Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-06-12
Protection Does not Protect.

One of the greatest arguments used in be-
half of q protective tariff is that it increases
the wages of the laboring man. We pro-
pose to show the fallacy of this assertion
and prove that instead of receiving higher
wages they actually get lower under the
system of protection.
| The best way to do this is by comparison,
and, by way of illustration, we will assume
that Greenbrier county is a small republic
like Switzerland, independent of the rest of
the world. She makes her own laws and
shapes her own policy, having at heart the
best interests and happiness of her citizens
Suppose our County Court is the National
Legislature of this little republic and enacts
all the laws. Smith, one of her citizens, is
engaged in the manufacture of wagons.
He cannot compete with those of foreign
make, and asks the government for protec-
ton, which is granted. A tariff of $25 is
levied on every wagon of foreign make that
comes into the republic, Smith Immediately
raises the wages of his employees $5 per
month-the other $40 he adds to the price
of wagons. His employees are delight
ed. They think protection is a glorious
thing-so it would be if wagons were the
only thing protected.
By and by, pay day rolls around, and all
of Smiths employees draw their wages and
HE them away tolay in their stock of gro
ceries, provisions, clothing, etc., for the en-
suing month. One of them goes into the
store of Mr.. Jones, and something like the
following collOquy takes place:
| Laborer-"Mr. Jones' want hat ?''
Jones-''All right. Here they are"
L.-''What is this hat worth P''
| 1.-Two dollars"
I r. Jo1Iarc9 yVI,., 7 ,,soJ - r.h4
| for one. How does it come that / have to
pay two for it nOw?''
| J.-'Why, firm has gone to manufac-
tnring hats in our country, and as we pro-
| tect wagons, we must protect hats too, and
the government levies tax of one dollar on
every hat that comes into our country"
L.-Well, there is one dollar of my five
| increase of wages gone, but suppose l
must not complain. Now, let me see your
| clothing ?"
| J.-"Here it is SIR
L.-ssWhat is this suit worth %
J.--"Twenty-four dollars"
L.-"Twenty-four dollarsl Great Scott,
you must be joking! Why, lean get just as
good suit as that across the line for $12 ?'
J.-'Indeed, my friend, I am not jok-
ing-clothing is protected, too. We must
protect or industries, you know"
|
Clothes and will have to take this suit,
but there is the other $4 of my advance of
wages gone, and IS besides. Now, for some
sugar."
| J.-Here are two grades; which will you
have?'
| L.-"What are they worth?''
J.-"This is worth ten cents, and that
twelve"
L.-'What! The last bought cost me
seven cents"
| J.-'Sugar is protected too.''
| L.-"But we make no sugar in this coun-
try"
J.-"Oh, there is somebody trying to
make it out of beets back in the country
here, and he demanded protection and the
government put on a tariff of three cents on
the pound"
And the conversation goes on in much
the same way in regard to salt, shoes, cali
Goes, knives and in fact everything he
wants and needs, and before the laborer
leaves the store he has paid the S. increase
in wages three or four times over, and the
next month, and every succeeding month
repeats the operation. Itsoons dawns upon
his benighted brain that protection is not
Isuch good thing after all, but is delusion
and snare.
This is not an overdrawn picture, but is a
der why the condition of laboring men is
not better. The solution is easy. They
are robbed every day Of their lives in the
manner above described.-Greenbrier (W.
Va.) Independent.