The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-02-18

"hkog nnu CoAtOl LhNtuks
Inasmuch as tho tariff IL becoming an
active and almost constant question in
the discussions In Congress and in the
newspapers, ii is important that as far as
possible tho facts DO got at that really bear
upon lie strength or weakness asa matter
Of popular concern. First, and above all,
II protection does not conducO to the
advantage Of tho working masses Of this
country, then as u matter Of course the
main pillar OF tho whole ediAce falls.
Most men live by the daily sweat Of their
face, and therefore tho supreme question
with them in reference 10 this or any other
policy is simply does 1t work for or against
them.
Take our Ohio Valley for example.
There Is a duty on pig iron Of
ssvcn dollars per ton. This means that
the pig iron mSdO on tho banks Of the
Ohio river has at least this margin Of pro-
lection aCainst tho pig iron brought from
abroad, leaving out oil view any incident Of
transportation, inaSmuch as manufacturers
in tho Ohio Valley pay transportation on
much Of tho raw material used in the
manufacture Of pig iron. We will call the
margin Of protection just even 81 per
ton. The average cost Of ton Of pig iron
in the Ohio Valley to-day is about SCI,
The primo cost OF the material entering into
1t, excluding the whole category Of wages
is certainly not above s.. All the rest
from s. up to SCI is cost in the shape Of
wages paid at tho mines, wages paid FOL
transportation, and wages paid for manu-
iaeGure at tho furnace, and interest on the
capital Of tho mine owner, the vessel owner
the railroad owner and tho furnace owner
Now assuming that il there was no protec
ton on this homo made iron, foreign iror
would DO laid down at our doors ut severa
dollars less than the present costof tn
domestic article, it follows as matter o
course that il iron is made here a
all 1t must be made at tho prict
Of tho foreign article. And il il Il
made ct tho cost Of tho foreign articl,
there must be a decided reduction in al
the elements OF its cost, Of which elemen
labor Is tho chief. II the foreign articl,
can be made 50 as to be laid down here a
the present cost Of the homemade article
less Tho duty abolished, or Sl4 Der ton
then tho home article must be produce,
for sl4 per ton. This means one.thirtl les
than Mt present. and this, following It ont
means a reduction of 80 Der cent on Tn
cost OF which cost labor ia the chief
Then begins tho strife for existence
this point-ior tho survival of the fittest a
our free trade friends would say-apd wear
reduced "A Mr.. Tucker of Virginia mt il
to tho alternative of making iron PIGS O
raising Berkshire pigs.
Now yc do not saw that the America,
lsborer would commence to staryo Mt tbi
point Ho would in all probability get hi
food cheaper than he gctsitto.day. because,
good many OF his follow workmen would h
compelled TO adopt Mr.. fuckers ulterno
tive and 20 to raising corn nm,
hocr and thew would competo will
the farmers OF to-day in seeking
market for what they raise. On tho sam,
theory tbs cost of clothing would fall W,
should bo red and clothed cheaper ps Inn,
a American manufacturers STAYED in IN
struggle Assoop as thew were driven on
there would be, as there has been . and
den burst Of high prices for the foreign
made article. Tho condition Of America,
manufacturers remaining in the strrggI
Would be largely n Question NJ wocos S' !,
employees Low wages abroad would mco,
low w,a., horo The production orcbcon
or food here would mean tho mpnlving y
cheaper food to Eurone and tho cbooro
the food there the lower tho worpa an,
the lower tho vores there tho lower III,
wages here.
And vet ve would all live no dorb,
The Chimes. 1.-Two low on wncos w,
could all live in their wov on their wo,s.
By d!soardips every consideration in iit
cave that Of a Nero swipisb existence ~,
o,uld ct enough IN ,rnnort Iiro mn,