The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-05
MANUFACTURES.
The Americans Opportunity Comes With
Open Markets.

I insist tat if the American manufacs-
urer is put on an equal foot;:g with his
foreign competitor in the cost OF his raw
material and the cost of plant and ma
chine. V, he can compete with the foreign
manufacturer in any neutral market in the
world, without any reduction of
wages, In all branches of manu-
facture that are carried on chiefly by
the aid of machinery. All other things
being equal, the energy, activity and in
telhgence of American operatives in guild
ing and directing machinery used in man
ufacturing will more than compensate for
the difference in wages between this coun-
try and Europe, even in England where
the highest wages of Europe are paid. OF
course there are some classsJ of manufac-
lures in which labor is the chief element
of cost, as in hand-wrought laces, India
shawls and articl- OF that kind, where it
will not be possible for us to compete with
them, nor would 1t be our interest to try
any more than il would be our interest to
attempt to compete with Africa in the
production of ostrich feathers; but they
are articles OF luxury, and do not, to any
great extent, enter into our general trade
and commerce; while, on the other hand,
much Of our manufacturing is carried on
now by machinery that is so perfect that
u
the highest intelligence and greatest
amount OF energy OF those who have
charge of the management of the ma
chinery accomplishes the greatest results.
Tie proposition | have laid down upon
this subject l propose to prove from the
history of one branch of our own domestic
industries, being that which is connected
with the hide and leather trade and the
manufacture of leather. In 1872, fortu-
nately for our country, hides and skins
were placed on the free list. At that time
the tanning interest was languishing in
all parts of the country, and we were
importing largely to supply our manufact-
Dries with leather, especially for the man
ufacture of boots and shoes. The impetus
given to the tanning interest enabled our
tanneries, inside of five years, TO furnish
a sufficient amount of sole-leather and
upper-leather tosupply the home demand.
Not long afterward our tanneries began
exporting those same classes of feathers TO
Europe. The reports closing the last
fiscal year show that, OF upper-leathers,
our exports amounted to nearly s., 900, 600,
and sole-leather over q, 100000. while our
imports of sole-leather, including betting,
amounted TO little over $50, 900. This
condition of things enabled our manufact-
urers of boots and shoes 10 supply them
selves with sole-leather and upper
leather as cheap as the foreign manufact-
urer could obtain it, and as consequence
the last year shows that we exported over
100000 worth of boots and shoes that
were sold to foreigners in foreign markets
at free-trade prices, while the American
consumer was paying the tariff prices for
goods OF that class purchased and used.~
Mr.. Bynum was correct when, in his
Atlanta speech. he stated that the manu-
featuring capacity at present of our boot
and shoe manufactures enable them to
supply the home market for twelve months
by running eight months in the year, and
as to the other four months they had to
occupy it by running on short time or
by shutting down. The statistics from
which have quoted indicate very clearly
that with slight additional encouragement
in the reduction of the cost Of raw mate
rial to our boot and shoe manufacturers,
they would be able to run full time DUR