Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-09-21

eign manufacturer. 1t Will make no
difference what that price may be SO far
as this point Is concerned. Whatever
the price of wool, the foreign manufac-
turer would then pay the same as the
American. We would thus start even.
But it is said, there is the lower
priced foreign labor; how do you get
around that?' Let us see: The Mills
bill imposes a tariff of 40 per cent adj
valorem on the foreign made goods; 40
per cent of the whole cost of the foreign
made goods must be added to that cost
before those goods can go upon our mar
ket. The American manufacturer does
not have to pay that 40 per cent on the
cost of his goods before putting them on
the market. But the whole cost of labor
on wooden goods does not amount to 40
per cent on their cost price. Therefore,
it seems evident that, with wool that
costs the foreign manufacturer as much
as it costs us, and with every other ele-
ment of manufacture, except labor, as
favorable, at least, to us as to the for
eigner, and with a dut ony foreign goods
greater thar the whole cost of our labor
and supplies on our goods, we could sue
cessfully compete with the foreigner if
his labor cost him absolutely nothing.
We would not only hold our market as
to the lines of goods which we are now
making, but would make and sell cloth
of a much finer quality suitable for such
evening dress suits as most of the men,
bers of the Home Market Club wore at
the grand reception given Sherman and
Mckinley a few months ago, where, in
garments manufactured by foreign labor
from foreign grown wool, they clamored
so loudly for protection to American
labor.
"To repeat what | have before said, if
the foreign manufacturer is obliged to
pay the same price for his wool that we
do, it will be impossible for him to take
from us any of the home market we now
have for our goods. On the contrary,
we can take from him a portion. at least,
of our home market which he now mo-
nopolizes. We can and will make the
greater part, if not all, of that S45, 600,
600 worth of wooden goods which, under
the existing tariff, is made abroad and
annually imported into and consumed in
this country. And | do not think our
increase in manufacturing would stor
even there.
"Such a condition of business will not
confine its benefits to the manufacture
alone. 1t is easily demonstrate that the
manufacture of that SD. 900, 900 worth o.
goods would alone give employment tC
some $4,000 work people and distribute
among them not less than IS, 1000, 900 an
nually. But this is not all. Free wool
increasing the possibilities of manufac
turers, will broaden the scope of theil
enterprises, opening new avenues fol
: capital and new fields for labor. TIT
increased demand for labor thus created
= will inevitably keep up the wages of thu
t operatives. and, | think, increase them
Nor will the consumer be left out in tn,
t distribution of benefits arising from fire.,
t wool. The assumption that he will seem,
to be entirely gratuitous, and contrary t.
: established and conceded principles O
trade. Activity in business leads to live
ly competition competition regulates tn
I prices; and every one knows that in al
, kinds of business, not carried on unde
! trusts the consumer buys down t.
| near cost with a small percentage added
to represent interest on invested capital
1.-THE foregoing answers your fourtl
and fifth points, and practically, you,
, sixth also; for it appears that free WOO
must benefit manufacturers and Civ,
) more employment and more money TO
labor and cannot fall to affect beneficial,
: the consumer. Therefore, it canno
/ mean a disturbance to labor and capital
and in general, a damage to American
interests You have yourself shown
that it cannot, or at least does not, an(
: will not, harm the wool growers. If the
: views which l have advanced in thi
letter are sound, free wool will not lea(
| to increased, but rather to diminished
lulDOTtdtlOu VI WOolCuss III 1CdtS VI t'
} contrary must arise from a lack of tina
= confidence in themselves which Ameri
, cans usually have, and pride themselves
= in having. OF late we often hear tn,
policy Of an excessive protective tarif
; on everything called the American poll
cy.' | think this is a SANDER of us. anC
!, that the real, natural, genuine American
policy and feeling is, A fair field and NJ
favor such as the cotton and leather
industries now enjoy. Leave us untram
melled by legislation designed to foste
, ~monopolies and enrich the few at th'
/ cost of the many, and we will sustain
/, ourselves and u country against tn
!, world, as we did from 1912 to 1861.
t 81 do not consider that the proposed
= change in the tariff on imported woolel
1 goods is a surrender of the 20 per cent o
"