There is no ieason and no excuse for such legislation. Mr. Chairman. unless it is the intent and desire to adjust American wages and the American standard of living to the European and Asiatic level. When the wages of workmen in our mills and factories are reduced to the Democratic freetrade dollaraday basis. then the price of farm products must be cut in half and the wages of carpenters. painters. plumbers. masons. bricklayers. paper hangers. decorators. teachers. clerks. and so on. must also be cut in half. with idleness on every hand. There will be no strikes then for higher wages and shorter hours.