The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1888-07-19
V1nw-s OF MAN
On Protection, as it Affects Capital, BUSH
ness and Labor.
Iwrltten for the News-Democrat

ness anu 6hpON'
rwritten for the News-Democratl
7. FL. Wade, the Cleveland millionaire
manufacturer, in an interview with a re-
porter. is accused of saying that If free
trade became the national policy every
iron mill would be compelled to stop its
machinery inside of thirty days; the
Cleveland rolling mill, of which he is
a stockholder, would be forced to shut
down or run at a loss; some 10000 peo-
pie would have to suffer.
The thirty or forty stockholders in
the company would not suffer any,
Their loss of investment would be fully
compensated by the increased value OF
their mouey.
Or, in other words, they say to labor:
You have voted protection in order to
buld up American enterprise, and pro-
tect labor. You have produced all the
wealth that has been produced by the
enterprise, and we have 1t, while you
nave nothing. You are now at our
mercy. With the wealth that you have
produced we have monopolzed the
uatural opportunities, which a bounti-
fnl creator furnished to labor from
which to supply its wants, and we are
lble 10 still monopoliZe these natural
riffs This is protection from a stand
Dolnt of capital. Now suppose n, as a
titlZen of Canton, has ten dollars, which
he exchanges for goods IN Canton. A
NAV have been benefited or h mer-
chant he bought from, but the city OF
Canton has neither lost nor
canned by the transaction,
because the same goods remain, and
lie wealth of Canton has not been in
creased or diminished. But had a sent
his ten dollars to Cleveland, and re-
.-lved back twice the amount OF goods
ne could have got IN Canton, then Il
on would baN e been benefited, be-
cause the wealth OF Canton is increased
But if A only receive BACK halI as
much goods, Canton is a loser, because
the wealth OF Canton has been dlmln'
ished.
business is interested in the amount
of Nealth owned i'll Canton, and the
way it is distributed. suppose an
American farmer has $1,000 worth VI
wheat or wool, which he exchanges III
New York for goouS, no matter how
m lch he may make on the goods, or
tn merchant makes of the wheat or
wool. lis long as 1t all stays IN the couh'
NY, the nation has gained nothing by
The transaction, for no wealth has Oeeh
added to it. But suppose that the farm
er mad sent his wheat or wool to Eng-
land and received back twice as much
goods as he could have got mere, the
business of the nation is benefited two
WAYS: First-there has been more
wealth ADDED to the country, and there
is an opportunity for labor 10 produce
aro1her $1,000 worth of wheat or wool.
NV, free trade encourages this KIND
OF trading, while protection prevents II.
rhis is protection from a business
sta / point.
lhe effect of protection on labor has
been lust the opposite of what "a lor
Was led to expect. 1t has bu 1t a
Chinese wall around our PORTS, which
mr. vents us from exchanging the pro
due S Of our labor, with other nations;
tn is shorter ing the opportunities, OF
lauor at both ends. ProtecClon mas
destroyed our navy and shipping inter
ests. Thousands of men that should be
employed as sallors, helping to mcre Use
the wealth of the nation, are now
tramps and idle Migrants. Protection
mas almost entirely destroyed our ship
building enterprises. Thousands OF
men that mi, ht be employed buildin5
ships are now working in shops. max,
ing labor saving machinery, which still
further reduces the opportunities and
the wages of labor.
Protection has enabled capital to com
bine and concentrate its power, to
crush out labor, to control and corrupt
Legislatures and Congress, and to de-
bauch the elective franchise. The Big
fish have been eating up the little ol.e'
Just as fast as the little ones get big
enough to eat. Protection has enabled
corporate capital to foster trusts, to
regulate the supply to suit the demand
and 10 control prices.
Yet thousands of business men, la
borers, mechanics and farmers really
believe that protection is a benefit to
the country, and refuse to investigate
for themselves. My object in writing
is not to change mems votes, but to in
duce them, if ! can, to think for them
| selves. A. J. KNIT.