Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 August 1892 — Vote with Both Eyes Open. [ARTICLE]

Vote with Both Eyes Open.

Ths Chicago Tribune says: “Let every man vote on this great question with both eyes open as to its effect upon himself, for it is a question of business with him. Let him figtire out whether he will gain in cheaper imported goods enough to offset about one-third of his wages, for that is the final outcome of the adoption of Grover Cleveland’s scheme as laid down in the Democratic platform. ” Yes, this the way to get at the question. Look at prices with one eye and wages with the other. The Tribune here admits that goods imported free of duty would be cheaper. Hence free goods would make the purchase eyes of 65,000,000 people twinkle and sparkle. Now how would It be with their wage eyes? In the first place, less than two million are employed in in - dustries benefited by protection and three-fourths of these industries would thrive better with free raw materials and without any protection. And then, too, come to think of it, how does “protection” benefit the wageearner in any industry—it don’t keep out the cheap foreigner who is free to come over here as soon as he thinks he can improve his condition. There is then absolutely nothing in protection for the wage-earner. If he will remove the bandage from his wage eye he may see that with free raw materials our manufacturers would soon lead the world, and also that if our farmers could save the 60 per cent, duty they now have to pay on goods taken in exchange for farm products their business would prosper and increase—and does he think that Increasing business all around means low wages and less work. “Vote with both eyes open!”