The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-09
A MANUFACTURERS OPINION.

1t is a good sign of the times to find
republicans debating on the tariff issue.
When the tariff enemy is compelled to
fight foes in It's own camp, there is at least
hope for the country at large. Promi-
nent among the recent converts to tariff
reform is Colonel A. X. Mcclure, the
talented editor of the Philadelphia
Times, a stiff republican newspaper.
AS old Montanians know the colonel is
never afraid to express his opinions.
He is out squarely for tariff reform and
has thrown down the gauntlet in debate
with few corners. In the course of a de-
bate with Elk Congressman Roswell G.
Horn, at Chester, Pa, the other day, the
old matter of cheapening manufacture
by free raw material, came up.
Colonel Mcclure did not confine
the discussion entirely to verbal
arguments, but introduced an
autograph letter from A. B. Farquhar,
one of the best known manufacturers
Of agricultural implements. Mr.. Farqu-
har writes: "Of the agricultural imple-
ments used in South America, Mexico,
Australia and South Africa, we now
manufacture a very large proportion in
the United States. In some sections
American implements and machinery
are used almost exclusively; fully three
fourths of the plows used in South
America and South Africa are made in
this country. Our implements for OK
port must DO sold at very low prices,
that is, at a small profit to the manufac-
turer; since we must compete with
England and Germany, and are at some
disadvantage in ship transportation,
and yet greater disadvantage in
the purchase of much Of our
necessary raw material. The prices
obtained for our agricultural
implements sold abroad average from
five per cent. to Is per cent. less than
what we get in this country. If we had
free raw material we could not be under
sold by any nation upon the earth. We
have such pre-eminent and indefeasible
advantages here for manufacturing,
with Il improved machinery, abun-
dant lumber supply and better class of
labor, that if we were not at a ~disadvan-
tage in the purchase of indispensable
raw material, we could not only control
the markets of the world, but afford to
sell implements and machinery con-
siderably cheaper to the American
farmer. AS | have several times had oc-
casion to observe, the manufacturer who
is able to export his goods can have no
use for protection except to enable him
to extort more money from home pur-
chasers than he is able to get from those
abroad. Unnecessarily high prices on
all his machinery, however, form only
one of the heavy burdens thrown upon
the farmer by this tax through the Gus
tom house under the guise of protec-
ton"
The most encouraging feature of the
growth of tariff reform is in the i%ncreas-
ing number of converts among the man
ufacturers Of the middle and eastern
The farmers in the western
came forward last fall almost in a
mass on that issue alone. The election
of Farmers alliance candidates was
purely the result of the desire for a
change. Others voted for democrats on
the same platform. The manufacturers
who are vainly attempting to stop the
tide are the monopolists and the money
grabbers who have grown rich by gov
ornamental aid alone. There are other
manufacturers like Mr.. ~I'arquhar who
find that tariff reform will bring benefit
to them as we'll as the great majority of
consumers.