Telegram-herald., 1891-09-08

1t Is not a difficult task to arraign
the theory OF protection as impotent
when practical results are demanded.
for like any other theory 1t is subject
to that scrutiny which exhausts the
wisdom OF both philosopher and econ
omis-- Protection as a theory Is not
infallible. Varying conditions OF CON-
merce and finance operate to bring
about seemingly conflicting results.
For instance, protection In some quar-
ters may be synomonous with prohi-
bition. as where the protective duties
added to the transportation charges
exceed the marketable value Of the
commodity; In other places the same
commodity may carry just enough
duty TO make 1t competitive with the
American production, but in both the
theory OF protection Is identical. Prac-
teal protection differs from theoret-
ical protection In that the results in
the former are the same everywhere.
IL Is possible to discern the working
man-his dinner pail, his contented
home and his industry-as the fruit OF
practical protection, when the theory
paints for the imagination an utopia,
that will be when the theory Is made
operative. Here is the latest Illus
tration OF practical protection In Os-
wego Falls. ". Y, there are located
several large factory buildings owned
by the Oswego Falls Wooden Com
pany. They were built by n man
named kellogg. prior TO the civil war.
He operated them for a few years.
hut the war came on and business, for
the time being. in common with other
industries. was practically suspended.
After the war closed, the property
passed into the hands OF Hoyt, Spra-
que & Co. This company Unused new
liie into the management and fostered
nv Wise tariff laws the works were
operated 10 their full capacity. Along
che west bank OF the Oswego river,
there sprang up as II by magic, long
rows OF comfortable homes, peopled
by wellpaid operatives. The financial
crisis OF 1878 involved the firm OF
Hoyt, sprague & Go. and the great
mills passed into the hands OF A. d.
Julllard. receiver. Again the business
received an impetus by favorable wool
protection. and under the receiver,
the great factories were kept busy.
Prosperity seemed to have settled
upon the works. and fully 1000 opera
tives were made happy and contented
by reason OF the steady employment
aud remunerative wages paid. Then
followed the Democratic era OF tariff
tinkering with Mills insane de-
uand 10 make wool free OF
duty. The crisis Of 70 was a god
send compared with the catastrophe
Of Mills. Again the works were shut
down. Uncertainty az to tariff leg
islation frightened the capitalists aud
Juiiiard could rot stem the current.
Two thousand men. women and girls
were thrown out OF employment and
che wheels of the mills were stiIled.
The long rows OF homes along the
river rapidly became tenantiess. The
town OF oswego Falls became dull.
ilstless and puIselcss. Business energy
was paralysed. Moss began to cover
the doorstepo and creeping vines to
darken the windows Of the great mills.
Now &c h changed again. The Nc
Ksnley bill placed wool and WOODEN
goods where foreign eompcsition must
contest for q foothold in American
with no undue advantage.
With such asursnee of protection,
American capital overcomes its timid-
ity aud rsvives an industry crippled
and Destroyed by Mills and bis allies.
Today large forces 81 mea are en-
ployed putting N repair the great
systems 81 machinery and 90 sooa as
shsss shali h~ cxsmpset>d the oswego
Fails vooien mills viii again statt
nn and zeoo rsen. women and ehfidsn
.wii end remunsrssfvs wagse. This
y practseai protcetrop