The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-09-06

Cotton Wool SIR,
America ,.,.....,.,,,,.... l00 lO9 l91 w
England .........,.,,,.r 6I Y olt2
Germany ....,. ........ 2IR W 90
10 manufacture 300,OO0,OOO pounds
of raw cotton Germany employs in
specific lines 250,000 people. In simi-
lar specific lines in the United States
only $4,000 workers are required to
work up 75O,OOO,O0O pounds of raw
cotton. A late estimate draws the line
in this way. A German operative
produces about 1900 pounds of finish
ed cotton goods in year, while his
American competitor produces about
1850 pounds.
ABSURDITY OF THE COTTON TARIFF.
How futile and stupid that tariff OF
forty to fifty per cent against finished
cotton goods seems IN the face of these
startling facts Placing the cost OF
material at seventy-one, and the cost
of labor in yard of goods at twenty
nine, the regulatation proportions,
the duty on yard of stuff imported
covers the actual cost OF labor by more
than three times, even assuming the
labor price on the European goods to
be as high as it is here.
The United States has assumed a
commanding position in the cotton
industries of the world. Still every
bale and case of cotton goods sold in
Holland, Germany, England and Chi
ma has to meet the competition OF So
called 'pauper labor" In 1887 we ex-
ported nearly $l4,O00,00O worth OF cot.
ton goods, colored aud uncolored, Of
which England took about 100000
worth and Germany, France, Canada,
China and Mexico the balance OF
fancy kinds not yet made here we i'm
ported about 100000 worth, all told.
Within year or TWO, however, even
these fancy goods will all be made
here. There will then be nothing to
import. Will the high duty still be
maintained for the benefit OF few
rich men? This is something for the
American workingman to ponder
over.
WHAT DESTROYED OUR WooLLEN TRADE
This country ought to haYe even q
stronger position in woollen markets
than in cotton marts, and would have
but for the infamous tariff Chinese
wall builders Of 1888. The heavy duty
on raw wool, 40 to 100 per cent, has
killed our woollen industries. The
worsted goods branch, in all except
the very coarsest kind, has been praC
tically destroyed altogether. There
is nothing fit left. This has thrown
out OF work over 10000 hands in New
York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts
and Pennsylvania alone. In wooller
manufacture the American workman
becomes as proficient as in other hom'
industries, But he is protected Il
DEATH" His employer is no longer {
"woollen manufacturer" but a make
up OF shoddy, Of cows, dogs anC
goats hair. He can't get wool to worl
up, as the Frenchman, the Engllshmal
and the German does. So the Ameri
can operative has only the mos
wretched stuff to work on, causing hin
to labor like slave to earn iron
eighty to ninety cents day in man
mills. His foreign brother, howeveI
with pure, lustrous material to handle
jogs along quietly, and makes a fai
living while handling only about ono
sixth of the quantity worked up by a
operative here. Thus, while tn
Frenchman is content 10 produce al
nually, say, $50 pounds OF finely finisl
: ed woollen goods, the American mu
4 handle about $500 of mixtures-litt
4 wool, and much hair, cotton and fit
. In fact, our American woolen weav,
and spinner is the victim OF Il barbar
law imposed by modern barons. i
; is a victim of conspiracy by Angl
American capitalists, just as the po
" wretches are who work in the ire
II and steel mills of Carnigie & Co.,
It Pennsylvania, and their imitators
n Illinois and Ohio.
" WILL AMERICANS oBLIGE MR.. BULL?
a. Yet the American woollen worker
,e told that ifhe votes to secure free VIC
le and maitain the principle of the Mi
IS blll-fair trade, with forty per ce
t. protection-he will be playing into t
v, hands of Great Britain and other &C
le tinental "pauper" manipulate
,e Why, the present tariff is, in popu
re parlance, nuts" for European worst
r. and woollen manufacturers FRI
re $60O0O,000 worth of fine worsteds tn
If expect to sell us about $10O,OOO,(
lie worth this year. They can land tn
ms highly finished goods here-which
On rich and well to do generally seem
ch termined to wear-pay all transpol
nd ton charges, freight, commissions,
r,, suronce &c and sell for from ten