St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-15
TARIFF THAT PROTECTS.
How Our Good Postmaster Gem
eral Wanamaker Made a Big
Fortune in One Deal.


Fortune in One Deal.
To the Editor of the Globe.
In Jan. II issue appears an editorial
entitled "A Big Trade" which from a
farmers standpoint / desire to offer a
few words upon. 1t appears that the
duty on ribbons imported is so per cent
on cost price; but that ribbons to be
used for trimming ladies' hats and bon
nets should pay but 20 per cent. How
the government officials were to deter
mine for what purpose they were to be
used does not appear: neither does it
appear how the 'goody goody'' Wanna
maker was to determine. Nor can the
famous Sunday school teacher tell to-
day for what purpose they were used.
But the people of this country can very
readily see that that ''goOdy goody"
gentleman has made nice little fortune
out of the transaction. In the first
place the 50 per cent additional
which he paid as duty on those
ribbons came to the enormous sum of
S2,000,0O0. This of course was one of
the necessary expenses incurred in OBJ
tanning those goods, hence was added to
the original cost. Then the "goody
goody" Sunday school teacher added to
per cent or more, making on the $1,000
600 the snug little sum of s2G0.0OO, or
more. And then, in his kind and bene-
VIOLENT way of dispensing "goOdy goodbye
things in this world, he sold them out to
the jobberS. who in turn added 10 per
cent to the $4,000, 900 when they sold to
the retailers; and they in like manner
added 90 per cent when they sold to the
consumers, making in all the grand
total of S2,903. 900 paid extra by the con-
sumers on the original cost of goods, in
consequence Of this so per cent addi-
tiOnal tariff.
Now, If 100000 is 80 per cent of the
original cost of goods, the first cost was
six and twO-thirds millions; hence, it
follows that the consumer paid extra, in
consequence of this tariff, 4315 per cent.
One would naturally suppose that a
man possessed of such noble traits of
character and magnificent qualities as
our famous Sunday school teacher and
party philanthropiSt would rest content
after having taken from the people,
through his efforts to adOrn the hats
and bonnets Of the noble ladies of this
country, she enormous sum of nearly
s., 100000. But no. After having sold
his goods and returned to his eXcheGiUr
the tariff he had paid and profit on
that tariff of at least 100000, he sues
the government and RECEIVERS the s., Co.,
600 he had paid in duty, and thereby
makes a net profit of &, 200, 900 on a
S2,000,000 investment. No wonder
he could contribute quarter of mill
ion toward the Harrison campaign! No
wonder he was rewarded for his noble
philanthropy with a good fat office
under an administration whose princi-
pal plank is Protection to home in
iustries," which, in his particular case,
must mean protection to public plum
der.''
Inasmuch as the farmers, together
with the laborers', wives and daughters,
constitute goodly portion of the in
habitantS OF this country, and as they
are given, more or less IN common with
other and more wealthy classes, to the
adornment of their persons with Wanna
makers imported ribbons, ] desire to
enter my solemn protest against such
consummate cusSedneSS.
pen these lines that the farmers and
laborerS of the country may see how the
tariff affects the price of goods imported.
By the foregoing it can also be seen
that if the same class Of goods is man.
ufacturcd in this country the price can
be fixed at the same figure the i'm
ported goods sell at with this enormous
tariff added. The manufacturer, there
fore, reapS tile benefit of q protective
tariff, and the consumer foots the bills.
j. CoLGR0yE.
Clearwater, Mimi. Jan. 13, 1890.