The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-01
And Who Supplements His Argument with
Practical Illustrations, Drawn from His
Experience at Home and in England.
A Prospect for an Abundance of Talk
but No Decided Action as to Silver.
Why Our Army and Navy Officers Make No
Provision for Their Families-Miscel-
laneous News from the Capital.
PROTECTION VS.. FREE TRADE.

of Affairs
Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28.-Two gentlemen from
New England were sitting in the gallery of the
House. the other day, with a FRIEND who was
pointing out to them the celebrities and peculiar
characters in there.
THAT little old gentleman there in the front
row is George West, the wealthy paper manu-
facturer," said he who was acting as guide.
George West" exclaimed one Of the others in
astonishment, why, he used to be our fore.
man."
George West. the paper manufacturer. Is very
seldom heard in Congress on any question, but
he is a who, in his peculiar
line, which is the manufacture Of wall
paper, is, perhaps, better posted than
any other in the United States upon all the de-
tails and adjuncts of the business. Mr.. West
was asked by your correspondent the other day,
why he did not make speech on the tariff BILL
He replied, with twinkle in his eye: II am an
Englishman, you know. and am afraid of that
blasted letter haitch."
II suppose, Mr.. West, that you are protec-
tionist" said your correspondent Can you
give me any reason why you believe in protec-
tion as opposed to free tradel"
Mr.. West replied: "Free trade, so called is
fallacy. There is no such thing. Trade cannot
be free between two nations unless the products
Of both are admitted into the terri
tory of each without restriction. Some
of the men who advocating free
trade in our Congress seem to ignore the fact
that England is the only nation in Enrope which
has no tariff restrictions upon importations.
Belgium, France. Germany, Switzerland and
Russia all impose an import duty upon nearly
everything that they purchase from other
countries. In other words, these nations protect
their home manufacturers. and at the same time
make foreigners who desire TO compete for their
trade pay portion of the revenues necessary to
conduct their governments"
"Do you believe, Mr. West, that the labor
troubles in England to-day are in any way
traceable to the revenue policy of that country9"
Undoubtedly. I do I travelled through
England last fall, and I found that
the so-called ir-trade' idea is rapidly
gaining adherents in all sections of the
kingdom. I have not the faintest doubt
that the next great question in English politics
will be the question of protecting English in
that | purchased in London l supposed, of
course, that it was of English manufacture; but
of knives, which are turned out with the trade
when visited the factory learned that thousands
mark of some well-known English firm, are
made in the rough in Belgium and shipped to
England, where they are finished and exported.
find, too, that the business of manufacturing
iron girders for buildings has been almost en-
tirely monopolized by the Begans. and that,
with their cheaper labor, they are able to
manufacture these building necessities, and to
ship them right into the heart of the manu-
featuring regions of England The result is that
manufacturers who have heretofore made these
goods for home consumption and export trade
have been driven out of the business almost en-
tirely. 1t is so with other branches of industry,
and the English political economist is rapidly
learning that unless he takes the bull by the
horns and does something towards protecting
home interests, the laborers and mechanics of the
country must suffer from the cheaper labor
You will see, then, that it is the
most absurd folly for the United States
to talk of free trade, when almost
the entire commercial world imposes a duty to
protect home interests, the great exception be-
ing England, in which the protective idea is
gaining ground each day"
"Do you find. Mr.. West that the import duty
is added to the cost of all goods manufactured
in the United States9"
by no means On the contrary, we sell
nearly everything as cheaply in this country as
I speak of this because | am more familiar with
the paper trade than any other branch of indus
try own several mills in this country and one
in England. We get just as much for our paper
in England as we Go for the same grade in New
York. In fact, the quoted prices are Identical
Then why do you advocate protective duty
on paperl
lates home industry. We have mills all over
New York State that would never have been
started but for the projection afforded by the
tariff"
IF the tariff does not add to the home price
how does it benefit the manufacturer
1T benefits the manufactured by stimulating
home industry and by creating home market
for wares which would have to compete with for
eign goods unless they are placed at disadvan.
tage when coming through the custom house"
What is the difference in labor in your mills
in this country and in Englandp
II pay my workmen here from 30 to 30 per
cent more than | pay the same class of
workmen in England"
How is it then that you cannot manufacture
cheaper in England than you can herel"
because the English methods are more crude
and less advanced than they are in this country
Let me say. continued Mr.. West that the advo-
Gates of free trade so-called who point to
England as an example of the benefits to be de-
rived from the abolition of custom-houses fail to
tell more than half the story. While in England
no tax is placed upon imported manufactures,
they are taxed so highly after they get
there as to make it very much more onerous
upon the purchaser than the mere imposition of
an import duty would be A year
ago shipped an American buggy to one of my
relatives in England. The vehicle went through
the custom-house without charge but whom it
reached the consignee he was compelled to pay a
tax of SO much per wheel per annum, and he
l must nav So q year to the goYernment for tn