Sharp County record., 1891-07-30
ENEMIES or PROGRESS.
How selfish Interests Block the path nf |
rngress-Proreeti0u and Opposition % I
Inventions What the People Must Do.

How selfish Interests Block the Path ~
Prngress-Protacti0n ana Opposition 20
Invenrions-Whar the People Must Do.
Every step Of progress which the
world has made has met the opposition
Of people with contrary interests. The
building Of a parallel line Of railroad IS
always resisted by the old line which
wishes 10 enjoy q monopoly and 20
gather in profits at its own sweet VIII
IN 1850 Lord Dudley discovered the
method OF making pig iron bv the use
OF coke. Up 70 that time IRON vas
sme.ted with charcoal, and naturally
enough the charcoal men were up N
arms against the newly discovered
method. They defeated the introduce
ton Of the coke method for seventr-hve
years: and only N 1885 was the latter
put into successful operation
The same spirit Of opposition to in
veutiOu and progress prevails N our
own dav, and IN this so-ealled enlight-
aned land. IN the government bureau
. OF engraving at Washington the rapid
steam presses are stored away, and
hand presses are Used excluslveIY-aII
because the employees OF the bureau
were opposed to the steam presses on
the ground that they saved too much
labor. Not long ago il was found I'M
possible, for the same reason to intro
duce in New York an improved machine
/ for making button holes.
The great system Of protection itself
is but another form OF the same mar
row-minded spirit At the instance Of
our window glass manufacturers, for
example. an enormous duty Is levied on
foreign riass. since It's free admission
would not permit them to pocket the
handsome profits which they now real
ize every pear. The cheapening Of glass
to the millions Of Americans is prevent
ed BY duties averaging over LOO per
cent. and bv q combination Of the
domestic glass manufacturers. The Op-
position Of these men, very few IN num-
| Der. prevents any reduction Of the glass
/ duties. and he peopla 90 on paying the
extra tariff prices for glass for their
benefit.
/ Is it not the same thing as if team
sters should oppose the establishments
Of d stage line, or rs if the owners Of
the stage line should oppose the build
/ ing Of d railroad? IN each case it IS Il
selfish private greed setting itself
/ against the interests OF the community
/ for its own enrichment
The loud OutcrIes Of highly protected
/ interests. when their protection is about
| to be reduced. need not alarm anybody.
/ Their gloomy prophecies about closing
1u their business need not frIghten the
/ consumers Of their goods. If we can
| dispense with a stage line IN order TO
have a railroad, surely we could do
without a few glass factories, if iG
/ should come to that. in order that all
| the people may buv glass at 4 reduc-
/ ton Of from One-third to 0ue-haf 1t
| present prices.
/ The thing for the people to say TO all
these enemies Of progress-whether
| buttlnhole makers, government en-
/ piOves. stage drivers or protected win
/ dow glass uaiters-is. stand out Of the
wav Of progress! If you cannot give
us the best and cheapest service. stand
aside and let others take your places.
| Machines which save labor and laws
which lower prices are the same thing,
| and we are going TO have both.