Evening star., 1925-08-20
Tariff and Textiles.


American Federation of Labor threat
ems to bring organized labor down
on the Republican protective tariff,
particularly as extended to the tex
tile industries, unless the textile
manufacturers let up in their wage
reductions.
Labor in this country, like the
| manufacturers, has benefited enor-
mously under the system of protective
tariff, of which the Republican party
has been the great support. 1t is true
that industries have been prosperous
and profits large under this system,
though at present, from a combina-
ton Of circumstances, the textile in
dustrtes are not so prosperous. At
the same time the wages and stand
ards of living of the American work
ing man and woman have been ad-
vanced under this system. Nowhere
in the civilized world has labor been
so amply rewarded as in the United
States, and nowhere are the stand
ards of living for the workers so high
as here.
What will happen if the protective
tariff is struck down? VIII American
labor benefit by the influx of cheaper
made foreign goods, textiles and
other products? Will this further
competition aid in opening American
mills and increasing wages? Such a
course, pursued by organized labor,
would be cutting off the nose to spite
the face. 1t might have its revenge on
the textile manufacturers for wage re-
ductions, but it is difficult to live on
revenge. The profits of the manufac-
turers might be made still lower, but
this would scarcely increase the earn
ings of the workers.
Mr.. Green's threat carries back of
it the potential political strength of
the American Federation of Labor. 1t
is that political strength which he
proposes to use as a club to make
the textile manufacturers behave"
Everything, it appears, in this coun-
try resolves itself finally into a DO
litical question. The American Fed
Grafton of Labor, through its execu-
tive council, not long since declared
that it intended to continue a course
of non partisan political action" and
to keep away from the Endorsement
Of any particular party. In this
threat now made against the pro-
tective tariff, however, the fedora
ton leader is aiming directly at a
Republican party principle, much to
the delight of the Democrats.
Probably. however, this should be
considered not so much threat at
the entire principle and practice of
the protective tariff as at one par
ticular industry, which has aroused
the anger of the workers because of
wage reductions. Perhaps labor is
seeking a new weapon, and hence
forth will distinguish between good"
and bad" industries in the matter of
tariff protection. If an industry re-
duces wages, then organized labor
will demand that it's protection be re-
duced. The time may come when, if
an industry fails to increase wages,
the same demand will be made.
The textile industry has been in
difficulties in spite of it's protection
from the tariff, but not because of it.
Prices of raw materials are high. The
prices Of the finished products are
high. The country is practicing econ
omy, in part because it desires to
and in part because it is forced to.
Men and women are making their
clothes last longer. Markets abroad
are curtailed. Mills in some of the
New England towns have been run
ming on part time or have been closed.
If they were making great profits, it
is reasonable to suppose they would
be running full time. T.