Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1891-10-21

themselves against competition
winch could not possibly be Of any
nen~6t to them.
Again:
The advocates of a tar,ff on lead
assert that it the tariff was removed It
would result in closing a large humber
of lead mines il Idaho aud +ls- where.
This is equival. mt to a declaration
t"at our mines are Inherent. worth.
less; and that all the talk of the won.
'erful mineral wealth Of Idaho is pure
h""combe; since the mining Industry
must DO sustained by the artificial
aids OF high protective tariff which
i"cr' ases tile pric. Of our mineral pro.
.tucts.
The assertion referred to NAV be-
made in regard TO every article pro-
duced or manufactured here which
can be produced or manufact lred
abroad. Repeal or abolish the tariff
on everything we buy or consume IF
foreig" production" and every mann.
factory in this country would lie com.
PEELED to close It's doors. aud general
bankruptcy and famine would follow.
An ''incrrase in the price Of our min>
eral products" which Mr.. Parker
disaI proves, is just what h. must de
sire it he is sincere in lis attitude OF
friendship toward silver, one Of our
.m,"ersl products"
He Continues:
The pure and unadulterated fact is
that It is impossible to protect our
mining industries EXCEPT 1T too great
n cost, brcause all other Industries
are more or less dependent upon
them.
Mr. Parker will hardly make friends
among our miners by this asst rtion,
as they know full wi that without
prot- ction it would be impossible 10
maintain the present satisfactory ratio
OF wages.
Mr.. Parker seems to be very solicit
'ous about the welfare Of the foreign
ers who are competing with our own
miners. H..ar him:
The object and effect of these
rulings helng to prohibit the entry of
very large proportion OF sllver-l. al
ores which, under former constructions
OF the law, were admitted. What,
let us ask ourselves, ii our Mexican
friend, who has developed his NINE
under an implied promise from our
government not to further interfere
with his ore traffic, and q promise
from crrta'" Of our companies to hnv
and sm~lt his ore at u rate profitable
to him, what is he, our friend and
""ighbor, 70 do? SIT down and starv-?
Or ct furnace and smell, his ow"
ores? This is just the size OF il; aud
our neiahhor is no fool.
Our Mexican friend, who has
developed his mine" had no promise,
g expressed or implied, from our
mot to further interfere
with his ore traffic" No governm- ntal
administration in this country ever
could make such promise that would
be binding upon the American people.
And if our ne,ghhor (who considers
richly paid for lis labor with
50 cents per da, does smelt his own
'res and sell the resulting product i.
IS no concern of ours, SO he does not
yell III this country. The ,a,iff on
cad is intended to keep the home
market for home products, aud it is
ioing this. It is not intended to Sc.
'ure all 'he markets of the world for
Is because iii for no better reason)
hat Is impossible. So, let Mr. Parker's
learlv beloved Mexican friend, who ia
'etter known to us as a peon, proceed
o get one or more furnaces and smell /.
ns own ores. Let him sell or give
heir products, il lie wishes TO. But
We will continue to protec. home lead .
and home wages.
From his premises Mr.. Parker
caches the following conclusions:
The direct result of this prohlbi,ive .
'ar'h Is certain, ultimately, to be:
l.. An Increase in the worlds ,
OF lead, and u CONSEQUENT
i+pie ciat'on Of values o: lead and
res. y
:. A decrease in the profits OF our ,,
melting aud railway companies b,
'ss OF the trade which formerly was
heirs. =
3. A depreciation in value of thu :
dry" Qntus'ble) and "r-hplllous"
liver OFFS. from inability /" GIT suita. d
.e, easily ius'bIe (''Huxing') ores to !.