New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-23
ISSUES IN RHODE ISLAND.
WHAT THE TARIFF HAS DONE FOR THE
STATE.
REPUBLICANS ONLY TOO GLAD TO MAKE THE
A..ur.cS n>r NArrn>.r n,.rrr.o.-.

FROM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE
Providence, X. L., March 22.-The Democratic
challenge to conduct the Rhode Island canvass
OH National issues is one which the Republicans
can well afford to accept. No other State has
profted more largely by the protection system as
a whole. Rhode Island has been converted into
one of the chief manufacturing centres of the
Nation, mainly as the result of the tariff lcgis-
lation of the last thirty years. With its cotton
and woollen factories its hardware machinery
and engine works, its silversmiths art and iewely
trade. it is to-day one of the busiest and most
prosperous hives of industry to be found in the
Union. With every decade Of protection, there
has been marked increase in the capital invested
in manufacturing enterprises in the State Wage
earners have never lacked employment. and all
classes have prospered under the economic sys-
tenn of the Republican party
Democratic campa gn-workers do not venture
to make direct issue OF protection and free
trade They concentrate their attack upon the
Mckinley act, and especially upon the wool sched-
ules. But if the Republicans have strong ground
in any State it is Rhode Island, where the new
Tarin law has directly promoted the enlargement
of leading industries and an increase of produc-
ton. One of the prominent features of that act
is the increased protection afforded TO higher
grades of cottons and woollens The result has
been the introduction of improved machinery in
cotton and woollen factories, the manufacture
of better grades of goods which had previously
been imported, and an enlargement of the scope
of the industry. higher class of labor is re-
oured for the production of improved grades OF
goods, and wage-earners have proited by the
changes wrought by the tariff Not only has the
range of employment been widened but the STAN
dard of efficiency has also been raised
Since the passage of the Mckinley act business
has been good in Rhode Island. The volume OF
trade has been largely increased; mills and 1ac-
tories have been running on full time, and there
has been steady employment for wage-earners'
There have been no labor strikes. There have been
no evidences of discomfort and unrest among
working people Democratic orators who may
come into Rhode Island to convince the people
that they are staggering under National taxation
and the burdens of niquitious tariff legislation
will be surrounded by contented, happy faces.
The times are Enthusiastically good. There Is no
lack either of trade or of work, and there are
unerring signs of prosperity and an almost buoy
ant feeling in business circles. Senator Aldrlch,
who shared with Major Mckinley the work of
perfecting the Tariff act, took good care that
his own State should not suffer from any changes
made in the schedules. SO far from suffering
from it, the State has profted directly from the
provisions of the new law This is fact 80
generally admitted that prominent Democrats hav-
ing large business interests are frankly express
ing the hope that the General Assembly will be
Republican, so that the Senator can be reelected.
The cuckoo-song of the Democratic tariff
reformer" in Rhode Island has single refrain
free wool He contends that with free
materials the cost of woollen clothing would be
heavily reduced and the manufacturers enabled
10 nla bAir IN cOnD Dpfp
European rivals in the markets of the world
The Democratic platform fayors free wool, and
the tariff eratory will be restricted mainly 10
that topic What the manufacturers perceive is
that free wool will bring many other things with
il, including free woollens. While it is possible
TO confne the argument Of tariff agitators TO
free wool during this spring canvass, it Will
be impracticable restrict the functions of
Democratic Congress If one be elected in
November, with a Democratic President pledged
TO sign any and every bill for the reduction of
tariff schedules, free wool will open the way for
free woollens, and one of the chief industries OF
Rhode Island will be exposed 10 destructive com
petition from Europe The factory hand whose
woollen clothes are cheaper to-day than
they have been for many years is not
yitally interested in the discussion free raw
materials lie will be the chief sufferer if. in
consequence Of Democratic success in the Con
gressiona and Presidential elections Of this year,
free wool be followed by free woollens. and the
factory owners of this State forced 10 choose
between cutting down the wage rolls and closing
their works altogether. Even If the cost OF
woollens could be reduced through tariff smash
ing, the workman who was earning One-half OF
his former wages or possibly thrown out of en-
ploynent altogether would find his cheap clothing
too dear for him.
When, however tariff agitatorS appeal for free
raw materials expedient for enlarging pro-
duction and promoting foreign trade, they over
look the superior advantages Of the reciprocity
policy which has been successfully introduced
through Senator Adrichs timely and statesman
like amendment TO the Tarin act. No advantage
temporarily acquired by manufacturers of woollens
from free raw materials can equal the preferential
schedules of 25 and 80 per cent on cotton goods,
bardware and other manufactures secured In the
recipr1city treaties with Brazil and Spain. free
raw materials for woollen will still leave mar
gin in favor of foreign manufacturers III 'he cosO
Of labors In the reciprocity conventions 'ho
preferential schedules arm many OF the mahu'
fsc,urers of this State with superior resources
for onening markets abroad for their goods on
p,ost favorable terms The cotton manufacturers
have an incomparably better opening lof ioI-
ei0n trade under reciprocity legislation ana
diplomacy than can be secured throush i'V, Ia"
waterfalls for woollens Another great industry
of Rhode Island, machinery ana steam eheln''' -
directly benefited by the recent conventions as
g sbo,yn NV the largely increased expectation OF
,narufactures of this class to Cuba ana DfaZii'
These are substantial gains for American manu-
toc,,.ss whereas the tariff reformers theoN,i-
cal demonstration OF increased foreign trade
through free raw materials is sheer wool ss'"-
ering .,ho with
The Democratic campaign workers who' wis"
New-York as "a base of financial supplies h%'0
volunteered to carry Rhode Island for inc De-
mocracy on National issues have denoera.ey '.