The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-10-17
What Baldwin "Can't Comprehend"

less than nine and perhaps ten of the
thirteen congressman.
What Baldwin Cant Comprehend"
Judge d. P. BALDWIN, in letter to the
Journal, says:
There is just one little question in the demo-
cratic gospel of cheap goods for wOrkingmen
that / can't comprehend, and that is this:
How can the cost of any article be reduced
without reducing the wages OF the workmen
that produce that article"
ii Judge BALDWIN can't comprehend
this he is very stupid or very ignorant
man, and in either case has no business
on the stump trying to enlighten people
about the tariff or anything else.
The judge is in New York. He wrote
The SENTINEL the other day that he was
in the habit OF buying that excellent paper,
the New York Times. He pays 2 cents
copy for it. Two or three years ago it
sold for cents. If he will go to the Times
Office and inquire whether it has reduced
the wages of its compositors, pressmen,
etc, since its price was cut down we will
guarantee that he will find it hasn't.
He will discover, whether he can "com-
prehend" how it is or not, that the cost of
an article can be and is reduced without
reducing the wages of the workmen that
produce the article.
THE SENTINEL sold year agofor cents
copy. Now it sells for 2 cents copy.
We pay, in every department OF this
paper, as good wages as we did then, and,
in some instances, better. This is a fact,
whether Judge BALDWIN can "compre-
bend" it or not.
We will explain TO him, however, that
one reason why the New York Times and
THE INDIANAPOLIS SENTINEL can be sold
for so much less than they were few
years ago, without cutting the wages of
their employees, is that they get their raw
materials cheaper White paper and ink
cost a good deal less than they did ten
years agos And, then, the cheapening OF
the price has largely increased the con-
sumption, as always happens. For in
stance, we sell eight copies OF The SENT1-
MEL to-day where we sold one a year ago.
The profit is very much less per copy, but
greater in the aggregate than it was then.
Judge BALDWIN says he has read in vain
democratic papers and speeches TO find an
answer to the "conundrum:" Glow can
the cost OF the necessities OF life be re-
duced without cutting down the wages of
the American workingmen Wonder if
Judge BALDWIN has been reading any re-
publican newspapers or speeches! Guess
not, or he would have read 1hany times
how wages have gone up and prices have
gone down since the war tariff was adopted.
l. l. IL -, Il -,.1
and calico, and wooden goods, and salt,
and sugar, and hundred other things are
cheaper now than they were before the
war, and that in spite of this fact wages
in all these industries have increased.
There is much truth in these statements,
although the tariff-shriekers often grossly
exaggerate them, and the deductions they
draw from them are utterly unwarranted.
The phenomenon of a simultaneous de-
cline in prices and advance in wages
is not confined to this country, but can be
witnessed all over the civilized world.
Wages are about twice as high in England
to-day as they were before free trade was
adopted, and most comm Odities are very
much lower than they were then.
Whether Judge BALDWIN can compre-
bend this or not, he can not deny it. The
reason? Well, there are a good many
reasons. The introduction of labor-saving
machinery is one; the cheapening of raw
materials is another; the increase of trans
portation facilities is another; the adop-
ton of new mechanical and commercial
processes is another; the better education
and skill and efficiency of the working
men Is another; the opening up of new
markets is another; the discovery of great
natural resources is another, and there are
many other factors. All over the world
the tendency is toward higher wages and
cheaper products. This tendency would
be stronger in this and some other coun-
tries but for vicious laws which interfere
with exchange and production.
Judge BALDWIN knows that a pound of
freight can be transported from his home
In Loeansport TO New York for less than
hall what was charged twenty years ago.
Are the wages of the railroad employees
less than they were then? No. II the
Judge can't comprehend" how this can
be, he at least knows that it is SO.
Cheaper raw materials TO our manu-
facturers and give them access to the mar
kets of the world, and they can and will
because they will have to- pay higher
wages than they do at present. They also
can and win sell their products cheaper
than they do now.
Judge BALDWIN, you ought to read The
SENTINEL carefully every day OF your life. If
youdid you would soon comprehend" how
free raw materials will make wages higher
and commodities cheaper, as well as a
good many other things which you seem
unable to get through your headP now.
Yes, We Know.