New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-05


oilers will lead them to vote for protection In then
own best interests. 1t will be great pleasure to
take part In such contest
THE TARIFF IN EUROPE AND AMERICA
THE EFFECTS OF FREE TRADE AND PROTECTION
coNTRAsTED BY BUSINESS MEN.
A reporter Of The Tribune recently met H. r. War
ner. of Rochester. at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. and
questioned him in regard TO the political situation in
Western New York, Mr. Warner is extensively en-
gagged in business in foreign countries, having labora
tories In London. Frankfort. Pressburg. Austria;
Melbourne australia sydney. y. S W.. aud Toronto.
Most Of these branches have been in operation for years
and this enables him speak of these countries from
his personal knowledge. Why he SAID we
have been doing business In England country that
has been trying 10 educate up to the standard OF
free trade for and there IS dispung the fact
that the English are the worst taxed people known
In my own business, for every hundred dollars worth
manufacture there pay Her Royal Majesty, the
English Queen, twentyeight dollars. Every legal or
official document Is loaded down with stamp tax.
Some Of the largest business houses in England
buy from US and in payment for their merchandise
deduct the value Of the stamp that it would be
necessary for them 10 put upon the receipt and
tell us 1t IS unnecessary for them to forward It
thereby saving the stamp that would be necessary to
make the receipt valuable. In English Office We
employ English clerks and enabled to hire the
best Office talent for hundred pounds
year. which would cost in America
from fifteen hundred TO two thousand
dollars year. Replying to Of my letters one
of the managers Of my English branch wrote me back
that in London alone there were 100000 unemployed
people II had that letter here, could show you
some startling statements his own signature. HIS
name is W. r. Kennard-a former editor Of the
Waterloo, y. Y, Times; he was stanch Free
Trader and supporter of Cleveland four years ago.
| bfS Tia cfafac
that he has the folly of free trade and If God
spared his life TO return America again he would
be as stanch Protectionst as could find in days
travel My experience has been, in all these foreign
countries that wage workers poorly paid for their
labor"
" How about cheapness OF living IN Europe
There is country in Europe that know Of in
which It does not cost more TO 1--we than II does in
this provided you live as we'll as you do here. To
live the working classes do in those countries why
the very poorest Of our laborers mechanics would
| consider that he the verge of starvation
There the children and women all have TO work for
subsistence and It is a matter Of bare existence. from
one years end TO another
"Yes but many Democrats and Free Traders argue
that it duty to better their condition BY afford
Ing them an opportunity to supply our markets, thus
furnishing labor for these hundreds OF thousands OF
| people who IN starving condition.
Il think they are entirely mistaken. We cannot
better their condition. There IS not the slightest
doubt that they would pull prosperous and happy
working people down 10 their level, instead OF
elevatfng themselves The 10000 900 people that we
have in America cannot purchase enough 10 satisfy
the demands Of the hundreds of millions Of people
| that exist in Europe. We should simply be com
| nercany ruined, and PERHAPS American prosperity
| and happiness would again be restored GER
ianly not In the time of those who are now enjoying
the blessings of our protective tariff"
| "You are aware, Mr. Warner that II is one Of the
| arguments of the Democratic party that with our
skilled mechanics and their ingenuity, we would be
able to cope with foreign competitors without re-
ducing our wages TO their Standard
| cannot but be amazed at the absurdity OF such
position. There is 10 diSputing the fact that II
| many OF the manufacturers of America received what
they call material for nothing, would be utterly
impossible for them 10 compete with foreign manufsc
urers even with our present protective tariff removed
without reducing wages 10 the level Of foreign labor
It would not be difficult for for any intelligent
business man enumerate hundreds Of manufactured
articles that would under this head For Instance,
| would like TO have them explain 10 me one fact-how
1t that the United states, almost exclusive growers
Of cotton supply English manufacturers with the ar
tcle, which is shipped TO England, where 1t IS manu-
featured reshipped and proves strong factor in
our cotton cloths market after paying our pres
ent duty on cotton goods. The reason is patent IT.
xlsuts from the fact that they able TO secure labor
| at starvation prices In using the argument they
| often Go, that with skilled mechanics and Amer
| lean ingenuity produce machinery which VIII
counterfeit and counterbalance the low price of labor
| they only make the stronger No one VIII
doubt that If our American manufacturers were 10
force the wages Of their employees down 10 the low
price Of foreign labor they would be able 10 compete
with the English. If that IS true, then the breaking
| down of our tariff system must Of necessity bring
down labor or ruin manufacturing Interests, ou'
| manufacturers being unable TO cope with the low
| labor rates of Europe Ny greatest fears are that
our large manufacturing establishments knowing their
Inability TO compete with foreign labor, would not
make the attempt Of fighting what they believe to be-
and what must be, the inevitable. The result would
| be a gradual shutting down OF factories here ana
| there all over the country, until the busy hum Of
manufacturing is silent, the capital Withdrawn anu
the factories left TO decay and ruin When THIS Is
ACCOMPLISHED we will be at the mercy OF the foreign
manufacturers, VIII have 10 seek the'r H''rAe' anu
| pay their prices"
Yes hut r,ey claim that competition is the life OF
| business
| a. Their argument Is weak. ! take the bold ground
that II is utterly impossible for an American manu-
| tacturer TO compete with the English. l have many
| reasons for this. will state one. suppose that
am a manufacturer in England, manufacturing annu-
| ally 100000 worth OF any leading article When
| America reduces the tariff, or what Is the same
thing, establishes free trade 9rotec IS mo-
nr@,ecti1n al AIN I Immediately begin 70 figure how
am TO he benefited thereby, and how can cope WIN
| tho manufacturers In that country. In The ms
! MACE say: i VIII increase my manuiact turing
| business TO a million and half aud DIV so dong !
re1nce the cost OF production large percentage pc
| cause I make so much larger quantity The nexl
and make a pront2' You will see at once that can
afford 10 sell $500 900 worth Of these wares III Iala
| S,e1manv south America and England, az iali
nroGt: then ship 10 America, country OF large con
Sumption and great wealth million uoia,S Mo',
10 ell at actual cost have been aDle 10 piouuVe AZ
| a lnw cost because of manufacturing TIE large
quantity of course AT less piopOruons'e Go,' man
| a. = had manufactured a smaller quantity. bW am
| selling in nv own country and my old markets he
| 500 600 worth at a fair profit, ana am theIclVre
br,Dc,nC down without loss the actual cost price TO
| M VERY minimum This is what the American man
| ufact1lrer has TO compete with. ,-,-. r.
| New I would like 10 have some enteipilslns Dem
ocrat ex plain how an American manufacturer IS 10
| rao,a Iftb the English under such circumstances