The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-03-15
THE TARIFF AND WAGES.



protection, that II we'll deserves tull
presentation before western readers.
Before quoting from the article it
will be useful to state few facts rela-
ting TO the present tariff on iron and
steele. That tariff is about 80 per cent.
on steele rails, As per cent. on
boiler iron, 35 to 40 per cent. on hoop
iron, ,s25 per cent. on saws. 40 per cent.
on nails, 60 per cent. on bolts, 60 per
cent. on files, 100 per cent. on iron or
steel beams AMI from % TO 100 per
| cent on wire.
All who read or heard tine stump
speeches on the republican side last
year remember clearly that the burden
OF the appeal to voters was that the
American workingman could not COM
pete with English and that q reduction
of the tariff would inevitably reduce
wages in this country. narrowing
pictures OF pauperized labor were
drawn to excite the'patriotic American,
| and General Harrison said that low
prices were to be avoided since they
meant low wages.
The tariff reiormer replied that low
prices and low wages did not by any
means go together, but that on the
contrary the more efficient and produc-
i've the labor the lower the cost of
commodities and the higher the wages.
The prOteCtionist ridicnied the position
and called the reformer theorist and
a British hireling.
Now lot US look at the latest argu-
ment Of the protective tariff league.
The economist article has text
| aud the text Is an interview with
Colonel AN. Shook, OF Tennessee, W no
has been investigating the iron aud
steel manufactures in Europe. Colonel
Shook is all officer of the protective
tariff league and is identified with the
| iron aud steel association. Here are
some of his views:
| saw no place in England or Wales
where iron was being made as cheaply
as at Birmingham, Ala.
AT no place either In England or
Wales were they putting coal OH the
cars as cheaply as is how being done in
Tennessee and Alabama.
The price of labor In England has
advanced in some instances as high as
535 per cent. above one ear ago, and II
is further stated that another advance
1f ID per cent will be made in January.
Wages advancing from Is TO 82 1-2
|
is it possible2 Ii rather beats ns, and
very much beats protected France,
SPAN and Germany. These psuper
cousins across the water have learned
" trick the lately striking laborers IN
Mr.. Carnegie's mills would like to
initiate. And American labor putting
iron Oh the cars more cheaply than the
pauper labor in England and Wales.
4 81 a.nth txar ~
the iron and steel association aud OF
the league he would certainly be d
British hireling and an impracticable
visionary. But the Economist appl iuds
the coloners report and carries it to
conclusions. Its own words are best
Wages all over Europe are steadily
rising.
To-day we are exporting TO all parts
of the globe the products OF our fscto
ries. At the same time we have sue
cessfully maintained the high level OF
American wages. Intelligence, com.
, bined with active home competition
has enabled us to rival the products o
low wages in their own markets, an(
: the day is now fast approaching whel
the land of the highest wages, the lane
, in hich workingmen enjoy the high
; est degree of the comforts of life-wil
also be the land OF cheapest production
AS matter OF fact we are not ex
! porting iron articles very largely. Mos
of our exports are of tools, implement
and locomotives, which, by reason O
American inventions, are more suitabl
: Tor the purposes OF several countrie
I than European articles of the sam
/ =. A.a 10 10 nntl ofo IN.
that these exports are sold abrOa,
much cheaper than at home. all ar
rangement which looks like discrimina
-, ton against our own consumers. Al
that, however, may pass. The kerne
of the Economists article is the deser
ton, without q regret, explanation o
y ieave-taking, OF the protectionist theor
of wages.
u When the Times last year took ex
u tracts from Mr.. SchoenhOfs data t
i prove that the more intelligent an,
y efficient labor of America was NOR
y than able to compete with any paupe
V labor, and really cost less than paupe
u labor, estimated by its proportion @
y selling prices, fifty republican organ
- in Kansas and Missouri declared tn
y assertion ridiculous and on It's face im
u possible What will they say of th
Economist? The land OF highest wage
!" and greatest general comfort also tn
- land of cheapest production. We hav
~ never been ssnguine enough to expec
~ that doctrine from an organ supporte
= by the protective tariff leagne. Their
:" is nothing more lett for the tariff RI
" former TO say.
Il The Economist does not, for all il
y pew labor theory, consent that the iro
u tariff shall bs removed or reduced.
has a new reason for the same oil
~ tariff:
/, while the maintenance of our systel
;, will continue to be expedient to pr,
)" tect us against industrial disaster
Il abroad, il will be less and less neede
70 to protect us against their cheape
production
D. TO protect us. To protect whom
'o Not labor because it cannot need prt
'o lection when it can put iron on I'll
~ cars with less cost than can EugliS
and Welsh labor. 1t must be the min,
~ furnace and mill owners. And I
ID avoid the influence of industrial disa
lers in countries where wages al
rising we must keep the rs per Gel
and upward tariff. That is, our ow
people must pay for their iron an
steel whatever the association can b
shutting down furnaces ana limitin
" production compel us to pay. Th
|: Economist in another editorial says:
Il with a senate in tuli sympathy wit
such measures and president VIII
Of will gladly sign bill prepared all
r passed by such Legislators, the ouiloo
= is most favorable for speedy tart
10 legislation that will be .'uncompru
misiugly protective.
II UncompromisiDgIy protective for ia
~ iron and steel association of whic
J. Chairman Mckinley OF the ways al
IN means committee is ilie most obediei
Y servant Here is enough TO kee
| western farmers and business me
d digesiing until the next cougression
a elections. For the chance of injur
At from European disasters our peOpl
At are TO keep right on paying sever,
Y hundred millions OF dollars annually
" bouuiies which contessedly do not hel
Dt labor What ia the protective tari
league going To do for the farmers
!" New England and the middle states?
" The record Ot n death, published
~ one of the relipiOuR nnnars SAWS nt a