Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-10-08
One Year of the McKinley Law,

| 1naC law became operative IN nearly
all its sections one year ago yesterday
or Oct. 6, 1890.
1t will be remembered that imme'
diately upon its passage there was an
organized effort to prove two things
regarding it:
First-It will put a Chinese wall
around the country and strangle COM
merce; and
SecOnd-It will vastly increase the
prices Of all necessaries of life.
All last fall these two cries were
kept up. No other argument was
used, no other threat was made; but
in free trade newspapers, ON the demo-
cratic stump, everywhere there was
/ asser1 -" backed up by manufactured
proof to substantiate either enc or the
! other of those two propositions.
One year is a short time to test the
effect of any tariff law but the history
Of the II months just ended has abun-
dainty proven that both the statements
of the opposition to the bill were false.
As to the first proposition there is a
complete answer in tfe latest tabulated
figures of foreign commerce for the
present year to August /, contrasted
with the previous year and the preced-
ing five years for the same period.
Here are the official figures:
FREE Of DUTY,
Imports of merchandise to United
States, l69J.....- $l6l 326,9S9
Imports l5ll-.-.-.-. go S43 I76
Increase (this year over IasD =. sss,5i6, ~
DUTIABLE ARTICLES.
Imports lS9l.................. 800. 1927 1853 So
Imports 1871. ....... PAS S42, so
1ncteit SIS, 5lI, 297
Increase total imports, 1871 over
999, 400
IMPORTS FROM THE UNITED STATES.
Exports Of American merchandise
and products first seven months
last five years .S3SS 0c4 O6S
Exports Of American merchandise
and products same period 1891. IA, 4Ol ,256
Gain in imports in 1891 over aver
age of previous five years........ IS ,Sg7, ISS
1t was charged that the Mckinley
bill would suppress commerce. In
seven months the foreign commerce TO
and from the United States has in
creased $97, 1896, 67S under the McKin-
icy bill.
The "ChineSe wall' does not seem
very Injurious, does it, with nearly so
million dollars less of competitive
imports and consequently that much
more work for American laborers,
while at the same time our exports
have increased more than that
amount? Less to buy and more to sell
means prosperity.
Now as to the increase in prices. |
Every reader of the REFLECTOR knows |
that that there is DO such increase. |
Dry goods, hardware, groceries, tin
ware, almost everything you buy is
cheaper than year ago. The New |
York Press to test the matter at the
retail stores sent out reporters to get
prices on over 900 articles in common
use in that city.
They visited over hundred stores,
great and small, and without inquiring
the politics of the firm ascertained the
actual effects of the Mckinley law on
retail prices so far as the dealers could
give them. Three fourths of all the
merchants were democrats. The
reporters found that in about so per
cent there have been declines in price:
n about so per cent it is impossible to
note any change in retail figures; in
ess than 10 per cent there have been
advances.
Sixty per cent decline, 10 per cent ,
Increase in retail prices, tells the story
If what Mckinley prices" mean to,
be consumers of New York, and the
anne figures apply to Abilene or any
'ther city in the country.
Is it any wonder that the democratic /
'ratOrs who were so loud in helping on I
he stampede last fall refuse to discuss
he Mckinley law now? 1t is strange !
hat democratic newspapers are unable 9
o furnish any figures 10 substantiate
he claims made so glfbly year ago?
hey know that the figures and facts
i've the lie to every claim they then
lade.
Business men everywhere, regardless /
f politics, are endorsing the McKin- \
y tariff law; and when in 1892 the !,
epablieans make continued protection
} home industries again their battle
y, they viii win as glorious victory 9
J they did In 1883. Id