The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1890-09-05
The working. of,he rar,n.


thorough public debate is shown by the
course Of opinion upon the Mckinley
bill. The general argument for a high
tariff that increases wages and extends
industries by excluding foreign products
or frightening their cost is very plaus-
ible. to the great body OF people who have
little time for research and argument.
which depends upon knowledge of details.
This Is known, Of course. to those who
wished to rush the tariff through con
gress, But prolonged debate fixes atten-
tion npon single details. and as point
is comprehended the whole subject is il
Illuminated, South Dakota contains, ac-
cording to n of its senators, the richest
and most extensive tin mines in tie
world, and it produces also the iron and
fuel, the necessary means Of manufa,-
ture. The protection proposition is to
pay much more than double the present
tariff tax upon tin plate in order to try
the experiment OF enabling American
manufacturers to furnish the products.
This is a proposal for the workman to
agree to pay twice asmuch for his din
ner pail for five years. or for as much Of
that time as may be necessary to estab-
lish the tin manufacture here. 1t is a
kind of lottery in which he certainly
pays a large price for a ticket. and in
which he may draw a prize large
enough to reimburse him for his outlay
if he should live long enough, and II the
chances should all turn out we'll. This
is not very inviting temptation, but t
Is one which the owner OF the dinner
pail can readily comprehend. The real
appeal to him is that he ought to be will
ingt t payt&ice as much for his pail as
ne pays now, in order that it may be as
c~ertained whether his conntryman can
not hereafter furnish him a pail ut the
present price, if not less. For the pat
riotism he ought to be glad to foster tie
infant industry at his w expense.
The proprietor Of a dinner pail, how
ever, under the stress Of this patriotic ap-
peal, will ask how soon similar infant
industries emerge from infancy and the
support Of the tariff and 60 alone. Does
the history Of tariffs show that the taxes
which they impose upon specific articles
decrease OF do they continue and even
increase, whiR wages increase slowly and
the capital invested grows swiftly and
enormously? This interesting question
can only be answeredin one way. What
he sees, presently, Is that.the proprietors
Of the tin mines and the manufacturer OF
tin pals become very rich, while the
buyer and user Of the pail still pays the
higher price out Of wages which the tax
has not materially increased. As tie
manufacture. thEixes and its ploAta
increase; the owner and buyer Of the
pail will look in vain for a reduction OF
the tariff, but he will still be told that
if he will wait he will get the equivalent
of a reduction. in the lower price Of his
pail, By this time he will probably be.
gin to: understand the situation a little,
and he will conclude that except upon
an equitable basis which has never been
attained. and which is not sought, a high
protective tariff is a continuance to. take
money from one citizen and give it t6
anothet, in.the, hope that somehow OF
other the giyer may some time get some
kind q an equiyalent-Harpel's Nsekly.