The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-09-01
Real Protection.

From the A.. Y. Times.
The Philadelphia correspondent of the New York
Herud h4s sent TO that paper report of an interview
with TWO members OF the hrm OF William Ayres d
Sons, manufacturers of woolens-chiefy blankets
in that city The firm does extensive business and
employs from 200 to Loo men Mr. William Ayres
spoke very freely of their views to the effect of
the passage of the Mills bill and the repeal of the
in favor of free wool and they take precisely the
view of the subject that we have frequently urged.
.In the first place" said Mr. Louis Ayres, I'VE shall
be able to make cheaper goods.
That will increase consumption. A large con-
sumption will necessitate more labor If you have
to supply increased quantity of goods calling for
more labor, you benefit the workingman in two
ways. First you give him more work, and secondly,
and even chance of better wages, because you know
the greater the demand for thing the higher will
be its price in the market. But both the manufac-
turer and the operative will be benefited To Illus
trate: Surprising we are selling certain line of
goods at SO cent less to-day than similar goods
sold for fifteen years ago Now at the reduced rate
we are selling not twice but five times, as many as
we then did. and while we don't make as much per
article as we dd9 win the higher price YET IN the
that with quantity the cost of production is lessen
ed-that is the proportionate cost for large produc
ton is less than for a small quantity Of the same
goods"
This is the essential fact in the operation of the
repeal of the wool duty far concerns the work
ingmen i'll the wooden manufacture It is perfectly
realized as to anything with which the wretched
allacy of protective tariff is not mixed up Every
one knows now and admits that anything that re-
duces the cost of manufacture and extends the sale
of domestic article tends to increase the demand
for labor and proporionately the of wages paid
Fifty years ago the wages in wooden mills were far
lower than they now are, the number of persons en-
ployed was Insignificant, and the output rela-
lively small With the improvements in machinery
the growth of population the extension and variety
of manufacture, wages have advanced, together with
the number employed 1t has been imagined that
this was due TO the duty woolens, to obtain
which the makers combined with the wool growers.
the latter getting duty on wool as their share.
Both duties have really been an injury to business
and the workmen;T; C., the advance in wages and in
has in Gnffan f ltnffA
and not in consequence of them, and would have
been greater if the duties had not been levied.
Nor is it only in the healthy and natural encour-
agement of trade and the consequent increased de-
mand for labor that the men in the mills would be
benefited. 1t is also in the reduction of the cost of
living i'll the increased purchasing power of their
wages so far as their need of woolen goods goes.
Mr.. Ayres said:
Now let us regard articles that would be really
affected by the passage of the Mills measure such
knit goods gentlemen's and ladies' underwear, fan
Surprising the 10 cents a pound taken off wool
some grades are taxed much higher-amounts TO IS
per cent nearly the whole of it will go to the
sumner, for competition will settle that point mighty
quickly. His pay is thereby enhanced 81 per cent in
purchasing power at least as it applies to these ar
ticles l maintain that business in some branches
under the stimulus of free material will increase
tenfold. Under these circumstances how can any
compelled hire more and the very fact of better
demand would tend to send its value up. Its so
sef-evident beneficial measure that am astonish-
ed sometimes when hear apparently intelligent
men argue that free wool means loss or ruin"
This reasoning, which is clear and conclusive as
regards the laboring men and the manufacturers in
the wooden trade is equally as regards the wool
growers, who would find that they would be much
more prosperous with free wool than with taxed
wool. The importation of foreign wool would give
the wooden mills their choice, at the same prices
paid in other countries, from all varieties of wool
grown in the world This wool would to great ex-
tent be mixed with domestic wool and the consump-
ton would be increased. The foreign wool, instead
and many goods would be made here that cannot
now be made at all. No longer shut up to the home
tab MIA
goods now brought in, and would find sale abroad
as we'll The whole matter'is striking illustration
of the i'll effect of the "meddling and muddling"
policy of Congress 1t is foolish suppose that the
men send TO Congress can manage our affairs bet
ter than we can manage them ourselves If we were
only allowed to do it. The greatest service they can
render the business Of the country is to remove re-
strctions from it and leave American enterprise, in
genuity, SKILL thrift and common sense to make the
Irns Of their nhannpS