_Hon. Thomas E. Watson, Thomson, Ga._
MY DEAR SIR: A Republican here claims that the tariff shuts
out the cheap labor of the European countries and on that
account, the laborers here in our factories get high prices.
He says that the factories of England pay their laborers
twelve to fifteen cents per day on account of free trade in
England. He says children work for five cents per day, and
railroad engineers get only $4 per month. He says that if
this country were to adopt free trade, the factories of the
European countries could come over here and buy our cotton and
raw products, ship them to England, manufacture them, ship them
back here and sell them cheaper than our factories could do it,
and the result would be that our factories would be compelled
to close down, thus throwing thousands of people out of
employment. I think his claims are extravagant. I want you to
explain this fully. I want to be loaded for him the next time
I meet him, and if I can get “loaded up” on your ammunition, I
will dead sure knock him out.
I have read all you have written about the Bank system and am
prepared to put up a very fair argument. I don’t understand
this, Mr. Watson. In a recent issue of your Magazine, you say
there is no reason on earth why the Government should not loan
the money direct to the people instead of the 5000 bankers.
Please explain fully just how this could be done. How much
per share did Cleveland get for the bonds that he sold on the
midnight deal? I have heard it said that he sold them for $125
per share.
Thanking you for the great work you are doing for the common
people and with kindest regards to you personally,