The Owyhee nugget. ([Silver City], Idaho) 1905-1984, 1908-10-30
PROTECTIVE TARIFF
AND LABOR.

ing men, for their benefit. Is ID Bet
strange that those who have done the |
work of the world and at the same
time had so many benefits showered |
upon them for twenty centuries,
are still SO poor that They have 10
beg for q job, ia order to liveS To
claim that tariffs protect labor, is to
aseume that labor is something infer
io,, and is degrading TO the masses who
toll.
The assumption that common labor
ers need protection 10 being used during
The present political campaign, the
same AS heretofore, to influence them to
vote according to the dictates of those
who furnish them job
The Republican party nov advocates
a Tariff sufficiently high to cover the
difference in the cost of production
mere aud abroad, together with n rea-
souable profit TO the manufacturers.
Now, in the first place there is no diff
ference ia the cost of manufacture here
and abroad, when we consider both the
employer and the employee. The en-
tire income is divided between tile two.
The more one gets, the less is left for
! the other. The cost to the nation, as
whole, is the same. For want of space
| must pass this matter up to you, to do
your own thinking.
Now AS to the proposal to also guar
antee reasonable profit to the manu-
facturers, want TO ask you, laboring
men, business men and farmers, does
the goserniaent orany ons else, guar
antee you q reasonable profit And
who shall decide what a reasonable
profit isf Does any one guarantees you
ANY profib2 Aud as the government
has nothing to give to one that it does
take from another, are you willing to
be taxed in order to guarantee the
profits of a few millionairesY But they
say this would enable them to pay
higher wages. But does it COMPEL them
to pay higher wages? Was there ever
law passed through congress providing
that they should divide these profits
with those whose toll creates their
wealth?
Any law having either the effect or
intent Of raising wages, would be op
posed aud not supported by the inter
ests thar have always claimed for pro-
! tective tariffs.
These same interests always have aud
always will, if possible, prevent any
law being enacted by the American
! congress, that would have any tendency
: to increase wages.
The whole aim aud spirit OF protec-
tive tariffs is hostile to the interests OF
labor. Protective tariffs increase
q the cost of commodities. Even protec-
] tionists admit that. II they did not
have this effect, they would confer nc
3 benefit on those who have advocated
i, them. But people who toll have nc
I commodities to sell. They are the
buyers and not the sellers of such
: things. The higher the prices the less
r can they get in exchange for their
: wages. If the United States, which ii
$ the highest wage country in the world
today, needs protection from the low
: wage countries of Europe, why is il
! that these same low wage countries
8 have always maintained high tariffs as
a protection against the high wage
countries. The fact is the laborinG
man does not need protection. HI
needs only justice and opportunity
o Give him these and the other fellowol
s who never work, will be the ones cry
ing loudest for protection. Count LIE,
4 Tolsti has said that the rich are willfnI
to do anything for laboring men Sxcep
as7,