.
Instead of Raising Millions with
Which to Fight Organized Labor
the Manufacturers Might Spend
Their Money in Breaking Down
Tariff Protection.

1t would seem that zeal for the open
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 much
from the strenuous propaganda lately
inaugurated for an all-round overhaul
ing of the tariff schedules. At the
recent annual meeting of the associa-
tion declaration was made for tariff
revision at the earliest practicable
moment and also for general system
of trade treaties involving a 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 is 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
duties wages must also go down
When lack of employment comes as y
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 million dollar fund
with which to fight trades unionism.
Indeed, there is better way to pro-
| duce the desired result: Use the
million-dollar fund 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-
| tivate amicable relations with wage
| earners by upholding the tariff protec-
| ton, which alone can Insure both en-
| ployment and wages at high water
mark, is strengthened by the views ex-
| pressed in recent interview in the
| New York Herald, by H. E. Miles,
chairman of the committee on tariff
and reciprocity of the National AS
sociation of Manufacturers, also a
member of the committee on resolu-
tions, and, presumably author of the
tariff ripping and reciprocity declara-
ton already alluded to. In this inter
| view Mr. Miles expresses a desire for
downward tariff revision at the earli-
est practicable moment. He wants
| the tariff torn open at the next win
ter's session of congress.
THE inequalities of the tariff sched-
ules now operative are unnecessarily,
needlessly, improperly taking. by gov
ernmental sanction, hundreds of mil
lions of dollars from the many and
adding them to the fortunes that the
president is watching with alarm"
This is the way Mr.. Miles puts the
|
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 it
that opportunities for doing well are
without delay circumscribed. Tariff re-
duction will do the trick Let us have
tariff reduction forthwith. Thus MI.
Miles, as we read him.
That Chairman Miles of the tariff
and reciprocity committee correctly
represents the views and purposes of
the forces that are permitted to CON
troll the acts and deliverances of the
National Association of Manufacture
ers on the tariff question we do not
for moment dispute For a long
time past the fact that halfway pro-
tectfonists and all-the-way free trad
ers held the reins in that organization
mas been increasingly apparent. Just
now the association is being very ex-
tensively quoted and most fiatteringly
commended in the free trade news
papers. That tariff ripping and reci-
proclty resolution of last MAY has
made great hit in this direction
But we do not believe that anywhere
near one-half-probably not one-third
or the associations membership sub
scribe to the views of the Miles fac
tton. They have been led by the nose
to voting the approval of that which
they had not looked into and did not
rightly comprehend. We believe that
large majority of the manufacturers
In the association are protectionists.
but not of the Miles type. Perhaps
the day is coming when this fact will
be made more evident. Digging ones
own grave is not a permanently cheer
ful occupation.
Keep the Money at Home.
III there was no more protection for