Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-10-29
ATTITUDE OF The REPUBLICAN
PARTY TOWARDS LABOR.


the annals of our history, it has
sought TO better their condition and
has by its benign legislation ele-
waited them from condition OF
want to position of plenty; from
serfdom as it were to a position OF
cons tant progressiveness made radi-
ant by golden vista of future /
opportunities. 1t has protected
the labor of this country from the
cheap labor of Europe, and through
its judioious tariff laws, has made
that class unable to enter into com
petition which would have been ac-
complished If the free trade theories
of our Democratic friends had been
formulated into laws. BY protect
ing the factories and other indus
tries Of this country it has provided
wages for the laborers and through
its protection of them, provided a
market for the products of the farm
ers.
The memory of the administra-
ton Of the late President Cleveland
and the disasterous Democratic
tariff law that closed factories
throughout our country and threw
millions of laborers out of employ
ment, is too fresh in the minds of
the people for the Democratic
2arty's appeal to be sufficiently
potent for it to be again placed in
power and given an opportunity to
evidence its incapacity to effect
successful tariff legislation.
To the credit of the Republican
party as a national party are to be
recorded the following achievements
which have added UNNECESSARILY
to the present prosperous condition
of the laborers of this country;
1t passed laws prohibiting the
Coolie trade, closed doors to the
Ipaupers and criminals of Europe,
stopped the immigration of Chinese
to Hawaii and immigration of
Chinese to the United States from
Hawaii and passed laws excluding
Chinese from our entire leland ter
ritory. Not only did it abolish
compulsory labor, but excluded the
products of the cheapest foreign
labor through a protective tariff
law and made it impossible for that
class tn enter competition with the
American labor. In 1886, il abol-
ished the contract system of labor
, for United States convicts and
thereby protected American labor.
Significant fact, indeed. is it that
!, all votes cast against this measure
l. were tn )se of the Democrats. A
q law requiring common carriers to
: make monthly reports of accidents
:, to the interstate commerce con-.
g mission and the first eight hour law
ever adopted also stand to the crec
it of the Republican party. An
other law still advancing the in.
terests of the laboripg class was
4 passed by the Republican party il
&C 1892. 1t extended the eight hour
1,e to include all persons employed by
IN contractors on public works. This
It. is the record of the Republican
party IN the United States and j
can be said without fear of success
full contradiction that the Republi
ce can party in the state of Idaho ha
b ever demonstrated its friendlines
lie for the laboring class whenever op
IS portunity presented itself. In fact
Of Of it has given indisputable evidenc
as that it stands for the laboring elias
,er of Idaho. The last legislature en-
nc, acted much legislation favorable
I'm labor of which may be mentione
me- the law making Monday after tn
Gr, first Tuesday in Septembe
b.. a legal holiday, it bein
designated Labor Day." til
er. employers Liability Law" tn
Eight Hour Day for Smeltsl
Law" the law for the protection {
u persons furnishing labor and m,
terial of public buildings.
How careful investigation wi
Ia. reveal that the Republican party I