Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 March 1906 — WAGE REDUCTION. [ARTICLE]

WAGE REDUCTION.

Glaasworkei-a Dlacuver Protection Doea Not Protecta H Tliere are but few industries mom highly protected than glassmaking In' all its branches, the tariff tax ranging from 40 to over 100 per cent. Window glass is taxed by the tariff from 1% cents a pound to 20 cents per square foot, according to size and quality. This enormous tax, which ranges from 40 to over 100 per cent, does not appear to protect the workmen from disaster, although plundering the consumer, for the president of tjie Amalgamated Window Glass Workers’ nasoelation, In a special letter lately sentout to the members of that organization advocating that a reduction of wages b« accepted “in order to prevent dis-

aster to all who are interested in the machine made product,” says? ‘‘After Jan. 3 there is no power on earth that we can use to keep all the members employed unless we meet the situation by a reduction in wages for a time at least.” The proposed cut in wages is onethird and the workmen will have to accept It or be idle. But, notwithstanding this great reduction in wages, the protectionists still persist in protesting that of the tariff law must be undertaken or labor will suffer. The facts show that a large proportion of the window glass workers have a compulsory holiday for nearly half the year. Their high wages are a myth, and the window glass trust, with machines that do many men’s work, has them at its mercy. Meanwhile the public Is paying two (■bees for window glass because the trust has no competition, as the absurdly high tariff protects it from foreign competition and the high wages of the workers who manufacture glass by hand secure the trust from home competition with its own low cost machine made glass. The congress controlled by the Republicans has been organized to prevent tariff revision in any form, and no relief to the people from the plundering of the trusts and combines can be expected from that party. Those who feel the pinch of trust high prices can only get relief by electing n Democratic congress, which party is pledged to reasonable tariff revision.