Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-09-29


meets my most hearty approval The con-
vention did not adopt schedule but n
principle that Is to control all tariff sched-
ules There may be differences OF opinion
among protectiOnists as TO the rate upon
particular articles necessary TO affect an
equalization between wages abroad ana at
home. In some not remote national cam
paigns the issue has been-or more cor
Tectly, has been made to appear to be-be-
tween high and low protective taritf,
both parties expressing soIicitious regard
for the wages OF our working people and
for the prosperity Of our domestic indus
tries. But, under more courageous lead
ership, the Democratic party has now prac-
tcally declared that, II given power, 1t will
enact tariff law without any regard to
its effect upon wages or upon the capital
invested in our great industries. The mai
GRITTY report OF the Committee on Platform
10 the Democratic National Convention at
Chicago, contained this clause: "That
when custom house taxation Is levied upon
articles OF any kind produced in this cOun-
try the difference between the cost of labor
here and abroad, when such O difference
exists, fully measures any possible benefits
to labor and the enormous additional i'm
positions of the existing tariff fall with
crushing force upon our farmers and w rk-
ingmen." Here we have distinct admis-
American workingmen are advantaged by
a tariff rate equal to the difference between
home and foreign wages. and q declaration
only against the alleged additional iM-
positions OF the existing tariff law.
Again, this majority report further de-
clared But In making reduction IN
taxes II Is not proposed TO injure any sdo-
nestle industries, but rather to promote
their healthy growth. Moreover, many
industries have come to rely upon legisla-
ton for successful continuance, so that
any change of law must be at every step
regardful of the labor and capital i'm
vOlved." Here we have an admission that
many of our industries depend upon pro-
tective duties 'fOr their successful con-
tinuance" and a declaration that the tariff
changes should be regardfuf of such indus
tries and OF the invested capital. The
overwhelming rejection Of these PROPOSE
tons, which haG before received the sane
ton of Democratic National conventions
was not more indicative of the new and
more courageous leadership to which the
party has now committed itself than the
substitute which was adopted. This sub
stitute declares that protective duties are
nconstitutional-high protection, low pro-
lection, all unconstitutional. A DemOcra-
tic congress holding this view cannot enact,
nor Democratic president approve. any
tariff schedule, the purpose or effect of
which is 20 limit importatlons or to give
any advantage TO an American workman
or producer. A bounty might, judge, be
given to the importer under this view Of
the constitution, in order to increase inn
portant impOrtations, and so the revenue
for revenue only is the Limitation.
RECIPROCITY WOULD GO TOO.
Reciprocity of course falls under this de-
nunciation, for its object and effect are not
revenue but the promotion of commercial
exchanges the profits OF which 20 wholly
TO our producers. The doctrine was not
held or taught by the historic Democratic
statesmen whose fame as American pa
trlotS has reached this generatIon-cer-
tainly not by Jefferson or jackson. This
mad crusade against American shops,
the bitter epithets applied to American
manufacturers, the persistent disbelief of
every report OF the opening of tin plate
mill or of an increase OF our foreign trade
by reciprocity are as surprising as they are
dlscredtable. There Is not thoughtful
business man in the country who does
not know that the enactment into law OF
the declaration of the Chicago convention
on the subject of the tariff would at once
plunge the country into business conyul-
sion such as it has never seen; and there Is
not thoughtful working man who does
not know that it would at once enormously
reduce the amount of work to be done in
this country by the increase of importa-
tons that would follow and necesSitate a
reduction of wages to the European stand
ard. II any one suggests that this radical
policy will not be executed if the Demo
cratic party attains power, what shall be
thought Of party that Is capable of thus
trifilng with great interests? The threat
of such legislation will be only less hurt
full than the fact. A distinguished Demo-
crat rightly described the movement as
challenge to the protected industries to a
fight OF eXterminatiOn; and another such
rightly expressed the logic of the situation
when he interpreted the Chicago platform
to be an invitation TO all Democrats hold
ing even the most moderate protection
views to so into the Republican party.
THE PRESENT TARIFF LAW.
And now few words in regard to the
existing tariff law. We are fortunately
able TO judge of its influence upon produc-
ton and prices by the market reports.
The day or the prophet OF calamity has
been succeeded by that of the trade re-
porter. An examination Into the effect OF
the law upon the prices of protected pro-
ducts and of the cost OF such articles as
enter into the living of people of small
means has been made by senate commit
tee composed of leading senators of both
parties, with the aid of the best statisti-
clans, and the report, gned by all the
members OF the committee, has been given
TO the public. No such WIDE and careful
inquiry has ever before been made. These
1acIS appear from the report:
First-The cost OF articles entering into
the use of those earning less than $1,000
per annum, has decreased to May, 1892,
ga per cent, while In farm products there
has been an increase in prices, owing in
part to an increased foreign demand and
the opening of new markets. In England
during the same period the cost OF living
increased 1.9 per cent. Tested by their
power to purchase articles of necessity the
earnings of our working people have never
been as great as they are now.
Second-There has been an average ad-
vance in the rate of wages Of rs of l per
cent.
Third-There has been an advance in the
price of all farm products of 1857 per cent,
and of all cereals 3.59 per cent.
The ninth annual report of the chief OF
the bureau of labor statistics OF the State
of New York. a Democratic officer, very
recently issued, cOrrObOrates as to that
state the facts found by the senate COM
mittee. His extended inquiry shows that
in the year Immediately following the
passage of the tariff act OF 1890 the aggre-
gate sum paid In wages IN that state was
S6,377,y25 IN excess of the aggregate pro-
duction, $31 ,3l5, 130 in excess of the pre-
ceding year. In view of this showing of
an increase in wages, of a reduction in the
cost of articles, of common necessity and
of a marked advance in the prices of agri-
cultural products, IL is plain that this tariff
law has not imposed burdens but has con-
ferred benefits upon the farmer and the