The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-03

N6ll0nGl LABOR IrlDune.
A Youngstown correspondent writes the
Labor Tribune as follows:
Editors saffondI Labor Tribune. cannot see
how the protective tariff imposed on tin plate
can be beneficial 70 the labor OF this country As
/ understand trade or commerce, il fs the ex-
change of goods for goods. That is to say in
this case 70 Is the exchange of the produce of
American labor In many forms for the
produce of English and Welsh labor in the
form OF tin plates. Thus the erection of this
protective wall 10 the extent that il is successful
In keeping out this commodity and setting men
10 work producing II at home viii TO the same
extent cut OF the foreign market for the pro-
cuee of American labor which We are exporting
to pay for the tin plate we are importing; conse-
quenfly IS many men who are engaged in old
Industries viii be put out of work as viii be put
in work at the new industry.
OF course, q large number OF tin plate pro-
dueers in Wales, finding themselves out of work
viii follow their business 70 this country and
consume some OF the products here that are
being exported 70 pay for tin plates. Thus the
depression in those industries that have had
their foreign market cut of by the tariff on tin
plate will be somsv hat relieved. But this only
means that We viii have more work 10 do and
more men 20 do it. Now what difference does ii
make to American labor whether we import tin
plates receive the wofkmen who produce tin
plate7 No, cannot see how this tariff raises
wages, but | can see how il lowers them by
making US pay more money for the canned goods
We consume.
That would be the case if there were an
agreement between the two countries 10
exchange the same values, dollars worth
for dollars worth. no more and no less
But there is and can be no such agree
ment. A foreign country buys from
America what it must buy, and the same
rule governs American purchasers abroad.
America sells largely of food products
which Europe cannot raise in suf-
ficient quantity for home consump-
ton. America being . comparatively
new settlement long since adopted the
policy of buildingup industries that would
be sufficient for the American demand
with the intent TO relieve dependency on
foreign industries, to keep at home the
profit of manufacturing industries. and
TO make this country the master of the
commerce of the world by compelling
constant inflow of money hither
| in exchange for the produce of the land
namely. food and cotton. This should be
| the effect of judicious protective policv.
and it should do as regards tin plates as ii
has done in other departments of manu-
featuring industries, increase the demand
| for labor and consequently add to the gen.
eral wealth of the country.
Ii is impossible that all the workmen
| would be imported. A part may and
| probably will come by invitation or of
| their own volitlon. But If all come that
would be necessary TO manufacture the
$4,000 tons of tin plates consumed in
| America, this country would have Just
that much more wage-earning popula-
| ton employed and would be that much
better of, for they would expend their
earnings here instead of abroad as at
| present and in the past. Ii our cores
! pendent Is right, then il has been bad pol
| ICY 10 build up these industries now estab-
hshed, and bad his theory been carried out
/ the last hundred years the American iron
| industries would be confined 10 crossroads
blsckSmlths who would be working up inn
| ported bars.
| We have no hesitation i'm asserting that
America should produce all the tin plates
| required for its population, even though
| there should be Inconvenience and loss in
the early life Of the effort. Tin plate is so
important that il would be bad policy 10
| run the risk of being cut of from a supply
| by war or subject the consumers to high
| prices through foreign trade tactics.