West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-09-11

Mr.. President, the argument that the tariff re.
nuses me price OF the protected article must strike
uosc who are familiar with the occurrence which
happened within this Capitol as exceedingly Indie
fous. hit be true that such IL a practical effect o
hign protective tarih, why Is II that whenever
this subject - under considerationby Congress tho
Corridors OF this building filled with skilled ex
per,s ana able representatives OF our great pro
tected industfiesi what motive influences them
10 besicgc the committee on finance and sect ~
impress upon individual Members of Congress Tire
importance of giving TO each particular ind,,strv
the highest possible protectlonl
Generally these representatives are liberal iivcs
snI 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 TO reduce the cost of
me Manufactured article in the interest of the
consumer II, sir this Is the pure aud patriotic
motive which influence. their expenditures, ihe
unjus, and unfoundcd opinion Of the people
should be corrected II the fortunes amassed In
lew years by these public benehciaries are the
result OF their business sagacity and should NOT
the people understand has within the iast 10 years
divided our population into classes, the deiusion
should be dissipated II such Is the true character
OF the penehciaties of high protective tariff aud
these the motives which have induced their gen.
efous expenditures the country has not appre.
ciated these estimable phiianthropists and unsei.
hsh patriots, but has misunderstood the noble Inn.
pulses which prompted such sacrifices la the In.
tefest oil the people
The advocates Of this system base their conf.
dence OF its permanent success upon the creduIity
OF the people but even they should remember IN l
.heir cause WILDE weakened should they continue
70 insist that there exists in the practical affairs o
life being that could exist only Ina the domain o
Imagination.
Mr.. President, those who advance this argm
nent ignore the facts Of history and discount Toe
heavily the skill, intelligence aud Inventive pe
MUS OF the American workman. They fail 10 ap
pIe9iaie me great strides which have been made
~ the application 81 steam, and IN the improve
mems Of machinery in the methods employed In
production, and must be totally obiiyious Of thai
marvellous displacement Of labor which has oc.
CURED during The last 30 years.
During that period the whole labor system has
been reyolgtionized Prom the bureau Of stats
TICS ~ Btrn we learn that the power OF the steam
machinery 10 existence in 1857 was equivalent 10
',ooo.ooo hgrs,e power, representing .ooe
.,tthtce times the working power Of the earth. %
This same able writer discusses with wondcrful
iucidi,y and with rare abb ity the causes which
have tended TO reduce the cost Of production the
most potent Of which has been the Ingenious
application Of machinery IN tlc displacement oil
labor. lie gives numerous Illustrations Of NJ
marvellous increase Of production resulting from
improved methods and machinery aud the in
crease Of intelligence Of the workmen. lie says.
I'm 1870 an operative in the cotton mills Of
Ehode Island, working 70 20 - hours day. turned
on 1000 yards Of standard shecfing ia n year. la
Isoo the operative IN the same mill made about
1900 yards, working 10 hours day"
The report Of the United states commlsstoyey
Illustrations
In the meuuiac,ure Of agricultural implements
specific evidence y submitted, showing that 600
Mon now do the WORK that IS or 20 wears ago
would have required 1,i45 men-a displacement u
f.s45
The manufacture Of boots and shoes offers
some very wonderful facts ia this connection Ia
one large and long established factory the pro-
prelQrs testify that u would require SO persons
working by baud processes 10 make al fpaft,,
wOmeu's boots and shoes a. n hundred pefsoua
now make with the aid OF machinery--a dispiacc.
ment Of 80 per cent
"Au0iher firm. engaged IN the manufacture Of
childfen's shoes. states that the introduction III
new machinery within the past 10 wears nae dis.
placed about slN iimcs The amount OF hand labor
required aud hat the cost Of the product has been
ION another grade Of goods. the facts collected
by the agent ~ the hufeau show that one man can
now do the work which 20 years ago. required fo
men
TN the manufacture Of -four there has been a
displacement 81 nearly three foufths Of the man.
ual labor necessary 10 produce the same product
10 he memniaciufe ~ furniture. from one half to
three iourths only 81 the old number Of persons IA
now required tn the manufacture Of wall paper
the best evidence puts the displacement in the
proportion Of 100 20 o. IN the manufacture of
metals and metallic goods long. established firms
testify ihgt machinery has decreased manual labor
33H PET cent.