The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-09-05

Pacific slope-there to remain, so far as
this country is concerned; that wool, as an
article of commerce, will not be produced
in any great quantities In the middle or
western states, and that our interest from
this time forward is in cheap wool, that
we NAV have cheap clothing.
do not expect the sheep culture In In
diana 10 90 down much below its present
standard. Our farmers will still retain
their flocks as a part of their farm stock,
but the Southdown will eventually take
the place OF the merino. and we in In
diana will raise sheep hereafter more for
the mutton than for the fleece.
Therefore it would seem very clear that
the measure under consideration would
be beneficial to the farmers of Indiana
and TO all other classes of our citizens, as
it would undoubtedly reduce the price OF
wooden clothing at least one-third, so that
those who now pay ten TO twelve dollars
for suit of the cheapest and coarsest
wool clothing would be able to obtain 1t
at from seven TO eight, and SO on IN pro-
portion. 1t is a fact not appreciated by
our people that at present, on account of
the tariff on raw wool and the tariff on
wooden fabrics, we pay tax on foreign
clothes of at least 70 per cent,
and of course pay an almost correspond
ingly enhanced price for the domestic ar
ticle.
But, says the republican speaker, if you
adopt this measure, you will ruin the
wooden industries of this country. This
utterly deny The wooden manufacturers
would be enabled to get a much
cheaper and better supply of wool
by admitting a largely increased for
eign importation, to be assorted and
mixed with our own product, and even
the home production would become more
important and more valuable from the
necessity of having it to mix with the
( foreign article, as it is a well understood
fact that it requires a variety of fieeces
produced under different circumstances
10 make the proper combination for the
manufacture OF wooden goods.
Again the demagogue cry Is put up that
It would affect injuriously the wages OF
laborers engaged in that branch of bust
ness. This charge, too, is utterly
groundless. As you cheaper the fabrics
manufactured from wool you would in
crease the demand for them at home, be-
cause the amount purchased very often
depends upon the price, and as the Ameri-
can manufacturer would be put more
nearly upon a footing with the foreign
manufacturer, IN the cost of his material,
he would be able to enter the foreign mar
ket and thus compete with the foreign
producer in his own market, and this
would necessitate the increase of the
manufacturing interests in this country
and result in an increased demand for
labor. There is no greater fallacy than to
suppose that the price of the article manu-
featured in any manner controls the price
OF the labor used in its manufacture. In
commerce labor is but an article OF
commerce, and its value as much de-
ponds upon the law of supply and de-
mand as any other article that is TO
be found in the market; but IN
fortunately for the American laborer,
while he has to supply him
self with the necessaries of life, the actual
kprices of which are enhanced to a very
great exten. by the protective tariff, his Ia
Dor and the price of it are settled and de-
termined upon the principles of free trade.
Any foreigner, without restriction, may
come into our country, sit down by his side
and take from him the labor upol which
depends the support of himself and hiI
Family, or compete with him in determ:n-
ing the wages he should receive for that
labor This condition of things is as open
as the day and going on constantly, and
yet, in the face OF these facts, the repub-
Ecan leaders do not scruple to charge that
the only thing that makes the difference
between wages in this country and in Eu.
rope is the tariff which protects the man
ufacturer. Our country is full of examples
of men who have grown enormously rlc.!
by selling at the enhanced prices which tn =
tariff enables them to do, but it does not
furnish single example of an employe OF
any of those milliOnaires ever having re-
ceived an additional cent wages on account
OF the profits of the employer.