The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-03-14
A workIngmnn Tells How the Mills Bill
Would Reduce Wages.
To Lk Editor OItks IRttlIiysneer:

IOk AlAl ANb1DAhA AhA'S $3.50
A worklngmnn Tells How the Mills BILL
Would Reduce Wages.
To Gk Editor ctt.s INt,EIiysHoer;
sR:-I desire small space in your
valuable paper to note the effect Of the
Mills tariff bill upon the pottery indus
try of the United States should it become
a law. Having served seven years APP
premiership at the pottery industry In
England, and then worked at the trade
several years in Trenton, n. j., and also
in Wheeling, believe that | am in a
position to point out some OF the dement's
that accrue to the wOrkingman in TINS
country through protective tariff.
Every sensible wOrkingman will admit
that We get considerable more money for
the same amount OF work in this coun-
try than we do in England. True it
costs us more to live in some respects.
Yet even though that be the case, after
all that, We arc considerably better oil,
in financial point OF view. 1t is an in
disputabie fact, that with the present
existing riffimported queensware can
he bought in New York or Baltimore
after it has paid the present tax and can
be put in the store in Wheeling, us
cheap, and in some instances, cheaper
than American manufactured goods.
The question may naturally arise IN
many minds, why is it thus? There are
several very practical reasons in support
OF this statement.
In the first instance the pottery indus
try is us yet an infant industry in this
country, in comparison to what 1t may
or will be il the government continues
to foster and protect it. In Statfordshire,
England, the great centre for the manu-
facture OF queensware, i'll one district
covering an area OF probably seven miles,
there are at the present time about five
times rs many potteries us there are in
the whole OF the United States. Ten
years ago, in n town about the size Of
Wheeling, there were alone ninety
eight pOtteries.
Another very practical reason that
might be adduCed in favor OF the cheap
ness OF English qHeensware, is the tacili-
ties that StaHordshire enjoys for the re-
ceiving of her material and the shipment
OF her manufactured products. Tie ma
jority OF her clay and stone is shipped
from Cornwall by schooners to Runcorn,
on the river Merscy. From Runcorn
the canal runs right through the pottery
districts. The results are that her goods
are shipped by canal to Runcorn, the
boats returning laden with raw material,
thus reducing the cost OF transit.
A third reason might be mentioned,
and that is the considerable advance that
is paid in America over what is received
in England for exactly the same kind
and same amount OF work, would say
to the wOrkingmen OF Wheeling, II you
want to boom the State, do so by enter
ing your protests to Il man against this
Ubiquitous free trade boom that would un-
dcrmine our manufacturing industries
and thus bring American wages down to
the level OF pauper European labor. l,
for one, amin favor OF praising the bridge
that carries me over, and gives fair,
honest days wages for fair days work.
II is m acknowledged fact that il the
Mills tariff bill should pass and go into
operation there are ut the present time
enough packages OF English manuf0c-
tured goods ut Runcorn waiting orders;
that inside OF three or four months they
could ship enough queensware into this
country to sHpplythe demand for several
years. Then ask what would become
OF our factories and our mechanics? |
know that speaker Carlisle and others OF
his followers are crying out, 1--WE wantto
Nhn T,nn,A1n nt rrnnUu "
Mr.. Editor, it is u fact that queens
ware with the existing tariff is to-day
cheaper than it was ever known in the
history OF the country, aud il the Eng
lish market can undersell America with
the present tariff what will she do II the
present bill should go into effect? II
stands to sense, that somebody would
have to undergo reduction, and inva-
riably the workman comes in for u good
share of it. Any sane person will admit
the fact that the higher wages are, the
better ii is for everybody, and especially
the farmer. When the workman is get
ting good wages, he can afford and does
give the farmer more for his products.
Lower American wages down to the
level OF some OF the European countries
and what will the farmer get for his pro-
ductsP believe in the law OF supply
and demand. Sustain the present rate
of wages, and the working man Will be
able to provide himself and family with
comfortable home, in addition to lay
ing by n little fora rainy day.
Acknowledgment let Us give this subject
very careful consideration, and il we
come to the conclusion that any re-
daetioa in the present tariff will be in
furious and detrimental to our home
industries, let us put our veto on this
free trade cry, instgated by the great
ain ACE