Wichita eagle., 1888-06-10
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Daily Ea9ls
EFFECTS OF FREE TRADE.
GREAT INDUSTRIES THAT WOULD BE
RUINED BY THE MILLS BILL.

Emitted Goods Manufacturers Unanimously
Opposed TO Lowering the Tariff-Why
a Cotton Manufacturer Favors It-AEleri-
can Wages in Danger.
Cohoes, n. Y, is the greatest knitted
goods center in the world. Three-ffths
of the knitted goods of America are made
there. The largest cotton mill in the
world is also there-one of seven large
mills owned by the Harmony company.
Democratic dispatches have recently been
sent throughout the country stating that
Cohoes manufacturers are almost solid
for Cleveland and tariff reform" as rep
resented in the Mills bill. The Albany
Express sent a reporter there to learn the
truth. He interviewed Republicans and
Democrats at random and found one man
La favor of Cleveland and the Mills bill.
That man was Hon. D. J. Johnston, su-
perintendent for the Harmony company.
He is English born and was brought up
at Cohoes by his English father with Eng
fish ideas, who uses English machinery to
a large extent in the Harmony mills,
of which he is the general manager, and
to which his son viii soon succeed, as he
is over so years old. The reasons given
for Mr.. Johnston favoring the Mills bill is
that he hopes to reduce the wages of the
5000 Harmony operatives to the English
level, which will enable him to turn out
better goods at the same cost as English
goods, and thus throw the vast output of
the Harmony mills into the market of
the world. This would be good for the
Harmony company, but bad for the opera
tives. Hon. William E. Thorn, secretary
of the company, is strongly opposed to the
Mills bill The standing of Commodore
A. J. Root, who controls the most perfect
knitting mill in the world, was recently
given in these columns. On the same
platform stand nearly all the other
knitted goods manufacturers of both
parties, with whom, as with all others,
self preservation is the first law, and who
see nothing but ruin to a great indus
try and the reduction of now prosper
Gus community of operatives to starvation
rates, as result of the adoption of the
Mills bill. The industry suffered long
period of uncertainty iii 1884 from the
effect of Cleveland's election. Many
orders were Cancelled and many more
withheld, and it was a desperate struggle
with some of the manufacturers to tide
over the season of depression. A year
having passed and nothing having been
done to disturb the existing tariff laws,
confidence was regained. The market
having thus been entirely cleared a genu-
inc boom set In and has continued with
varying energy ever since. That de-
preston resulted simply from u
fear of what might be aud it taught a les
son that will not soon be forgotten. If
such a depression resulted from q mere
possibility, what will be the result OF
reality? Even now the business suffers
from the uncertainty and a dull summer
is anticipated. Experience is dear but
thorough teacher. There is no doubt
about the standing of Cohoes on the tariff
question. No more is there Of the stand
ing of Philadelphia, Amsterdam and Lit.
lie Falls. The knitted goods industry
throughout the country may be set down
rs solid for protection first. last and al
EayS.