The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-11-04
THE ATTITUDE OF THE REPUB-
LICAN PARTY TOWARDS
IAROR

Since its birth in 1856, the attitude
Of the Republican party towards labor
has been such that 1t Is universally
conceded by those in any measure
conversant with its achievements along
that line that all benefits of note that
have been received by the laboring
class have come through the Repub-
lican party. It has ever been their ex-
ponent and its most notable achieve
ments stand out distinctly as having
been potent factors in materially ad-
vancing the interests of labor in this
country. From that juncture in our
history when Lincoln attached his
signature to the homestead law and
thereby provided homes for millions
of his fellow citizens who made their
living by the sweat of their brow and
whose heart ever beat in unison with
those of the common people of whom
he was one, the party of which he
was a great leader has exerted itself
for the laboring classes. From that
day to this good day when there Is
such an era of prosperity as was never
excelled In the annals Of our history, 1t
and has by its benign legislation
elevated them from a condition Of
want to a position of plenty; from
serfdom as it were to a position of
constant progressiveness made radiant
by a golden vista of future opportuni-
ties. II has protected the labor Of this
country from the cheap labor Of
Europe, and through its judicious tar
If laws has made that class unable to
enter into competition which would
have been accomplished If the free
friends had been formulated into laws.
BY protecting the factories and other
industries of this country, 1t has pro-
vided wages for the laborers and
through it's protection of them, pro-
vided market for the products Of
the farmers.
The memory Of the administration
Of the late President Cleveland and
the disastrous Democratic tariff law
that closed factories throughout our
country and threw millions of labor
ers out of employment, Is too fresh in
the minds Of the people for the De-
mocratic party's appeal to be suffi-
GENTLY potent for it to be again placed
n power and given an opportunity to
Its incapacity to effect sue
3essful tariff legislation.
To the credit of the Republican
party as national party are to be re-
corded the following achievements
nave duucu lIlIilcdSuIdUly "
he present prosperous condition of
The laborers of this country:
1t passed laws prohibiting the
Ioolie trade, closed doors to the
and criminals of Europe,
topped the immigration of Chinese to
laval and the immigration of Chi
ese to the United States from Hawaii
nd passed laws excluding Chinese
rom our entire island territory. Not
My did 1t abolish compulsory labor,
ut excluded the products of the
heapest foreign labor through pro-
ective tariff law and made it impos-
ible for that class to enter COMPETE
lon with the American labor In 1885
. abolished the contract system of
abor for United States convicts and
hereby protected American labor.
ignificant fact, indeed, is 1t that all
otes cast against this measure were
hose of the Democrats. A law re-
uiring common carriers to make
lonthly reports of accidents to the
lter-state commerce commission and
he first eight hour law ever adopted
so stand to the credit of the Repub-
can party. Another law still advanc-
lg the interests Of the laboring class
as passed by the Republican party in
392. 1t extended the eight hour law
} include all persons employed by
on public works. This Is
le record of the Republican party in
le United etates and it can be said
ithout fear of successful contradic-
on that the Republican party in the
ate of Idaho has ever demonstrated
; friendliness for the laboring class
henever opportunity presented itself.
fact, 1t has given indisputable evil
'nce that 1t stands for the laboring
ass of Idaho. The last legislature
acted much legislation favorable to
Dor Of which may be mentioned the
W moking Monday after the first
lesday in September legal holiday,
being designated Labor Day." the
Employers Liability Law" the
light Hour Day for Shelters Law"
e law for the protection of persons
labor and material Of pub
buildings.
Now careful investigation will re-
al that the Republican party as
tional party has given the laboring
SIS all the legislation that has ever
en- enacted in its interests, while
, Republican party of Idaho has
sr been found contending for the
vancement Of all that was calculat-
to promote the interests of labor
ionist.
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MARKED CONrTTR CIT