Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-08-26
Lower Tariff, Lower Wages.

Lower Tariff, Lower Wages.
Recently in the New York Herald
Frank A. Munsey. the well-known
former Maine man. had this to say of
the tariff revision issue:
IF the tariff be reduced we cannot
maintain the high wage rates now in
force. A lowering of the tariff would
invite an influx of foreign goods pro-
duced by cheap labor and wages in
our country would have to go down
with the tariff as a matter of business
expediency. of business existence
In these words Mr.. Munsey places
American labor face to face with the
real meaning of the tariff problem If
the tariff is lowered wages must be
lowered. You cannot have your pie
and eat it too. You cannot have both
high wages and lower tariff.
Mr.. Munsey's views as regards this
question are based on practical expert
ence gained by considerable expense
in the publication of staggering
number of newspapers and magazines
For sometime past it has been dull
year indeed which has not seen Mr..
Munsey found a magazine, purchase
daily newspaper or open a new field
for Sunday reading. Already his in
terests OF this kind embrace a goodly
portion of the United States and as
his activities show no signs of waning
they may one day extend from coast
to coast, and from Baffin's Bay to the
Gulf of Mexico .
Mr., Munsey, as an employer of labor,
is in position to speak authoritative
ly regarding wages and his service to
the laboring men of the United States
will he of great value if he succeeds
in opening its eyes to the fact that
tinkering with the tariff is in reality
tinkering with wages. The question to
be answered is not, as Mr.. Munsey
points out, whether protection is ad-
vantageous, for this, that, or the other
country, it is this: Are American
labor organizations prepared to accept
the inevitable consequences of a radi-
cal downward revision of the tariff
One of these consequences, and one
that directly concerns labor must be
a reduction Of wages, the abandon
ment wholly or partially by the United
States of the high protective tariff
principle would so stimulate the for
eign competition with home industries
that American manufacturers to meet
It would be forced to lower the pres
ent rate of wages. If they did not
foreign competition would sweep them
out Of existence and thus throw labor
out OF employment.
Farmers. too. have many points to
consider, and of vital Importance in
TINS connection. Forced to face the
fact which comes to the American
farmer by reason of Republican tariff
legislation the Democratic United
states senators who recently submitted
their minority report on the question
OF wages and prices seek to deceive
that prosperous element in our popu-
lation into the belief that it is free
trade and not protection that this
country should have. Notwithstanding
the increase in the price of farm pro-
ducts the farmer, they say, has real
lied a small net return on his labor
and investment
The time has gone by, however. when
shifting gentlemen can make the
American farmer believe that sort of
nonsense. A leading authority says:
To-day there is not a farmer in the
country who for given quantity of
his products cannot buy and lay down
at his own door more of the necessities
OF life. more clothing, more of eyery-
thing that goes to make up the COM
forts OF home. Notwithstanding the
nigh prices, than ever before in the
history of our country"
Under these circumstances the Dem
ocratic doctrine Of discomfort and dis
aster which is being so loudly pro-
claimed in Maine appeals to the farm
er only AS something to be spurned.