Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1892-09-08
THEREPUBLICANS FLOORED
THE COMPETITION AND THE
COST OF LABOR.

THE COMPETITION AND THE
COST OF LABOR.
Some Things That Our Republican
Friends Cannot.Explain Away
Schooling Lab Or in Adver-
sity--Arguments That
Cannot Be Twist
ed.
Upon one point organs OF protec-
ton are unanimous. They constant
ly affirm chat if free competition shall
become the rule the cost of reducing
the prices of commodities must fall
upon labor. A careful analyst would
see in this absolute demonstration
that the theory of protection was
baseless, since it promises only indir-
ect benefit to the laborer, and that
at the discretion of his employer.
The highest claim OF Mckinley is that
the tariff enables American manu-
facturers to pay better wages"
But the organs are wrong in their
assumption, as they are in their
theories. There is an economic truth
not to be overlooked in the dis
cussion of the question of tariffs as
q means of beneftting labor
ers. 1t is that labor is al
ways better paid when producing
goods to be sold at low prices. On
the contrary, everything which tends
to arbitrarily enhance the cost ofpro-
duction diminishes the possible return
to labor. Under existing conditions
there are three factors engaged in pro-
duction. They are termed land, labor
and capital. Every farmer knows
that he can raise wheat at greater
profit on cheap than on high-priced
land, the facilities for reaching mar
kets being equal. Every worker in all
iron mill understands that the en-
HANGED cost Of his raw material dim
inishes the possible wages he may re-
ceive as result OF his toll. Every
Republican organ appreciates that
the tariff on iron ore lies at the basis
OF the entire iron and steel schedule,
just as that on raw wool lies at the
basis OF the WOODEN schedule.
Mr.. Mckinley, boasting of his tariff
bill, tells manufacturers that he has
provided q way for them to 60 out
and possess the markets OF the world.
He points to the provisions OF his law
under which the manufacturer, having
imported steel billets and having
paid duty thereon, may 60 to the
government and receive rebate of the
entire duty in case of shipments of
goods so manufactured. This makes
possible q reduction in the selling
price of products. But it would be
folly to assert that the laborer must
therefore take less wages. On the
contrary, in so far as the market for
his products is widened by this pro-
vision OF McKinleyism, in so far has
he been benefited by the creation of q
greater demand for his products, and
consequently a greater demand for
his labor.
Applying to this problem the test of
single industry, will those Republican
organs whose proprietors assume to
stand for the protection of American
laborers explain in what manner labor
would be injured by a repeal of the
tariff tax on iron and steel billets,
provided that act were accompanied
by a repeal of the tariff tax on iron
ore? The raw materials would come
to the hand of Carnegie's men at lower
cost. There would be Il wider margin
between cost and selling price. If
competition caused reduction in the
selling price the laborers would be
benefited equally with their employers
because of increased consumption
caused by the lower cost. There
would be loss of revenue some
where. It can be traced to the
same point to which now the un-
due return is made because of stat
ute framed ostensibly for the benefit
OF labor. The forestallers OF iron ore
would receive less than their present
royalties.
1t will bein order for the Republican
organs to assume a protectorate over
the American laboring men when they
can demonstrate that tariff which
must necessarily limit their wages and
increase the profits OF foresUallers is
not a humbug and fraud. They will
not terrify laborers with alarm cries
of greater freedom ofexchange. Labor
has been schooled in adversely. 1t
has learned lessons because they have
been forced. And laborers will not be
humbugged with the idea that a sys-
TEN which increases the difficulty of
securing opportunities for labor is
maintained for their benefit. Already
they are prepared to repeat the say
ing of Diogenes and exclaim to tariff
barons "Get out of my sunshine."-
Chicago Times.