New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-08
TByyGS TO THINK ABOUT.

~
Tur rrp,puNr has a few words to offer to
those manufacturers, workingmen, farmers and
Others whose votes helped the great Demo-
cratic victory last Tuesday.
Are YOU ready to try Free Trade? Dissat-
isfied with the practical application OF the pro-
tective policy, as you now understand Its ell
feet. you vote TO give power to party whose
ruling idea is the determination OF protective
duties. That is the meaning of Democratic
votes this year, if they have any logical mean
ing in respect to the tariff question. Some OF
YOU have made public your purpose to vote
against the party responsible for the Mckinley
BILL because ii did not give you free raw ma
teras. Others have expressed the same pur-
pose because the measure seemed to make
prices higher. Very well suppose the Repub-
lican party should take YOU at your word. IL
will not, being governed by principles and con-
victions But if its Senators and Representa-
tives should play the cheap politician, and trim
their sails to the popular breeze, how would
your votes affect you?
More than hundred cases have been chron-
icled within the last month in which new man.
ufacturing establishments were started or about
to start because OF the recent change OF duties.
All these and the thousands more behind them,
would require the work of mechanics and Ia
borers in building, the work of machinists and
iron producers IN equipment, and the work Oh
multtudes in producing raw materials for their
use. Democratic votes mean that the voters
want this sort of thing stopped. Very well;
what next?
Free raw material free ores and coal, pig
iron hides, leather and lumber, free wool and
barley and farm products OF all kinds, would
mean the closing of great many establish
mentS now in operation, and the discharge OF
a great many workers in mines or forests or
on farms. 1t is difficult to say how many, Tor
the increased American demand would quickly
put up prices of such products abroad, and ~
enable part of the American producers TO COM
pete, after some reduction of wages In short
time for instance, wool or iron ore would rlse
abroad. under the pressure Of the American
demand free of duty, toward the present price
in this country, so that some could continue
10 make iron here and those wOol-groWers
whose land is cheapest could continue to grow
wool But large part OF the present American
production would have to cease, because it
could not compete with the producers in other
countries. A large army of workers now thus
employed would have to seek other occupations
already crowded, or 60 about the country Ill
vain search for the work which we should
then be paying foreigners for doing. Men who
have no employment cannot buy largely OF the
food or clothing which the labor OF others
furnishes, and so the demand for all sorts OF
products would shrink. Democratic votes this
wear mean all this, if they logically mean any
thing.
But free raw materials mean also a great
reduction or absolute removal OF duties on
manufactured products. The millions who
grow wool, or raise ore and coal from the
earth do not vote to pay duties OH goods OF
any kind if duties are not paid on coal and
ore and wool When the duties on manu-
featured products come off, or are cut down
10 a purely revenue basis, how many concerns
would have to close? How many hundred
thousand workers would have to join the army
of the unemployed 50 that this country might
buy cheaper goods abroad? Perhaps the man
ufacturers who have voted to help the De-
mocracy imagine that they can retain protec-
tive duties on goods and yet get removal OF
duties on materials. They will learn their
mistake The great increase of the army OF
unemployed will mean a further shrinkage IN
the demand for all products of industry. Dem
ocratic votes this year mean all this, if they
mean nything.
1t is not of much use now for manufacturers
or workingmen or farmers to regret that they
have given great impulse to the Free-Trade
| ball. But it may be of use for them to con-
slider without much delay whether they mean
to let it roll on to the logical end or to stop it.
4
| LION AROUSEU.