Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1891-02-05
THE VALUE OF PROTECTION
CONSUL BURGESS TELLS HOW
IT AFFECTS ENGLAND.
How the Mckinley Tariff Bill
Keeps American M8nUfac.
tories Moving at Eng
lands EXPENSE.

tories Moving at Eng
lands Expense.
Every American, no matter what his
politics may be, must feel highly graft
fed with any great measure which
keeps in motion American manufac-
tories. The following is from William
Burgess, manufacturing potter, who
was recently made the United States
Consul at Tunstall, England, to the
State Gazette:
"SIR:-Whilei it is fresh 10 my mind.
must write you about a conversation
overheard to-day, between two gen.
tlemen, one of whom turned out to be
large woolen manufacturer. 1t is
fair sample of many one can hear
throughout England. Being just in
the line of some of your tariff argu-
ments, l thought this sample from
"real life" would not injnre the cause
OF protection, nor make any honestly
patriotic American feel that that
awful Mckinley bill was any more aw-
.fui in its effects upon the industrial
growth of our country.
II was sitting at the end of hotel
table, when two strangers seated them
selves to my right. did not especial
ly notice them nor their conversation,
until the words Mckinley bilr caused
me to prick up my ears. The conver.
sation ran about as follows:-
" That Mckinley bill did it. No,
there really has not been awheel move
in that mill since that abomination
went into effect. There was, as you
know, rush enough up to that time to
last for six months; there was an enor-
nous amount of goods turned out
"'You mean to say said the other,
that the whole Of that large plant is
s,opped?"
Yes, as far as the wooden goods
are concerned; they are doing a little
in the cotton factory; but, as say, the
other mill has been shut down these
three months past
But what is he going TO do about
it?'
Why, he is going to do the only
thing be can do, or any one in the
American trade can do; he is going to
move his plant to the States. What
else could he do? There is no other
opening. All the other markets are
over supplied. as you we'll know
"Do you mean to tell NE he is really
thinking of going to America?
" He is not only thinking of it, but
Cooking at his watch) l suppose he
has gone by this time, as he sails from
Liverpool to-day on a prospecting trip,
aud if he is assured that there is no
probability of the Mckinley tariff be-
ing removed, he will locate his mill
and have his machinery shipped at
once
We'll, said the other, I believe
this is just what those Yankees had in
their minds. They want to force cur
manufacturers and their capital to go
and settle down there
OF course, there is no doubt about
that. 1t is just what they wanted and
it is just what they are getting. No
American scheme has worked like it
in my recollection. All about us they
are talking of moving over, not only
in the woolen lines, but also in other
branches of industry that have been
affected. Some have already gone
across, and many more would have
gone by this time had it not been for
the hope held out to US by the late
elections in the States This is onr
only hope. Those who have money
enough will hold out until after their
next elections, when many of us hope
and expect turn in the tide.
AT this time last year, and in fact.
in all past years, the town was filed
with American buyers, and the wooden
were spread out the full
length of the floor. They selected
their lines and placed their orders,
which would keep us all running till
they came again the next year. But
now the place looks like Sunday. Not
a buyer has been over. What's the
use? 1t is grand thing for those beg
gars over the water, but it is death to
u.s.
There was great deal more said
along the same line, which l will not
repeat. This is a simple rehearsal of
part of a conversation, on which l
will make no comment; it speaks for
itself.
Il am respectfully yours,
''WILLIAM BURGESS -
a Valuable Man.