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

In is4s the boot and shoe makers Of Mssssehu-
sets made an average production. under the then
existing conditions Of manufacturing. OF f.57 pain
Of boots for each working day. In 1855 each en-
pioye in the State made on an average "a pairs
daily. while at the present tire IN Lynn and Hav-
erhil the daily average Of each person "a seven
pairs per day, showing an increase IN the power
OF production in 20 years Of 100 per cent
"fn the manufacture Of tewelry one skilled work
mau, could at the rate o: g 9 10 S per day. aud
working according to auti'msehine methods In
use few years ago. could make up three dozen
pairs Of sleeve buttons per day. Now, one boy,
paid S per week. and working ON the most mod
eru machinery. can make UP 5000 pairs in Gay.
I'm other words. in the time Of Adam smith II
was regarded wonderful achievement for 10
men 10 make 5000 pins day, but row men can
make 10000 pins Of vastly superior character
in the same ss..-se'
Mr.. President. In the opinions OF many Of the
are entirely lost sight Of They refuse 10 credit
these marvellous results to the skilled worsmeu
and inventors. They are not coutert that this
mighty revolution in the capacity 10 multiply pro-
duction should be attributed 10 auy other cause
than 10 the cold lifeess aud uninteliieent enact
nert commonly known as the tariff, but tcchni-
caiiy designated bill 10 reduce the revenue by
increasing taxation and for other purposes.
Sir with the purpose 10 deceive they point the
people to the reduciiono On those commodities which
in the last thirty years have been highly protected,
but they fail to call their attention 10 the fact hat
throughout the civilized wosid both in free trade
and highly protected countries, the price Q. all
commodities has ialieu. They ingeniously con-
ceal the real causes which have produced this de-
cline. They give no explanation that y sstisfac-
tory 10 the intelligent mind why the cost ct the
article has fallen while al the time the vaiuc
OF labor has risen by reason OF increased pEodnc-
| ton. resulting from larger consumption.
The illustrations which / have given furnish
full explanation why those contradictory facts ex-
ist. The reduction IN the cost Of production has
solved the problem in the interest o.; both the con-
sumer and the laborer.
Human labor. the most essential element in the
cost Of production, has been displaced by ma
chiucry to an extent that cniy te realized by
careful analysis Of the statistics thai sri ect
Indifference to the local tastes and idiosyucraces
of the consumer has given place 10 q Slii,lal and
intelligent course Of industrial training BY which
| the popular demand Is supplied. CsIfieSsfitSs
and eNtravagance IN methods have yit.ied To
sag city and economy and the cc>t Of trapspofta-
has been narveousiy reduced.
These, sir among others have Been the pIirci-
pal causes which have prCdCctd the decline in
prices throughout the world and winch have been
men and thoroughly etucatsd blsioess men Of
this country. Competition n iv have cort' hnteC
70 some extent In producing his result but its IL
auenoe has been 50 slight RS to BE almost imper-
ceptibie when coutrastec with the causes which
have mentioned The higher the protection the
less influence will competition have IN the rVrc-
ton OF The value OF the article. Coz A. you increase
The duties on the imported astict YOU frrni-h an
additional incentive 10 the producers Of that class
OF commodities 20 form trusts and combinations,
which w.il limit the production aud regulate The
price, thus eliminating one Of the eiemtuts Of
value, the influence OF competition.
As stated by Mr. Hoyie, in his work on Orr
National Resources and how they sre Wasted. ia
referring TO the displacement, OF labor and The e
velopment Of the capacity for production
One individual aided BY the machinery Of the
! present day, VIII produce as much yarn a. 20
persons could have dons Little over one hundred
yeals ago"