Evening journal., 1908-01-15
What | Know About
Delaware Politics and
Other Things
FoRTY-FIFTH ARTICLE.
By Washington Hastings

Republicans. regarded a "scratch"-as they say
in billiards
events, although they occurred late
in the campaign contributed in large if not
tirey the success the Democrats
the Republicans. Notable among them the unfort
remark OF the aged clergyman with his three RS
Fifth Avenue hotel reception the equally
fortunate bunder Of the complimentary dinner rendered
Mr.. Blaine by the late Jay Gould; few days pre-
vousy. known the "Afillonaires Banquet"ether Of
which, by ITSELF would have been l-advised and dan
gerous enough but coming as they did in such quick
succession proved fatal AT least, many Republicans
thought and attributed their defeat solely TO those
causes tho prospect victory the Republican
ticket prior that had been regarded exceptionally
bright.
The Republican party in this state from ncpience
in 1S56-when it numbered only about three hundred
votershad been striving for political supremacy for all
those twenty years with only temporary spas
modc and it shared with Republicans the
try over the deep disappointment and chagrn OF deeat
in the election of Democratic President-wh all that
that implied And the presentation to Congress Of
the famous one theme message Of Mr. Cleveland IN
which he savagely attacked the Republican doctrine and
principle of protective tariff that disappointment and
hostility almost assumed proportions of CONSERVATION and
alarm alone In the minds of politicians but also in
the estimation OK business men and citizens generaly as
Mllmlnston beng almost exclusively Manufacturing
city tho prosperity Of this community thought to
be largely dependent the retention of that principle
Oh pohuea economy as one OF the carana principles OF
government If not indeed, absolutely essential TO
our lbeing And this alarm increased and magnihed
an aggressive attitude the tariff question and legis
laton hostile TO high tariff and favorable to low
or "a tariff for revenue only" was begun
very large proportion Of the manufacturers of this
state in Whatever particular line business they
engaged and Of whatever political persuasion honestly
believed that their material assaed
their business and livelihood threatened by this hostile
attitude towards them Of Mr.. Cleveland and his party.
And so. as all manufacturers In those days not
mllonaires the qeston appeared to be of vital i'm
porance to themand they said whether they thought
so TO the fun meaning and extent of the expression
not for the arguments sake-and discussion OF IL
the pubic prints and the presentation Of facts and
mont in favor of the doctrine of high protection
prominently into the foreground and occupied much
the time and attention Of busy men
In reply to a communication in publication OF this
city entitled How Tariff Reduction Would Affect Will
mngtoi Workmen." in which the writer of article
argued that it would affect them favorably l wrote on
November 19th 1885, the follownga which, revision
at this time and promises to be living the
pagn next year, venture to reproduce here what
follows:
"Mr Editor: have read the communication
,,.. in your issue Of the 7th instant entitled How
80 -Tarn Reduction Would Affect Wilmington
Workmen" but must confess that I find
nothing In 1t that is new or different from the
stock in trade argument of the Free Traders
the country over namely the cheapening
commodities. To undertake refute an argument
addressed 10 the Workngmen of Wilmington
based upon the proposition that to cheaper the
price of the only thing which those worxingmen
have to sell, their well-being would be thereby
enhanced, is a task upon which do not intend
spend time. And II your correspondent knew and
understood the class of our fellow citizens whom
he addresses as well as think do, he would
not waste his time and insult their intelligence
as Wen, in trying to maintain such absurd and
ridiculous proposition. Every intelligent person,
be he woilngman or ider. knows that this argu-
ment is not intended expected by its advo-
cat to obtain except by trick and device the
wortngman's vote, influence his Judgment
and opinion. but that it is put forth to catch
the ear not of those who toll, either as en-
pcyer 9r employe-and naturally wish for a
good market in which to dispose OF the fruits OF
that toil--but of that fortunate class of COM
munity who live fixed incomes either earned
or inherited and who would be materially bene-
price Of commodities which while they have no
part or lot in helping to produce, they nee
essarily help to consume
Il said n bogfn Mr.
argument that can observe in your correspond
cry Of cheapl cheapi cheapi In the name of an
the gods at once" would ask is not everything
that necessarily enters into the consumption of a
family (eXcept, possibly best cuts Of butchers
meap cheap enough today? Hats coats boots
shoes shirts stockings, dress goods muslin
blankets pots. pans. farm utensils worlmen's
toos-eReryhing that men and and
duce, are they not cheaper today than ever be-
Tore In the history OF civilization? Sad to say
cheap for the moral health OF community too
cheap for the maintenance and preservation of a
dectnt. respectable sef-respecting class of art
sans and work-people by whose labor they are
produeed When, for working the button-holes
and sewing on the buttons of one dozen white
shirts woman can only nine cents and all
in oder that those shirts may be sold for thirty
eight cents EACH in the fierce competition OF the
times then those white shirts too cheapl the
Ceyeiands he Cobdens, the wattersons the Nor
and ow'ltt and big this side Of kingdom come
TO the contrary Notwithstanding.
And yet these statesmen and preachers and
philanthropists and college professors-these
theorists and dreamers. would lower our import
duties and flood our markets with foreign goods
In order that the rich man, or the man retired
on liked income, who produces nothing may do
his shopping at a little less cost
And what is the inducement offered 10 the
thousands Of producing toilers OF this country
Tor their support Of this free-trade dogma? Re
ducod to its simplest form. so far as I can see
Il Is this and only this: that the woman's husband
may buy his short for twenty-five cents instead
OF thrty-eight cents. and she get five cents in
steao or nine cents per dozen for sewing on the
buttons and working the button holes
How would tariff reduction affect Wilmngto,
worNmenl This way. Instead OF being abe ~
1--we especially in comfortable dwellings com
tortaby furnished, amid decent surroundlnes
win their children comfortably clad and i'm the
pubic school and the Sunday school, instead OF
the Zine or ten dollars which is the aver
age wages even in these dull times they would
hnd IN competition with free trade labor ~
Europe, their weekly pay. probably, four and half