Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-10-27

than $1.50 to $l.60."
This represents the tar which the
workingman is obliged to pay the pro-
tected manufacturer. But he is made
to believe that he can buy a suit of
clothes of the same pattern he pur-
chased three years ago for the same
price. in spite Of tie incontestable fact
that under the operation Of the McKin-
ley tax upon raw wool the price of
woolen goods could only remain the
same by reducing the quality Of the
goods.
The way the wool is pulled over the
eyes Of the buyer is as follows: The re-
tail dealer submits sample to the man.
ufacturer's agent, saying: ~ want 500
or 1000 yards of this pattern. How
much will it costg' After an examina-
ton of the fiber the manufacturers
agent replies that goods of that particu-
lar quality are worth, say, $3.50 yard.
Il cannot pay that price" rejoins the
retailer. my trade will not stand it;
but make it as nearly like the sample as
you can for 81"
This the manufacturer accordingly
does by grading the quality of the goods
down with greater admixture Of
shoddy to meet the market, and thus the
workingman who buys q suit Of clothes
looking just like the suit he bought
three years ago at the same price is
really paying, without realizing it, for
more cotton and less wool. He is really
paying for SEQ suit from 50 to s. more
than for the value he received in the
same priced suit three years ago.
John O'Connell, in charge of the
wholesale underwear department of Hill
ton, Hughes & Denning, a large buyer
of hosiery and underwear, says: "In
cotton goods the American manufacturer
has the advantage Of free raw material,
and therefore the prices Of cotton goods,
which advanced shortly after the enact
ment of the Mckinley tariff act, have
now settled back to former prices. but in
woolen goods, which are affected by the
Mckinley act, the case is different.
Woolen hosiery, which formerly sold for
$3.50 to $3.50, now sells for SO to $3.50
per dozen, which means that the Amer
ican buyer pays 81 for the same value
which formerly cost but rs cents, and
the same is true of cashmere stockings.
The American buyernow pays for woolen
hosiery and underwear 25 cents and so
cents for the same quality of goods
which three years ago sold for IS cents
and 81 cents respectively"
Under this head are included linens,
handkerchiefs, table, stair and floor
cloths, towels, napkins and white goods
generally. Before the war there was a
uniform tariff rate of 10 per cent on all
linen goods, which was advanced during
the war, owing to the necessities of the
government, to 35 and 40 per cent, until
1888, when the 40 per cent. rate was
abolished and the uniform rate of 35 per
cent. retained. The Mckinley act re-
tanned the 80 per cent. rate only on such
linen goods as contained 100 or more
threads to the square inch, but increased
the rate upon all other linen goods to so
per cent. ad valorem. This discrimina-
ton was made to favor the contributors
to the Harrison campaign fund of 1883
in Troy, who are largely engaged in the
manufacture of linen collars.
"The first result of the Mckinley act,
says Mr.. Potts, of the white goods i'm
porting house of j. B. Locke & Potts, in
Franklin street, twas to cause the for
eign manufacturers to change all the
goods which were formerly made of 9e
threads to 100 threads to the square inch,
but the most serious result to the Ameri,
can buyer was the change in the quality
of the goods. Linen handkerchiefs which
are offered at retail for 25 and so cents
each have been reduced in quality SO
that they can be sold at the same price
as before the Mckinley act went into
operation. The same is true of house
keeping linens, table cloths, napkins,
damasks, towels, floor linen, etc. In
each instance the manufacturers have
met the prices of the retail dealers by
grading down the quality of the goods
to suit their customers. The American
buyer is now paying for handkerchiefs,
towels and other articles in the house
keeping line 25 and 80 cents for the same
quality Of goods which, under the tariff
of 1883, could have been bought for 1871
and 3715 cents respectively. The duty
on terry goods and bath towels wassin.
creased under the Mckinley act about
| so per cent, and the domestic manu-.
facturers Of these goods have put up
their prices 25 per cent, which means
that 3715 cent towel is now sold for &c
| cents"
This article of universal domestic use
is not imported, the entire market be.
ing controlled by domestic manufac.
turers. The prices, however, are at.
fected by the tariff on raw wool, which
leads to considerable depression in the
quality of blankets unpopular prices. The
best blankets in the world are made in
California, but they obtain the best
price, being sold as high as $50 a pair.
But blankets are offered in retail shops
at all prices, from $50 pair down to 6l
cents, the wool gradually growing light
er in weight until it finally disappears
in the blankets below $3 a pair, which
are made entirely of cotton. The lowest
price at which woolen blankets can be
purchased is So pair, and light weight
at that. If it were not for the tariff or
wool the American buyer could obtain
for SO the quality Of blankets now re-
tailed at $3, and the same proportion
holds good on all grades and weights ur
to the highest priced California blan.
kets.
"In carpets" said a member of q
large Broadway firm, "the process Of
adulteration has been simply frightful
The American buyer would be surprised
to learn what cheap carpets are made OF
cattle hair, goats hair, dogs hair and
even cats hair are in constant use. Will
| 4 l. i As