The Indiana State sentinel., 1891-04-22
Manufacturing and the Mckinley La,

reciprocity sham.
Manufacturing and the Mckinley Law.
The Press of New York is fishing out all
the new mills and factories that are being
started in the country and putting them
all down TO the credit of the Mckinley
law. One would suppose from reading
the Press that there were no mills or fac
tories in the country before the Mckinley
law passed-or at least that there were
none before the high protective tariffpolicy
was adopted. But that is mistake. As
q matter OF fact there were, comparatively
speaking, extensive manufacturing inter
ests in this country before this govern
ment was formed and when the CONNER
cial laws of England were framed particu-
larly to discourage manufacturing in all
the colonies. Under the free trade tariff"
1876 10 1S6l-manufactures multiplied
with unexampled rapidity, and the beauty
OF it is that the new mills and factories
which spranR up during those years in In
diana and the other states came in re-
SPONGE to legitimate and natural demand,
and were not forced by the hot-house proc
ess. They did not have to be supported
by excessive taxes upon the people, but
they stood, for the most part, on their
own merits, and hourished because they
grew up under normal conditions.
There is no doubt that in certain lines
of industry the Mckinley law, by increas-
ing profits inordinately. will result in the
establishment of new plants. But this
will not be a healthy expansion. 1t will
be made at the expense Of other indus
tries, or other concerns in the same in
dustry. 1t will cost the people good
deal more than it will be worth to them.
1t will divert capital and labor from chan
nels in which they can be proftsbly en-
ployed, without any subsidies, to channels
in which there is no legitimate demand for
them, and in which they can only be en-
ployed with profit when bolstered up with
subsidies wrung from the people.
OF course there will be no general ex-
tension OF our manufacturing industries be-
cause of the Mckinley law. This will only
come with the opening of new markets to
our manufacturers, and new markets will
not be accessible to them until we permit
them to get their materials on the same
terms as their European rivals. Here and
there a new mill or factory may be started
on account of the extraordinary induce
ments offered by the Mckinley law in the
shape of license to levy excessive
tribute upon the people But every mill
erected under these conditions will be a
detriment, and not benefit, to the coun-
try.
And for every mill thus opened it is
safe to say that another, somewhere in the
country, will be closed. With our present
manufacturing facilities it is estimated,
by the most competent authorities, that
we can produce in eight months all the
commodities we can market in twelve
months. 1t will take some years for the
country to grow up to our existing manu-
featuring capacity. There are hundreds
OF mills and factories in this country idle
today which were in full blast when the
Mckinley law was passed. New England
is full OF them. There are a number of
them in Indiana. The enterprising Press
OF New York ought to compile and pub
lish a list of these concerns-many Of
which are in trusts, and closed because,
as claimed. OF "overproduction," under an
arrangement by which the owners get a
regular bonus every month and the pro-
tected (?) employees get nothing. The
Press should also compile and publish a
list OF the strikes, lockouts, boycotts, re-
ductions in wages, ETC., which have been
reported in this country since Oct. last,
when the Mckinley law took eject. 1t
would fill a good many columns OF the
Press, and it would make mighty interest
ing reading" for its patrons.