Evening journal., 1888-07-25

President Ammidtown contributes
to the tariff talk to-day, and an inter
esting talk it is. 1t particularly re-
lates to the methods employed by
Jacob Schoenhoff, the perambulating
free trade statistical drag net of the
State Department.
'tThere is, however, one popularity
of our American manufactures which
has grown out of our higher rates of
labor, and that is, we are compelled TO
use those machines and pro sesses
which require the least possible labor
and work with the greatest speed,
though this often involves compen-
sating disadvantages in other ways.
We are, for example, compelled to
use better wool and less shoddy,
thereby involving higher cost of
material, to secure adequate strength
Of yarn for oar more rapid mosions.
Each nation adapts it processes to the
conditions of its labor, selecting such
as yield the highest results. But
neither has any material advantage in
processes or machines, or in the quality
Of the operatives employed. The
higher rate Of American wages is not,
therefore, offset by any essential adj
vantages in other conditions Of Ameri-
can manufacture.
"That this position is true and Mr..
sehoenhoff's position false is proved
by the inability of our manufacturers
to compete with their European rivals,
under existing conditions Of labor,
when the raw material is free. This is
the case with cotton and silk. Both
these articles are manufactured into
fabrics by complicated mechanical
processes and highly skilled labor, the
same on both sides Of the ocean. We
work under no disadvantage here
except that of the high cost of labor.
Our operatives in these two branches
Of textile manufacture are no less in
telligent and skillful than those
engaged in wool manufactures. The
character and qualities of the opera
tives in all three Industries are practi-
cally identical.
yet while we manufacture over
5000, 100000 worth of cotton goods,
under the best possible conditions, we
export less than S15, 900, 600 worth. On
the other hand, we export about $780,
100000 worth Of raw cotton and inn
port about $50, 900, 600 worth of manu-
featured goods in spite OF an average
duty Of nearly forty per cent.
"Our silk business has grown to
enormous magnitude under the present
tariff within the past twenty years.
We have every possible advantage as
to machinery and skill. No duty is
levied on the raw silk. We get it from
China and Japan cheaper than it can
be landed in Europe. as large quantities
now..pass through this country from
Asia to Europe. Yet we have not been
able to compete with European mar
kets, and on the contrary, we import
about $50, 900, 900 worth Of manufac-
tured silks under duty Of fifty per
cent.
"How absurd, then, in the light Of
these facts, for Consul Schoenhof to
claim that we need no protection for
our labor because of it's superior skill
and industry, or because Of the SUI
perior quality of our machinery.
Our national protective policy If
maintained and encouraged, will
gradually enable US TO reach out into
the worlds markets, and in time give
us large export trade in manufac-
tured goods. This result will spring
from the greater ambition and zeal Of
men who, under the shield of protec-
ton, can look forward to the future
with hope Of increased comforts for
their wives and children, and an honor.
able social standing for themselves.
But the day is not yet come when the
working man Of America may without
danger be exposed to unobstructed
competition with the labor Of Europe.
"Let us take good care Of our own,
and by the influence of example and
by the force of competition for labor
gradually raise the standard of wages
wherever this influence and this com
petition are felt, until we may at last
level down all barriers because the
workmen Of all competing nations
have advanced to the American stand
ard of wages, education and social en-
,~srouu.av,t