The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-08-23

A Vermont Manufacturers Experi-
ence with the Present Tariff as told
by Charles =. Harris IN the Rutland
Herald,
1t is apparent that some believe that
too much importance is being attached
to the discussion of this subject as to its
bearing on American industries. An
instance lately brought to my attention
may serve to illustrate the seriousness of
the question and itsrelations toAmerican
manufacturers, suggesting how the
American laborers may be affected by
competition with foreign cheap labor.
Some months ago Maj 2. E Chase of
Mechanicsville, VT, who went out in
1861, as Capt of Co. A I'd, VI. Reg,
Senator in our last legislature, who is
employing some sixty men in the man
ufacture of toy wagons, shipped to
New York dealer novelty in that line
which attracted the attention Of mer-
chant from Amsterdam, Holland, who
Immediately ordered twenty five dozen
shipped to him. A short time after the
goods reached Amsterdam and were put
on the market, he saw that they were
going to sell rapidly and increased the
order to 80 dozen TO be shipped at ouce,
and 90 dozen to be sent month later.
Before the second lot arrived, he tele-
graphed countermanding the order, say
ing that he would explain later. On be.
ing asked the reason for cancelling the
order he replied that as soon as manu-
facturer in Holland saw that there was
ready sale for the goods, he began at
once to make them, selling at figure
much below what they could be bought
for in America. He said to the New
York dealer that if the duty of 1914 per
cent was removed he would be able to
ship them from Holland and supply the
American market, undertaking our own
manufacturers.
The fact that such goods can be made
in a country where the lumber is so
scarce, freighted across the ocean and
sold TO New York dealers at less cost
than they can be produced for in Yer
mont, where there is great abundance
OF lumber at the point of manufacture,
also skilled labor and the best of ma
chinery, must demonstrate that the low
er wages paid TO the wOrklngman in
Europe il what alone enables them to
make goods there and sell them here, at
price that would oblige any American
manufacturer to discharge his help and
close his factory. if the protective duties
did not shut out the goods made by the
cheap labor across the ocean.
Remove the tariff, or reduce it to a
point below which il ceases to protect
our industries, and necessary to enable
the country to produce the goods at the
wages now paid to the workingman, and
one of two things must follow Either
foreign made goods will be rushed into
the United States and close our factories,
or, on the other hand, the American
workIngman must be reduced to rate
of wages allowed where similar goods
are made.
Scarcely onehslf of what ia now paid
in this country is received by the me
chanic or laborer in Europe. Let Amer.
Ican wages be thus reduced in order to
compete with foreign countries and few
will presume to say that anything but a
deplorable condition OF various branches
of business throughout the country must
follow, Fair wages and plenty of work
mean prosperity to America. The re-
verse of that must surely follow any
general reduction OF the tariff and con
sequent reduction of wages to the work.
iOgman.