The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-07-21
From the Advertiser and Tribune.
Thrift MO E.E.HE. WIS.

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From the Advertiser and Tribune.
Thrift mo y.E.HE.S'TS.
Some few months ago we noted The
protest of large number of WOODEN
manufacturers against the tariff duties
on the material and manufactured arti.
Giles in which they are Interested. Now,
we have the protest Of 3S4 manufac-
turers of boots and shoes against the
continuance OF the tariff on the mater
ials of their industry. The tariff tax on
leather is 80 per cent which the manu-
facturers aver is useless as protection
measure, from the fact that the United
States enjoy advantages III the manutac
ture of leather that enable them to un-
derwork all other nations. There are
also heavy duties on cotton and silk,
rubber, webbing, and on hastings and
serges, nearly all of which are imported,
there being but two factories for the
manufacture of the latter in the country,
although the tax has been maintained
for four years. The combined tax on
the articles that arc used by the boot
and shoe men in their industry, yield Il
revenue to the government OF only
$3,500,000, while the tax upon the
manufacture Of boots and shoes, imposed
by these duties, is $lS,OOO, OO0, which
comes mainly out Of the consumers III
the end. Of late years our ma"uiac-
turers have gained % per cent. OF ad-
vantage through improved machinery
and new processes, and yet, owing to
the adverse influence of high protective
duties, the cost of production has been
SO enhanced that prices are not only
kept high at home, but we cannot com
pete with other nations, and our manu-
features are driven out of Canada, Mex
leo, the West Indies and South Amer
lea, which used to be our exclusive Gus
toners. The manufacturers recommend
the removal of all protective duties that
effect their industry. As the boot and
shoe industry has a more valuable pro
duct and employs larger number Of
hands than any single manufacture in
the country, the manufacturers think
that their representations ought to Sc
cure respectful consideration.
1t is a singular commentary on pro-
tectivc duties, SO called, to see the man
ufacturers they are claimed to protect,
one after another crying out against
them, imploring their removal, and de-
monstrating that they are being ruined
by the duties instead of being protected
by them. In the particular instance
under consideration, the protective
duties have hampered manufacturers in
our own country so thai our manufao-
turers have lost millions of dollars OF
trade, with other countries which they
until lately controlled, and have opcr-
ated to largely promote the boot and
shoe manufacturing industry in Canada
Such facts as are set forth above are
gradually but surely educating the pub
lie mind. The Republican State Con
vention Of Iowa last year passed rcsolu
tions on the subject of the tariff that
gave great satisfaction to the protection
lists, but this year the Republicans O
this banner Republican State recon-
mended such protection only as Z
fairly adjusted rcreauc t0riB will af
ford" The Ohio Republican State
Convention has adopted generalyzine
unmeaning resolution regarding the tar
if, but it is certainly not square pro
tectivc tariff resolution. 1t enumerate,
the payment of the interest and princi
pal of the public debt, and the expense,
of the government as the Legitimate
ends for which tariff duties should b(
$50 adjusted as not to prejudice but
promote the interest Of every section
and branch of industry as far as may b,
possible" in his speech at Columbus OF
the evening after the nominations were
made, Senator Sherman said he wa,
"opposed to continuing at q high rate
the tax on articles Of prime necessity il
| common use among all our people
merely TO be able to reduce taxes OF
those articles competing with our own,
and he summed up his views as follows
"A reduction of duties on necessarics
( large duties on luxuries, and aycrag
duties on articles competing with GU
own" Mr.. Sherman is not an cmincn
apostle of revenue reform, but he has
marked gift for detecting at the carlies
moment which way the wind blows. d,