Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-02-04
High Tariff and Low Wages

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There is no foundation, either in
reason or in fact, for the claim that
high tariffs make high wages. The
object Of protective tariff is to in
duce people to engage in Improbable
industries. That at least is the avow-
ed object. A protective tariff is at
best device to enable those who car
ry on Improbable industries to make
up their losses by exacting contribu-
tions from those who carry on profita-
BILE industries. 1t presupposes losses
in the protected industries, and seeks
to lay them upon the shoulders of
those who pursue profitable industries.
Now, since wages must necessarily
come out of product, and since tar
iff for protection diminishes the ag-
gregate product by fostering and sup
porting Improbable industries, it
must necessarily lower wages in gen.
eral. The net result of the system is
a smaller profit than would be realiz-
ed under conditions of industrial lib
erty, and this smaller product divided
among the earners of wages must nee
essarily give less to each on the aver
age. Nominal or money wages may
be higher under a protective tariff,
but actual wages, measured by mon
ey's worth and not by dollars, must
necessarily be lower.
Protection may possibly enable the
earners of wages in some occupations
to get more than they would under
conditions of freedom, but it can only
do this when supplemented by other
artificial monopoly devices, and it can
only help them at the expense of 9TH
er men who work for wages. At best
they can only get more than their
share of diminished total product.
AS a matter of fact, it is doubtful
whether the protection device betters
the condition of any class of workers
for any length of time. Its tendency
is in the opposite direction, not only
because it diminishes the total pro.
duct and leaves the workers subject
to widespread competition, but be.
cause it puts employers in position
to dictate terms.
We have an illustration of this in
the window glass combination. The
members of this combination were
protected under the tariff law of 1883
by duties averaging about 113 per
cent. The new laws give them addi-
tional protection by providing that all
imported window glass must be ship
ped in boxes of fifty feet instead of
boxes of 100 feet, as under the old
law. 1t is under the shelter of this
legislation that the combination has
been formed. Members of the CON-
bination say they do not intend to
practice extortion upon consumers,
but they omit to state that they raised
their prices twice while the Mckinley
bill was pending. They also say that
they do not propose to discharge any
workmen, but they do not say that
they intend to give the workmen any
Of the benefits of their protection and
cast from combination. On the con-
trary, it is now whispered that their
purpose is to reduce wages and raise
prices at the same time They have
the power to do so, and if they fail to
exercise their power they will be un-
like other combinations that begin by
making fair promises. The tariff has
induced them to combine. 1t has
given them security in organizing and
obtaining complete control of the out
put, of prices up to the limit set by
the enormously high tariff rates, and
of the wages of their men. They can
dictate terms, and the men must sub
nit. That they will exercise their
power is morally certain, and the men
will discover, if they have not dscov-
cred already, that protection is not for
them. Workmen in all the protected
industries will discover that in proper
ton as the tariff induces employers to
combine, and enables them to control
the American market, it also gives
them practical control Of wages and
gives them power, which they will
not be slow to exercise, which dictate
terms to the employes.-Chicago Her.
aid.
Duties and Wages Again.