The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-07-12

Of Statistics apply this rule to the Chi.
nese, the latges, body OF people using
cotton In the world, and mostly clothed
by handmade goods. II will he apparent
that II would be fallacious TO compute or
infer a. low cost Of manufacture be.
cause the Chinese wages are low. II We
then take the two extremes, oil the operative
working by hand on machinery In China,
and the operative directing modern
machinery III Lowell, we find that In Low.
ell, where tho high relative wages are paid,
the low, relative cost Is 10 10 found. Hence
follows this rule: Other things being equal,
high wages coupled with low, cos. are the
necessary result oil the most Intelligent ap.
plication Of machinery TO the arts, provided
tue education Of the operative keeps pace
with the improvement Of machinery. This
fundamental principle must be compre.
hended In order that any valuable de.
auctions may be made from wases; and
before tue true cost Of any fabric eau be
determined, the other things which are
not equal must be ascertaine1.
Apply this rule 10 3lr. Swank's report.
He says, "our blast furnace practice Is the
bes. in the world, and It so chiefly because
we use powerful blowing engines and the
best hot blast stoves, possess good fuel and
carefully select our ores. Our Bessemer
steel practice is also the best In the world.
We produce more Bessemer steel and roll
more Bessemer steel rails In given time
by given amount oil machinery, tech
nically called plant, than any OF our
European rivals" Add to this The con-
ceded facts that. We have the most In
telligelt workmen in the world, aud have
our customers at our very door; what force
can remain In an argument from mere
difference in the rate OF wages? You nave
yourself said that We now "deiy compete.
ton abroad in most lines OF cotton goods,
and in seyerallines OF glass and hard Ware.'
And this too with all this vast difference
between the rate OF wages here and in
Europe-nay even in China, for we sell
our cotton goods even in China where
labor Is only six to fifteen cents per day.
But suppose your assertion TO be correct, |
That under free trade the country would be |
Hooded with the cheap goods OF Europe
md wages here reduced. Would not the |
aoikmen be just us well of; for would no,
less amount OF wages purchase the same
,mount OF things? The purcha log power
81 wages determines whether wages are
high or low. Would no. the former
De just as well oil, supposing he got less
price for his products, il the price OF what
lie has to buy is also clieapened? And
,ould not the workman afford 10 work for
ess wages il the purchasing yower of these
wages remained the same? And would
lot our industries therefore continue to
hrive? lr, =
So you will pardon me H. deny in tO;o,
hat even absolute free trade would ruin
.ither the iron industry or the farmer, or
you'd drive away from manufactures 10
griculture any considerable number of
rorkmcn. But nobody proposes free
rade. Revenue reiormers propose 10 re.
luce the tariff so that the larger portion OF
that il takes from the people shall 20 into
he public treasury. and no. into the nock-
IS OF the owners OF mills and factories 10
e divided among them as profits: like The
- per cent. profit divided By the Penn
ylvanla Steel company in. the last three
ears. iouis Respectfully
81 Il n. TuEyrR.