The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1892-09-08

De SHOWN In their tarlffS TO ARTICLES eAPoT'S"
by us to their markets
Credit to Mr. Blaine.
Great credit is due to Mr.. Blaine for the
vfgOr with which he pressed this view upon
the country. We have only begun to realize
the benefit Of these trade arrangements. The
work of creating new agencies and CT adapt
ing our goods to new markets has necessarily
taken time, but the results already attained
are such, am sure, as to establish in popular
favor the policy of reciprocal trade. based
upon the free importation of such articles es
do not injuriously compete with the products
OF our FARMS mines or factories, in exchange
for the free or favored Introduction OF our
produce into other countries.
Greatly Increased Foreign Trade.
The obvious effect of this policy in increasing
the foreign trade of the United States at once
attracted the attention and alarmed Euro
pean trade journals and boards of trade. The
British board Of trade has presented to thai
government q memorial asking for the ap-
pointment Of a commission to consider the
best means of counteracting what Is called
1.-THE Commercial Crusade of the United
States."~ At q meeting held in March last of
the associated chambers of Great Britain the
presidents reported that the exports from
Great Britain to the Latin American countries
during the last year had decreased $;3.i59' %.
and that this was not due to temporary causes
United States. Germany and France have also
showed their startled apprehension of the fact
that new and vigorous contestant has ap-
peared in the battlefield, and has already Sc
cured important advantages.
The Most Convincing Evidence
Of the tremendous commercial strength of our
position is found in the fact that Great Britain
and Spain have found it necessary TO make
reciprocal trade agreements with us for their
Nacf Ind hat AVID AIrct t.In
have given us important concessions in ex-
change for the continued free importation of
their beet sugar. A few details only as to the
increase OF our trade can be given here. TAX
ing all the countries with which such arrange
ments have been made, our trade to June 30
1872, had increased 83.7S per cent. With Brazil
the increase was nearly II per cent; with Cuba,
during tho. first ten months, our exports in
creased s6,7O2, 1873 or 5i.S6 per cent, and Porto
Rico A per cent.
Restrictions on Pork Removed.
Partly by reason of the reciprocal trade
agreement, but more largely by reason of the
removal of the sanitary restrictions upon
American pork, our export of pork products to
Germany increased during the ten months
June 81 last 5 ,'G5,J74, or about 3; per cent.
The British Trade Journa, of London, in a re-
cent issue, speaking of the increase of Ameri-
can coal exports and of the falling off Of the
LuBliSu Coeti W SuUa, says.
ut is another case of American competition.
The United States now supplies Cuba with
about 10000 tens of coal annually and there is
every prospect of this trade increasing as the
forests of the island become exhausted and
the use OF steam machinery on the sugar
estates is developed"
Protection Approved.
The declaration of the platform in favor Of
the American doctrine of protection meets my
most hearty approval. The convention did
MT adopt schedule, but principle that Is
to control all the tariff schedules There may
be differences of opinion among proteotionists
as to the rate upon particular articles neces-
eary to effect an equalization between condi-
tions abroad and at home. In some remote
national campaigns the issue has been made
to appear between a high and low protective
tariff, both parties expressing some solicitious
regard for the wages of our working people
and OF the prosperity of our domestic indus
tries, but under a more courageous leadership
the Democratic party has now practically de-
clared that, If given power, it will enact
tariff law without any regard 10 its effect upon
wages or upon the capital invested in our great
industries.
A Democratic Admission.
The majority report of the committee on
platform to the Democratic national conven-
ton at Chicago contains this clause:
THAT when custom house taxation is levied
upon articles or any kind produced in this
country the difference between the cost of
labor here and abroad, when such difference
exists, fully measures any possible benefit to
the laborers and the enormous additional Inn
position of existing tariff fall with crushing
force upon our farmers and workingmen.'
Here We have distinct admission of the
Democratic convention that American work,
ingmen are advanced by tariff rate equal to
the difference between home and foreign
wages and . declaration only against the al
tariff law.
Effect of the Tariff Law.
And now few words in regard to the exist.
ing tariff law. We ere fortunately able to
judge of its influence upon production
and prices by market reports. The day of the
calamity prophet has been succeeded by that
of the trade reporter, An examination into
the effect of the law upon prices OF produced
goods and of the cost of such articles as enter
into the living Of people of small means has
been made by @ senate committee composed
of leading senators of both parties. with the
aid of the best statisticians, and the report
signed 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 facts appear from the report:
First-The cost of articles entering into the
use of those earning less than $1,000 per an
aum has decreased up 10 May, 1892, "a per
cent, while in farm products there has been
an increase in prices, owing in part to an in.
creased foreign demand ami tho erenlag of
new markets. Ia Engla ID during this sam,
period the cost of living has increased is per
cent Tested by their power to purchase arti.
Giles of necessity, the earnings of our working
people have never been as good as they ara
now.
Second-There has been an average advance
ia the rate of wages of 1.79 per cent.
ThIrd-There has b en- an advance In the
price of all farm products Of Is 81 per cent.
and of all cereals $3.50 per cent.
Peek's Report Mentioned.
The ninth annual report of the chief of the
bureau of fsatistics of the state of New York
Democratic Officer-very recently issued.
strongly corroborates as to that state the facts
found by the senate committee. His extended
inquiry that in the year Immediately follow
iag the passage Of the tariff act of 1897 the az
grrgate sum paid in wages in that state was
S6377,92j in excess, and lie aggregate produce
ton $3l 3d. l3J in excess of the preceding year.
In view OF this showing of an increase in
wages, of a reduction in the cost of articles Of
common necessity and Of marked advance
In the prices of agricultural products. II ia
plain that this tariff law has not imposed bur-
dens but has conferred benefits upon the far.
msr and the workingman.
The Production of Tin.
The official returns to the treasury depart.
ment Of the production of tin and tirene
plates in the United States during the last fis-
cal year show total production of IL. l23. $50
pounds, and comparison Of the first cunrter
s26,s2 pounds, with the last, 500 100 pounds.
shows the rapid development Of tho Industry
Over 5,oOO.0OO pounds during the last quarter
were made from American black plates. the
re nainder from foreign plates Mr.. Aver. the
treasury agent in charge, estimates as result
OF careful inquiry that the production of the
current year will be 10o;00O,O 900 pounds and that
by the end of the year our production will be
~ the Fate Ct 9 10000 pounds per annum.
Pearl Button Industry.
Another industry that has been practically
reated by the Mckinley bill is the making Of
pearl buttons. Few articles coming 10 us from
broad were 80 distinctly the product of starry.
alton wages. But without unduly extending
this letter cannot follow in detail the infiu-
ences of the tariff law of 1920. 1t has trans
planted several important industries and es-
tablished them here and has revived or en-
larged all Others The act gives to the mines
anfinn I'll u