Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-09-29


tory.
To ne Eaitor Of he Rooster:
Sir: Our Republican brethren say
a protective tariff is necessary to
insure good wages TO our labor
ing people. The reverse OF
this is true as is proven by sta
tistics prior to the war aud since. Ii
the Republican idea IS true, why Is 1t
that wages In the shoe industry of this
country are I2s per cent higher than in
England, and that since the tariff was
taken of the raw material; BESIDES
these manufactures are today coping
with England, Germany, France and all
countries that make shoes for the
worlds trader Why is IL that this in
dustry fourishes and Is so prosperous?
Before the tariff was taken OF the raw
material they use, il was anguish
ing and their business was at
standstlll - wages going down
and their skilled men turned away
without work. These men went before
the WAYS and Means Committee OF
Congress I'm 1852 and demanded that the
tariff be taken of hides and they be
placed upon the free list. After long
barley il was done. The committee
said ID would not work; il was an infant
Industry and Europe would crush them
out. They said, why is this? We can
make goods cheaper than any country,
and We therefore can sell them cheaper,
aud at the same time give employment
20 more men anj pay them better
wages. The committee gave them
then the free raw material, and the
manufacturers have done just what
they said they would do. These men
did not care to follow up the ideas Of
most manufacturers. They were hon
est and wanted 10 make money in le-
climate way. They did not care TO
band themselves together into trust
(as is now the rule amongst most OF our
strongly protected industries), throw
out of employment wOrkmen, reduce
their wages and make them miserable
They took the proper course, and to-day
the shoe industry is on solid footing
and prosperous on all sides.
The Quinine industry is another that
gets It's raw material free. The duty on
this was removed under the protests OF
the manufacturers. The manufactured
article was selling at Sc. so per ounce be-
fore the removal OF the tariff and there
we're but three factories Ia the United
States They said, oh, no, you will ruin
US. We are an infant industry. To-
day, l am shown a bill from Trowels Il
Waitmau, Of Philadelphia, to druggist
in our town showing purchase OF qui-
nine at a cents per ounce. A wonder
full reduction and a God send TO the
poor man who used IL as medicine. We
now now have twelve large manuiactOr-
les of Qunine in the United States and
the three that made il before the war
are still at work, with larger facilities,
using more workmen, paying them bet
ter wages and they are making a rea-
s0nable profit They compete with the
world and are not limited TO
home market on account OF a
stiff duty on the raw material.
The wooden manufacturers Of this
country have been asking the same.
They say give US free raw material and
we will make and sell wooden goods
cheaper than any nation on earth. We
will compete with England and other
countries for the trade Of the world.
We can employ more men, pay them
better wages, make better goods and
more OF them in given time and our half
starved industry will be revived, every
spindle In every shop in this land will
hum, you will hear the hum and whirl
of machinery and see the glad face OF
the workman as he goes to and from
the workshops well paid for what he
does. 1t will never do, says our Repub-
lican friends, if we give you free raw
material we knock the props from
under our wool business. A nice senti-
meut on paper, but the facts are, every
time the tariff is increased on American
wool down it goes in price. Mckinley
said In 1890 on the eve Of the passage
of his bill: 1--WE will increase the tariff
on fine woods - cents per pound
aud your farmers will get 40 cents
per pound next season for your wool. :"
Wes Atkinson and William Hubbard,
ia speeches they made in front Of Sam
PARROTS hotel IN Cameron the same
year, said the same thing. In 1883
every Republican speaker said, increase
the tariff on wool and you will thus in
crease the value TO 40 cents per pound.
The experiment was made and many
Marshall county farmers held on to
their wool, believing in the prophets,
but the false gods deceived them and
they took - to % cents. Hold on"
said some in 1891, Australian wool in
teriered with our calculations. They
have an enormous crop aud sell 1t cheap
is 10 20 cents per round. Hold on,
they are killing of their sheep over
there and their prices will be BETTER"
1892 comes and American wool is selling
at % cents and Australian woods, such
as Is used in America, is bringing 30 TO
35 cents in that country. CONSERVATION
is abroad in their camp. Mckinley
says he is satisfied, give the tariff an
other twist. All precedent is against
this doctrine Of high protection. Now
and in the past wool under the tariff OF
1912 went down to 80 cents; under the
tariff of 40 il went up to coo in the fftieS,
when the duty was increased on wool
I'm 1857, IN 1858 wool went down, and
there were 400, 600 sheep slaughtered for
their peltS and their carcaSseS fed to
hogs. The Republican party has done
some things; il imported $4,000, 600
pounds Of rags and shOddy last year,
and 100000 pounds of hair, to go
into the shOddy mills OF this country TO
compete with American wool. 1t has
created trampS out OF former lsbOring
men; il has created the PinkertOns to
shUot down American laborerS aud TO
guard American Lords; it has created a
rotten banking system and a depreci-
lted currency, aud soon will create the
Force bill IL it ever gains full power,
aud this will knock out the last vestige
o. American freedom. 1t is time Re-
as now taught, should be
turned down, which it will be on the