Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-10-15

Mr. President, the argument tina, the tariff re-
duees the price Of the protected article must strike
those who are familiar with the occurrences which
happened within this Capitol as exceedingly ludio-
rous. II II be true that such Is practical effect OF
high protective tariff, why Is IT that whenever
this subject is under consideration by Congress the
corridors ofthis building are filled with skilled ex-
perts and able representatives OF our great pro-
tected industries, what motive influences them
TO besiege the committee on finance and seek to
impress upon individual Members OF Congress the
importance OF giving 10 each particular industry
| the highest possible protection!
Generally these representatives are liberal livers
and generous entertainers. Their salaries are
high, their expenses great.
| Is this extravaganza upon the part OF those
whose products TO be protected the result OF an
earnest and anxious desire 10 reduce the COS; OF
| the manufactured article in the interest OF the
consumer II, sir, this is the pure and patriotic
motive which influences their expenditures, the
unjus; and unfounded opinion Of the people
should be corrected. 1.-THE fortunes smassed in
few years by these public benehciaries are the
result OF their business sagaciiy. and should not
be attributed 10 that system o. legislation which,
the people understand has within the last 90 years
divided our population into classes, the delusion
should be dissipated II such Is the true character
OF the benehciaries OF high protective tariff aud
| these the motives which have induced their gen
erous expenditures. the country has not appre-
ciated these estimable phianthropists and unsel-
FISH patriots but has misunderstood the noble inn
pulses which prompted such sacrifices In the in
terest OF the people.
The advocates OF this system base their conf
dence fits permanent success upon the credulity
Of the people but even they should remember that
their cause will be weakened should they continue
10 insist that there exists in the practical atairsoi
life being that could exist only in the domain Of
imagination.
Mr. President those who advance this argu-
reut ignore the facts OF history and discount too
heavily the skill, intelligence and inventive &c
MUS OF the American workman. They fail TO APP
l 10 10 strides which have leeu made
in the application Of steam, end in the improve
ments OF machinery in the methods employed in
production, and must be totally oDliyious Of that
marvellous displacement OF labor which has oc-
Cured during the last 80 years
During that period the whole labor system has
been fevOiutouiz=d. From the bureau Of stats
tics in Berlin learn that the power OF the steam
machinery IN existence in 1857 was equivalent 10
900 900 horse power. representing 600 900 600
laborers. which j. estimated by Dir. Wells 20 be
three times the working power Of the earth"
This sne able writer discusses with wonderful
iucidity and with rare abb iy the causes which
have tended TO reduce the cost OF production, the
most potent OF which has been the ingenious
application of machinery in the displacement Of
labor He gives numerous illustrations OF its
marvellous Increase Of production resulting from
improved methods and machinery and the in
crease Of intelligence Of the workmen. Tic says:
In 1870 an operative in the cotton mills Of
Rhode Island, working - 10 Y hours day. turned
off O Coz wards Of standard sheetiuQ IN year: in
1856 the operative in the same mill made about
80 900 yards, working 10 hours day"
The report OF the United States Commissioner
Of Labor for 1886 furnishes the following additional
illustrations:
"In the manufacture OF agricultural implements
specific evidence j. submitted, showing that 600
men now do the work that IS or 20 year ago
would have required ALAS men-a displacement OF
f,szs.
"rhe manufacture Of boots and shoes offers
some very wonderful facts in this connection. In
one lsrge and congratulated factory the pro-
p-letors testify that Il would require 500 persons
working by hand processes. 10 make many
women bouts aud shoes a hundred persons
now make with the aid VI nachiBery--a displace.
men; OF so per cent.
Another firm. engaged in the manufacture Of
chiidrcn's shoes. states that the intr1drcti0n Of
new machinery within the past 80 years has dis
placed about SIX times the amount OF hand labor
required and that the cost Of the product has been
reduced one-hsf.
ION another grade Of goods. the fsrts collected
by the agent Of the bureau show that one man can
now do The work which, - years ago. required 10
men.
In the manufacture OF -four there has been a
displacement Of nearly three fJurths Of TIE man
ual labor necessary 10 produce the same product
In the manufacture Of furniture. from one-haif 10
tiiree-fourths only Of the old number Of persons Is
now required In the manufacture Of wall paper
the best evidence puts the displacement in the
proportion Of 100 10 I. In the manufacture OF
metals and metallic goods. long established FIRMS
testify thpt machinery has decreased manual labor
So per cent