Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1910-07-22
NO PROTECTION
FOR. MECHANICS
Great Army of Workingmen
Are Not Cared For BY a
Republican Tariff.

A mechanic went home from
church, few Sundays ago, with a
prosperous farmer for dinner by ur-
gent request. They were old frien DIS.
The farmer, Republican the day
laborer and mechanic a Democrat.
The table was loaded with every
thing good to eat, grown on farm,
contrasting piteously with the usual
scant rare of the carpenter. Both had
large families, seven children each.
The carpenter was living in town in
five room house, for which he paid
$3.50 per month rent, and got 81. 80 a
day for his work, when work was to
be had, which was not all the time
by any means. After dinner, seated
under the shade of spreading trees,
the conversation naturally drifted
into political channels. The we'll
satisfied farmer spoke somewhat on
this wise:
can't see, to save my life, why
you Democrats want to change the
present order of things. The country
is prosperous. Under Republican rule
the farmers are getting the largest
prices In the history of the world for
their products. Thing of it-I sold
my cattle for cents, my hogs for
10 cents, my lambs for big price,
and my corn and wheat at larger
price than / ever did before in my
life. My timber is now optioned to
n large, rich lumber company for a
fine price on the stump. 1t seems to
me that with the country enjoying
this kind OF prosperity, any man
should be satisfied. The farmers of
Southwest Virginia were never SO
prosperous as now, under Republican,
rules and prices. Don't you think
so, John?" The Democrat said but
little. He delared, in word that he
found IL difficult to support his
large family, pay rent, dotors bills,
schooling, ETC., and asked why the
farmer and all the manufacturers
were protected and the hundred OF
thousands of day laborers were work
ing, and compelled TO work for low
wages? The enthusiastic protection
ist said that unless the farmer and
manufacturers were protected there
would be nothing To eat and wear at
any price. That the high tax on
shoes, clothing and the necessaries
OF life is necessary In order 10 sup
port this great government.
The NEXT day the laboFing man
- - 81.
work. He met an enth usiastic Re-
publican who was electioneering for
his candidate for congress. Among
other things he said that the Re
publican administration has revised
the tariff, as they had promised TO
do, and taken the tax off some
things, and were in no sense respon-
sible for the high cost ofliving, that
the Republican party is the friend Of
the poor man, that all this hue and
essaries of life was nothing but a
Demo C ratic campaign lie. Well,
thought our man. One Republican
says the party has gwen us the pros
perity we have, another says just
the opposite. They have two speeches
--one for the manufacturer and pro-
ducer and one Tor the consumer. To
the manufacturer Of leather, shoes,
clothes, machines, steel, iron, nails,
tin, watches, paper, type, grain and
stock-meat and bread, they say,
"behold how you have prospered un-
der the fostering care of the Republi-
can parry. You have grown rich
and ale still growing richer. Con
tinue us in power, and you will con-
tinue to grow. We are responsible
for your success. Well take caro- o
you. This is one speech. When they
address the consumer-the great
masses, they say,in effect: 1.-The Re.
publican party is in no sense respon
sibie for the high cost of living. The
prices of these things is governed by
the law of supply and demand. W.
own the country. We'll take care o
you working people," Our friend
just little bewildered at first, con
cludes after little thought, tha
somebody has lied, and, after 6
while justly concludes that botl
these men have lied, and that al
such speeches are either the result O
Ignorance, or attempts to play upol
the credui'ty of the working man t.
get his vote.
Rocky Gap