The critic., 1891-01-05
WAunNorov. d. u, JANUARY 3, 1901.

No oNE CAN READ the papers carefully,
nowadays, and escape the conclusion that
the cost of nearly every article in daily
use has increased, The things we wear,
the utensils with which our domestic
machine is kept in motion, tho innumcr-
able luxurics with which we soften our
lives, as well as the stern necessities with
which We preserve thcm-all these have
become more expensive under the opera
tion Of the MCKINLEY tariff High pro-
lection papers like the Cincinnati Conn
mortal. Gosctic cndcayor 10 confuse the
public mind by such assertions as the
following;
Here is the McKINLEy tauff advancing
rates with no corresponding change in
market quotations. How can this be CX-
plained2 Foreign producers, and not
home consumers, pay the tariff.
But the purchaser who finds that his
blankets, his Undertaking and his tin
ware are costing more than they did a
year ago will conclude that although the
foreign producer may actually pay the inn
port duties he is certainly paying increased
prices as u consequence Of the tariff. II
is not only imported articles that have be-
come more expensive. The prices ON home
made articles protected by the tariff have
been raised also. TO say that foreign
manufacturers pay the tariff is to employ
very shallow and futile sophistry. They
may pay it, or they may, in consequence
of the prohibitory nature of the tax, re-
frain altogether from sending their pro-
ducts here, but it will still be true that the
tariff results in higher prices and that the
American consumer bears the burden.
A man who purchases hat, or saddle,
ar tin bucket does not, as rule, care
two straws whether il was made in Eng
land or in Connecticut. But he does care
lift costs him thirty or forty per cent. more
than the last one he bought exactly like
il. The Commercial Gazette and the htci-
OctUt and all the rest of the high-taritf n
papers put together cannot explain away
The facts.
Indeed, we observe that journals of
every shade of political conviction agree
as to these facts when dealing with statis-
tics instead Of theory. For example, the
Dry Goods Economist of December ~ says
In many little details of dress NJ KIN
LILY prices come in to add to the cost of the
finished garment materially. MANY
micklcs make II muckle." For Instance
bone easing has been marked up cent
apiece and horn bones cent dozen in
many stores. Several makes of shields
are and 2cents more; one make, II should
be said, has been lowered cents. Tor
chon and Medici laces Of medium price,
fortrimming underwear, are ifle higher,
MS from 10 10 II cents, 20 10 % cents, and
~ to 80 cents. The increase in pearl but
tons is too well known to need further dis
cnssion, but 1t was brought up very forcibly
this week in hearing the proprietor of an
uptown gcntlemen's furnishing store say
that he must charge 1928 for an ord er
shirt in place of 81 or use bone buttons
for the pearl ones now cost him 81 cents
per dozen in place of %.
Such publications as the EcoRomis., the
Groceys' Criterion, the Commercial Bul!etia
and dozen others are filled with unan-
swerable illustrations. They are illustra-
tions which no amount of argument can
eontrovert or even weaken. They con-
front us with proof as strong as holy
writ TO the effect that the American
workingman is being despoiled of hi,
hard-won earnings under the Mckinley
tariff.