Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1881-02-11
FREE TRADE AND PROTECTION

the ground that the workmen employ
ed by the patettce are paid highe
wages in consequence Of his protcc
ton against competition. In theory
the argument for such claim is mod
erately strong and without incousist-
ency. The trouble with 1t is that tic
facts are against II and TOO well known
Wheeler & Wilson sewing machines,
manufactured in Bridgeport and sold
to American buyers for 500 each, be-
fore the expiration of the patents,
were exported TO London and Paris
and sold there for $22. The cost of
production, determined tile lowest
price At which they were sold. The
wages Of the workmen were regulated
BY the $22 sale, not BY the $50 sale.
To suppose that the machines were
sold III London at loss that was
made up from the profits on the sales
made in the United States, is to sup-
pose the sellers were fools. The
extra $S3 charged the Anne, lean above
the price charged the foreign pur-
chaser represents merely an extra
profit above the ordinary profit. that
was made possible because the Amerl-
can people were not permitted to buy
their machines In the cheapest
market.
The claim that protection either
raises the wages Of American work
men, or keeps them from beng re-
duced 10 the standards Of other coun-
trie,, il not only opposed ID the facts
of the case, but in direct Cpl osition to
every principle Of protection.
Seventy per cent. of the protected
employers n this country compete Ia
the markets Of the world with the
cheaper labor Of other countries.
What they charge % for IN New York
they sell 10 London for 81 or $l25.
The extra 81 that the American pur-
chaser must pay represents an extra
profit over and above the proper profit
that is made on the sale Of the foreign
buyer The wages paid by the em-
ployer are not based on his protected
sales IN America, but upon bis free
trade sales III foreign countries--his
lowest selling price. When the
American salt ring compete in The
markets Of Canada and New Found
land with free salt from Turks Island,
and sell, after paying the cost Of
transportation for thousand miles,
OF prices far below what they charge
the american buyer at the salt works,
It requires some little hardihood to
claim that the wages OF the wotkmen
are based on the profits derived from
sales in the United States.
When the Bochum Iron Works
charge $40 per ton tor steel rails to
all railways within the limits of its
protected territory and $27.50 per ton
10 railways outside of those limits. it
has the deceIcy to frankly admit that
he Sl2.2o is an extra profit over a
air remunerative profit.
In both cases and in all cases the Il
wages Of the workmen arc based on h
he'lowest selling price. which is the
ree-trade price. not tile protected u
rice. Protection is for the EMPLOYER "
ot for the workman. 4
The practice Of protection is one
hing. the theory is another. Ii claims
one breath to ra,se the wages Of a.
10 American laborer, aud il HE next y
iat i gives him Improbable labor to y
erform, which must be subsidized by q
tax on profitable labor in order to g
ny him AIRY wages at all. How it =
IN raise the wages of the laborer nv 4