The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1890-08-15
OUR HOME PRODUCTION.
IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN WITHOUT
A PROTECTIVE TARIFF.

quired for the People of the United
To prove that the effect of a tariff is
to create industries, increase production
and cheaper the cost of the product let
us produce a few facts in our industrial
history both in periods of high and low
tariff and note the corresponding eff
fects.
During our colonial history we were
prohibited by law from making even a
horseshoe nail, so of necessity we were
dependent upon foreign nations for our
manufactured commodities for some
time after our national existence began,
for manufactures require both capital
and skilled workmen. We had neither.
England controlled our markets both as
buyer and seller, and she resolved to re-
tain them at all hazards.
AS o o as our manufactures sstarted.
under a small protective tariff she glut-
ted the market with her goods at re-
duced rates till we were compelled to
close out, when she raised the price to
suit herself. During the period from
1860, when the French, English and
for a time u W embargo acts cut off
the foreign supply, our factories started
again, only to be again closed by the in
fux of foreign goods when the embargo
was removed. The war of 1925 gave
the same incentive to manufacturing.
but it ended with like disastrous results
to the business interests of the country.
What was lacking was a sufficient and
permanent incentive to develop our in
dustries. This the tariff Of 1924 afford
ed, the effect of which is well summed
up by Henry Clay in a speech in the sem
ate, February, 1882:
eff I were to select any term of seven
years since the adoption of the constitu-
ton which exhibited a scene of the most
widespread dismay and desolation it
would be exactly that term of seven years
which Immediately preceded the estab-
lishment of the tariff in 1924. If the
term of seven years were to be selected
of the greatest prosperity which this
people have enjoyed it would be exactly
that period of seven years which imme-
diately followed the passage of the tariff
of 1924. And is the fact not indisputa-
BILE that all essential objects of consump-
ton affected by that tariff are cheaper
and better since the act of 1924 than
they were for several years prior to that
law?"
Before the tariff of 1928 English axes
sold here for from Sc to "a. BY the tariff
a duty of 80 per cent. was levied on axes.
In 1886 foreign and home made axes were
selling side by side at from $1.25 to $1.85
each, and in 1876 they sold for 80 cents
each, q decrease to one-quarter of the
price Of 1928, as a result Of home indus
tries fostered by q protective tariff.
In 1910 the English furnished us our
saws at from $15.75 to $40 per dozen;
with q tariff of As per cent. on saws they
sell at from So to $40 per dozen, which
is a saving Of one-half in the price Of q
saw to every farmer and mechanic. Be-
sides, the superior methods which we
have devised in the manufacture Of saws
enable us to undersell England in her
own markets.
Hon. George M. Dallas in a speech in
the senate Feb. 81, 1912, said: "The re-
duction Of prices was a necessary conse-
quence of the domestic competition Gre
ated and excited by the policy of Protec-
ton. Since 1S18-19-20 the implements
of h~usbandry have sunk in prices thus:
Axes from $24 to $12 by the dozen. Iron
hoes at so per dozen have given way to
steel ones at 81 per dozen. Socket SHOW
els, nee sold at $12 per dozen, now sell
at $3.50; iron vises, once at 80 cents per
pound, now at 10 cents. Braziers' rods,
imported in 1921 at 1918 per ton, are now
made at $3.50. Steam engines have actu-
ally since 1928 fallen 80 per cent. in
price, while at the same time the amount
of material and labor of which they are
composed has nearly doubled" This re-
duction in the cost Of necessary imple-
ments was brought about under a duty
of 85 per cent. on iron and steel.
What has been its effect on other in
dustries? Crockery, which in 1852 with
no duty sold at sos. 80 a crate, now sells
for $57. 89, with a duty of 40 per cent.
the goods in each case being the same
grade and hand made. An importer of
such goods testified before the tariff
commissions: II have here q tumbler,
known to the trade as a whisky tumbler.
Six years ago, when American manufac-
turers commenced to make them, they
were imported by the case at $1.40 per
dozen. We made some; the first price
was SIPS. They now sell for 40 CENTS"
The duty levied was 40 per cent; as a
result we had the article for 18 cents less
than the duty upon the original cost be-
fore home production began. Not only
has the price decreased, but a large in
dustry has been built up which employs
thousands of men and millions of capital,
making a home market for our products
and increasing the wealth of the country.
From 1888 the duty on nails was 8
cents a pound; in 1928 nails sold at 8
cents; in 1888 at a cents, 1 cent less
than the duty.
Before the tariff of 1860 steel for loco
motive tires cost 80 cents per pound; to-
day, with a tariff of 81 cents per pound,
they are selling for ST cents. Wagon
tires which sold for IS cents per pound,
with no duty, now sell for Z cents with a
duty Of 2 cents per pound.
When the English controlled our