The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-10

these conditions and we can stay with then
right along. But wages would have to come
down about to European rates.
Messrs. George Merritt & Co., WOODEN manu-.
facturers of this city. say:
The hrst effect OF the passage of the Mills
bill would be 10 destroy wool growing as an in.
dustry In this country and send wooden manu-
factnrers TO Australia and South America for
their wool. We prefer TO buy our wool nears,
home, Of our own farmers. and wish such az
adjustment and administration of the tariff az
will enable us TO pay the farmer a fair living
price for his WOOL, 80 that be may be able to
buy our goods. We know he csnno: do this il
compelled TO compess with those countries
where land is valued at 10 to 90 cents per acre.
and where the farm laborer gets but 20 to &C
cents per day. Dependence on foreign countries
for wool gives the advantage 10 the Eastern
wooden manufactures, because of his nearness
to the port of entry. At present the Western
manufacturer has the advantage OF being
near tho source of our wool supply and has the
freights in his favor, while under the Mills
bill this would be reversed. This alone would
ruin wooden mills in the West. or compel them
TO move East. Just how far the Mills oil
will injure wooden manufactures rs a problem
that time and experience alone can solve, but
the fact that ninety-nine out OF every one hun
dred wooden manufacturer are opposed to 1t
and believe that it will injure their business. is
more conclusive evidence on that point than the
fine spun theories of the Texas statesman %
who framed that bill. Give the farmer the
American market for his wool and the manu-
~facturer the American market for his goods,
and We are satisfied.
I'm place of the Mills bill making il possible,
IL it became a law. for wooden manufacturers ito
double the employment Of home labor, pay la
Dor better wages. and pay larger profits TO cap
ital,' the reverse Is the truth. The Mills bill IL
a long step towards free trade. Free trade
means competition on equal terms with the
manufacturers OF England and other countries;
equal terms means lower wages in this country,
as well as free wool. One-half the cost of our
goods is labor. and we must buy that as chesply
as England or any other competitor, or We will
60 down In the fierce competition of the world.
Equal terms means equal transportation facili-
ties with al the markets of the world. We
have not got these. and the same
party that offers Us the free-trace Mills bill
refuses to take a single step towards
furnishing these transportation facilities for our
merchants and Manufacturers. England pays
millions Of dollars 10 have Ter mails carried in
English ships TO all parts OF the world. and by
so doing furnishes her merchants and manu-
facturers prompt and reliable communication
with all the markets of the world, and England
has made money by so doing. What has
America done in that direction? With free
wool" and with labor at less than so per cent Of
what our laborers are paid. England. France and
Germany are hotiy contestine for every market
on the face of the earth. Competition in those
countries, even with the low scale OF wages
paid, has so reduced prices and profits on
every class of manufactured goods
that manufacturing in al those couu-
tries is languishing today. and their
people are looking with longing eyes to Ameri-
ca, wishing and working for the passage of the
"Mills bill" as the first step toward free trade.
which will open up to them the rich markets of
this country. Their steamship lines are already
established to every market in the world: we
have none; how then can our manufacturers
compete with theml If We wish to ship our
goods to South America, to Africa or to any Of
the far-of markets of the world our best route
is first to England in an English ship. then from
England In another English chip TO the point OF
destination. With this state of facts existing,
Is any man 20 unreasonable as 10 suppose we
can successfully compete with English manu-
facturers in any market in the world but
our own; and here We can only
hope to compete successfully by adopting the
Same scale of wages paid in England and other
countries. Free trade in this country just as
surely means Europeon wages here as night fol
lows day. Competition N our line 10 hot snd
fierce all over this country, and only the 'fttest
survive The Mills bill is q first step and a
long step towards free trade. Because it does
not reach free trade on everything at one step
are we to shut our eyes and try 10 believe the
willy tempter when be invites as so smoothly 10
step into his reform parlorP
when to-day we see the effort made to rob
the farmer OF every bit Of protection that he
has shall we sit idly by because this first blow
does not hurt us so much as hint No; let MS
rather unite with him In resenting this blow.
Let farmers and mechanics, merchants and
manufacturers ell unite In resisting this first
step, and America shall still be free. and Amer
lean markets shall still belong to Americana
An Indiana wooden manufacturer, VINO has
been In the business many years. but does not
want his name published. writes: ut is a fact
that the woolen-mill employees have obtained
better wages, and, what is most important. had
more steady employment under a protective
tariff, than under low tariff or free wool Who
can point to q single woolen-miIl west of the Al
legheny mountains that was In operation over
six months IN twelve. prior 70 1868! And as the
protective tariff has been an incentive To invest
capital and labor in wool-growing and manu-
featuring TO such an extent as TO create an Active
home competition, wool and woolens have grad
ually declined in price to such an extent as to
be now lower than they ever were for any
length OF time under free trade or low tariff.
Why should the wooden manufacturer favor free
wool, to the detriment of the Western wool
grower, showing them TO be the principal con-
sumers of all Western-made woolensi /, for
one, am opposed to any such shortsighted, sui
cldal policy"
Mr.. Alpheus Birch, of Birch G. Brother, WOOL
en- manufacturers. Greencastle. Iud., says THAT
the repeal of the duty on wool would result in
the extinction of the woolgrowing industry in
this country is q fact so plain to a thoughtful,
reasonable man that il would seem unnecessary
to enlarge in demonstrating the fact. The
enormous reduction in the quantity of wool
grown in this country, caused by the
slight abatement in the duty which took effect
in July, 1883. is a wonderful demonstration OF
how small q thing may ruin a great industry.
Take this county, for instance. Before this
change we used TO bury from the farmers at our
door eighty to one hundred thousand pounds of
wool every year, and paid for the same 5000
to $50, 900; and besides this, there were large
amounts bought at the SIN all towns In the conn
II. The proceeds of the crop of wool was a
great help to the farmer, as well as to all the
business interests Of the neighborhood. But
now the reduction In price from the cause re-
ferred to has lessened the quantity Of wool
grown here fully three-fourths.
Another bad feature in this diminutioD Of the
wool crop 10 that We are losing our best wool.
which is grown 10 the States upon high-priced
land, and more inferior woods in proportion are
now grown upon cheap Western lands.
Free wool means the inevitable destruction OF
wool-growine in this country. We will then be
wholly dependent upon the foreign market.
With the increased American demand prices
will advance, ard we viii always have an en-
certain, fuctrs1ics naFkst, which is the worst
bans in manufactu..ng enterprises. and from
this we shall have nc relief.
There is q ~oraet.ca ADVANTAGE to the manu-
facturer in being Gs near tho wooEgrower as
possible. Nesr!y 81 mills rur on speeialties-
They must have tia WOO IA texture. and quickly
at hand. adapted TO their particular line of
goods. The goods are sold si< months ahead, 60
there must be q constant production OF the pre-
else goods sold. If be 1eviates To inferior goods
than that sold. be is liable for damages; or If he