The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-01-16

IT ia remarked by the Louisville Courier
Journal that "Protection seems to be pro.
tecting' the laboring men just now beauti-
fully Then follows summary Of recent
wage reductions in the United States. The
depression in manufacturing industries is
ssweet morsel 10 the free tradera. Every
time a mill closes or q slice Is taken of
wages they grin from the Atlantic to the
Pacific md from the great lakes TO the
gull Of Mexico-Neros hddlina under the
comforting assurance that Rome is burn
ing. Do they add that 1883 was year Of
marked depression in Engliah industries7
that iron went down SO low that it was
thought 1t could 90 no lower that wages
were reduced in fabric mills, in iron and
steel establishments and III the mines?
that establishments. heretofore successful
in thcss indutries were obliged to suspend?
at tho close Of the year the Lopdon
Times, in its iron review, remarked that
the year ends with prices in all branches
at their lowest ebb for years." The Times
was hopefal Of better things in the new
year, because slow prices Lessen produc.
tion in many parta-a process which is at
work now-and as these low prices stimu-
la.O consumption, the stocks are reduced,
and with the reduction Of the reserve there
is gradual improvement in demand and
in price," But the opening OF the new year
does not fulfil the hope. On Saturday last
the 1NTELLlaENcER printed the following
cable dispatch: .g .,....5F
LONDON, January 1.-THE iron masters
Of Cleveland, Yorkshire, owing to the de-
preston in the pig iron market, are making
arrangements to extnguish the fires in
twenty iron furnaces in; the belief that they
will thus accomplish an advance in prices.
There have been advices Of other auspen-
sions to restrict production and improve
tho price. At the close Of the year $4,000
Lancashire operatives were out Of employ
ment, striking against reduced wages. At
Manchester trade was reported sin very
depressed condition. at Bradford and
Leicester the wool market was .in languid
condition." The Kidderminster carpet
trade was flat, with mo signs Of recovery
in the depressed china and earthenware
trades OF North Sta(orjshire Increased
du}lness" was reported. The great Englleh
trade journal Iron, not being able TO sp.
preclate the fine point made by the Ameri-
can free traders, said in It's number Of
December % !. ..5423 .S53 90
The closing ,oi some OF the American
iron works, either owing 10 ecarcity OF EN-.
ployment or unremunerative prices, ap
pears to have frightened some people in
4 the United States, who seem to look upon
such an event AS great natural misfor.
tune. .rAs q matter Of fact 1t Is q mere con.
y tingency OF trade, and we are therefore
I glad to SEQ come commen sense displayed
by the more sensible portion Of the Amer
ican press. h -
There is, however, a portion Of the
American press which has no excess 0!
common sense, which will have no need to
Z restrict production in this line, and which
continues 10 misrepresent and misinterpret
!, economic conditions. Carrying the war
into Africa, so to say, where is the free
trader who will explain why 1t is that III.
dustries are depresssd--iron prices at the
owes. ebhior yeaIs-in free trade England I