River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-01-12

Of articles produced by American labor CON-
peting with foreign labor This diversity Of
production Injured 10 the benefit of all classes
OF the people alike and was the secret Of
the enormous growth, power and wealth
OF the Republic. He regarded the home
production OF raw materials as even of more
importance than manufactures. There was
but one rule which had TO be applied TO all in
dustries inpartially, and that was to give 70
all forms OF American labor which have 10 com
pete with foreign labor that fair and reason
able advantage and protection which would
give American producers the home market for
home products
Turning 10 manufactures, Mr. Sherman said
that the imports not on the free list and not
olassed by him as Injuries or raw materials
amounted in value TO S21aO00, coo and paid SS4 :
100000 in duties These imporsations came
into direct competition with domestic manu-
features, which had been mainly built up by
the encouragement OF tariff laws A careful re-
vision of rates had been made by the tariff
commission OF 1882. All branches OF domestic
industry had become adapted to these rates
IL was this system which was denounced by
the President IS vicious, inequitable and
illogical"
The President assumed that the duty on i'm
ported articles was added TO the price OF sim lar
articles of home production; but such was not
the fact. In the absence OF domestic competi-
ton the importer fixed his own price and added
the
first sign OF American competition the price
was reduced, and often, in a stagnant market
goods were sold at far less than the
original cost and duty. In the great
body OF articles formerly imported the
American manufacturer was veil estab-
lished, and under domestic competition
the price was reduced 10 figures approaching
European rates. Home competition. wherever
il got foothold, reduced prices and lessened
importation. II the present system were main
tanned, American home industries could and
would compete with European productions In
articles essential TO human life and comfort
Senator Sherman denied the Presidents as
sertion that more than 1900 articles were sub
iect to tarin duties. He would agree with the
President however in saying that IT, a care
full examination, it should appear that any duty
on any article could be dispensed with without
detriment To American industry il should be
done, and that II any article now paying taxes
could not be manufactured here il should be
placed on the free list. The object OF tariff
laws was 10 encourage home manufacturers in
competition with foreign rivals, as well as TO
secure revenue; and, therefore, these laws
should be as permanent as possible, consistent
with the needs OF the Government
The most important benefits conferred by
the tariff laws was that they not only diversi-
fed American industries, but secured to the
laborer employed in manufactures higher
wages and better surroundings and ad-
in similar employments anywhere in the
world The treatment OF this ques-
tion by the President was a delusion
and snare. The President assumed
that the cost OF living Especially Of food ana
CIothing) was higher in the United States than
in Europe. That was not true. Food OF every
kind except sugar was cheaper here than in
any market in Europe The clothing worn by
wOrkingmen, including blankets, was sold
here at as low prices as in London or
Liverpool. The quantity and quality Of food of
laboring men were confessedly better and
greater here than in Europe, and the rate Of
wages was from 30 TO 100 per cent higher here.
The President did not dispute these points, but
appealed to the manufacturer (who has been
represented as robber, conspirator and ex-
tortioner) not TO reduce the work
ingmens wages, but TO pay more
out OF the surplus profits profits
very often found on the wrong side OF the
ledger What working man did not feel that
this was sheer evasion OF the inevitable result
OF an effort to reduce his wages by inviting
close competition with pauper labors The
working man would have TO share the fate OF
his employer and divide with him the loss
The question was one purely OF wages II
wages were not greater here than in England.
France and Belgium (America's chief COMPETE
tors the country could, no doubt, compete now
with all the world IL all metallic and textile
fabrics. But would il be wise TO pursue policy
that would compel the reduction of wages to the
general standard in Europel The Republican
party had declared 1t TO be the duty of the
National Government not only 10 levy
enough duties on imported merchandise to sup
port the Government, but TO levy those duties
so as to secure to laboring men employed in
manufactures such wages as would enable
them 10 support, maintain and educate prop
erly their wives and children. Cheap labor in
this country meant the degradation Of Ameri-
can politics.
He had thus endeavored, he said, to give
respectful answer to the Presidents message.
He was willing according to the Republican
National platform OF 1880 to correct the irregu-
larities of the tariff and to reduce the surplus
not by the vicious and undiscriminating process
OF horizontal reduction, but by such methods
as would relieve the taxpayer without injurng
the laborer Of the great productive industries
of the country. But he could not do that and
at the same time follow the recommendation
of the President
At 3 o'clock Senator Sherman concluded
his speech He had been listened TO with
marked and general attention, and was
congratulated by his Republican asso-
ciateR