The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1892-09-10

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there is no article within my knowledge
OF the range Of Woolen or worstcd fabrics
that could not be imported ut good
profit to the foreign manufacturer and
dealer, cheaper than its cost to produce
by the most skillful and competent man
utactlrcr in the I.ni!cd States. giving
both parties the raw material at pre-
cisrly the same cost.
here beg your attention to point
THAT does not appear to have been noticed
BY amy one discussing these tariff
changes, whether against or in favor Of
them, but which greatly wcakcns all the
argument for what is dcnominated ''re-
FORM in the direction Of lower duties.
It is that through the constant decline in
values on almost every manufactured
article there has been for many wears
steady abatement IN the measure Of pro
lection to the American manufacturer
and his employees and an equally steady
decrease in whatever burthen the pro
trctiEe taritf may have imposed upon
those if there ;re lny--who derive no
benefit from it. This il more marked in
tic wooden trade th;tn in any other and
there is, therefore, the least reason for
the advocates OF free trade to single ont
this branch OF industry for special attack,
even were excessive protection instead
nf I discrimination to carry cut d bet
political scheme, thn Real unimWs that
stimulates them. Prior tu tie act of 1888
the protective duties on manufacturers of
wool were virtually what they now arc,
~ per cent, which WAS the rate adjusted
upon values existing when the law was
framed as necessary to DOVER tile higher
rnst, not onIy of labor, bit Investment
ana many other conditions under Which
the manufacture is carried on with more
difficulty in the United States. At that
time wool was much higher and goods
cost abroad more than double what they
now do IN that upon 4 cloth costing
abroad Sl.25 thr rhOme manufacturer had
621: cents of protection to cover Ills dis
advantages. Goods that then cost 1926
eau ROW be bought for GO cents or less.
80 that with the same rate Of protection
the American manufacturer has now at
most only 30 cents Of protection, or less
than half THAT of former Years. Mean
time the labor III tile mill is 1T least as
We'll paid rs then. in many instances it is
better paid, showing that whilst in this
country the products of labor have ma
teriaIlv decreased III value its rewards
have been maintained and, therefore, its
purchasing power greatly augmented,
which is equivalent to Il corresponding
increase OF pay.
LABOR BETTER PAID HERE.
The prices | have cited in this com
pariscn are those Of q certain class of
goods bearing these costs at the respect
iNe periods and which Are now coming
into this country despite the present
protection, merely because the labor
here is paid more for making them and
not because Of any lack Of skill or knowl
edge upon the part OF our master manu-
faeturrrs. Yet the Springer free wool
bill proposes to reduce this protection
from 30 to "A cents. There is no manu-
factlrerer in the Erited States who can
make these goods at an outlay of 30 cents
for the mere expense Of making. much
less n cents. For example, the foreign
weaver gets u cents per yard for his
portion Of the work whilst upon the
scale Of wages paid to the weaver here
the lowest pay he would get would be Q
cents At this price the American
weaver makes only 4 fairly good living.
How the foreign weavers live upon their
soanty pay may be readily conjectured.
We do not want any class to live here rs
they do: upon an insuiliciencv Of the
barest necessities, ending their days as
dependents upon charity or workhouse
relief.
have been for years actively con
nected with the employment of this class
Of workers on both sides Of the ocean
and am, therefore, perfectly familiar
with tile pay and the mode Of living in
both regions. The pay here is fully
double. frequently three and in numer-
Gus eases four times what it is abroad
speak not as to time only, but produc-
ton also. The cost Of the three inais-
pensable necessities, food, rent and cloth
ing taken together as one item, requisite
to both peoples, is here but little, if at
all, above the foreign, but our people are
accustomed to Il sutiiciency, and what to
them Is by custom only an ordinary com
fort, is to the foreign worker an unknown
and lmmtainahle luxury | do not wish
to make any special plea for these
masses, Or use benevolence to that large
part of the nation us an argument, but |
do insist that upon the prosperity Of that
class depends the active prosperity Of the
nation.
FOREIGN wORKMES A CYpnER.
The high wages our workers get in
duce the large consumption of labor's
products for which our country is re-
mitrkable, and this consumption will
diminish in proportion as the purchasing
power of the people is curtailed by
nearer and nearer competition with the
laboring classes of Europe until it is re-
duced to Il parity with that of those
groveling, degraded and unconsidered
~,