The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-09-16

interestsi The threat OF such legislation would
only be less hurtful than the fact.
A distinguished democrat rightfully described
this position a challenge to the protected in
dustries to a fight of determination. and anoth-
er such rightly expressed the logic OF the situa-
ton when he interpreted the Chicago platform
to % invitation to sll democrats holding
even the most moderate protection views 10 go
into the republican party
The Tariff Laws.
And now a few words in regard to the exist
ing tariff law. We are fortunately able TO judge
of its influence upon prices by the market re-
ports The day of the prophet Of calamity has
been succeeded by that Of the trade reporter.
An examination INTO the effect of the law upon
the prices OF protected products and OF the cost
of such articles as enter into the living Of PEG
pie of small means has been made by senate
committee composed OF leading senators OF
both parties with the aid of the best statisti-
clans, and the report signed by all the members
of the committee has been given to the public.
No such careful inquiry has ever before been
made These facts appear from the report:
! First-The cost of articles entering into the
! United States OF those earning less than Sl,OJO
per annum has decreased up TO 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 and the opening OF new
markets In England during the same period
the cost OF living has increased 10 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 advance
J in the rate OF wages of 20 or per cent
Third-There has been an advance in the
price of all farm products of 1857 per cent and
OF all cereals 80 - per cent
| The ninth annual report Of the chief OF the
bureau Of labor statistics OF the state OF New
York, democratic official, very recently Is
sued. strongly corrOborates as TO that state the
facts found by the senate committee His eX-
tended inquiry shows that in the year immedi-
ately following the passage OF the tariff act OF
1890 the aggregate sum paid in wages in that
state was 90 81, $50 in excess and the aggregate
production s3I 3l5 100 in excess of the preceding
! year.
In view Of this showing Of an increase in
wages, Of a reduction of the cost of articles OF
common necessity and of q marked advance in
the prices OF agricultural products, it IS
plain that this tariff law has not imposed
| burdens, but has conferred benefits upon the
| farmer and the worlingman.
Some special effects OF the act should be
noticed.
! Tin Plate Industry.
1t was courageous attempt TO rid our PEG
! pie of a long maintained foreign monopoly in
the production Of tin plate, pearl buttons silk
| plush linens, lace. etc Once or twice in our
! history the production of tin plate had been at
/ tempted. but the Welsh makers would not en-
able our makers 10 produce it at profit But
/ the Welsh makers won in cut prices to a point
that drove the American beginners out Of the
business and when this was accomplished again
made their own prices. A correspondent OF the
| Industrial World the official organ Of the Welsh
! TN plate workers, published In Swansea, in the
! issue of June 10. 1892, advises O new trial OF
these methods. He says:
| do not be deceived. The victory Of the re-
| publcans at the polls means the retention OF
the Mckinley bill and means the rapidly accru-
| ing loss OF the 81 per cent of the export Ameri-
| can trade Had there been no democratic vic
tory in 1850 the spread OF the tin plate manu-
| facture IN the United States would have been
both rapid and bona fide 1t is not yet too late
| 10 do something to reduce the price OF plates.
Put them down TO II shillings per box OF 100
IA by 20 full weight basis. Let the wor1men
| take half pay for few months and turn out
more; then let the masters forego profits for
the same time" And again that paper says:
lit is clearly the interest of both employer
and foremen) to produce tin plates, tariff or no
tariff, at price that will drive all compe titors
from the field"
But, in spite Of the doubts raised by the cleo
lions of 1890 and OF the Vaccinations OF foreign
producers to maintain their monopoly tin plate
| industries have been established in the United
States and the alliance between the producers
and the democratic party for its destruction
will not succeed.
The official returns to the treasury depart
ment of the production OF tin and terne plates
in the United States during the last fiscal year
show q total production OF Ii 30 $50 pounds
| and comparison of the first quarter, S26, s2-
| pounds with the last e001,01O POUNDS, shows
the rapid development of the industry. Over
5,0000O0 pounds since the last quarter were
made from American black plates, the re
,IaF &
| treasury agent in charge, estimates as u result
OF careful inquiry, that the production Of The
current year viii be 900 pounds, and thai
by the end Of the year our production will be a
the rate Of 2O0, 90 pounds per arnum.
other Industries.
Another industry that has been practically
created by the Mckinley bill is the making o.
pearl buttons Few articles coming TO US from
abroad were so distinctly the products Of star
walton wages. But without unduly extending
this letter 1 cannot follow in detail the intiu
ences OF the tariff law in 1899. 1t has trans
planted several important industries and estab
lished them here and has revised or enlarged
all others. The act gives to the miners protec
ton against foreign silver bearing lead ore, thi
free introduction OF which threatened the grea
mining industries OF the Rocky mountain
states. and 10 the wool growers protection Il
their fieeces and fiockS which has saved then
from further and disastrous decline. Tn
house Of representatives at its last session
passed bills placing these ores and wool on tn
free list
The people Of the west well know how de
structive TO their prosperity these measure
would be
: The tariff law has given employment 10 man,
thousands OF American men and women AM
I will each year give employment to increasing
thousands. Its repeal would throw thousand
out Of employment and give work to other
c,nf fro
! trader to the workingman are likely addresse
to his prejudices or his passions and not infrt
: Quently are pronounced communism The neN
: democratic leadership RACES at the employe
and seeks 10 communicate his rage TO the en-
ploye. greatly regret that all employers c
labor are not Just and considerate and that car
ital sometimes takes too large share OF Ii
= profits
n But 1 do not see that those evils will b
ameliora ted By tariff policy, the first nece
| sary effect OF which is severe wage cut an
/ | second large diminution of the aggregat
n amount Of work TO be done in this country.
the injustice OF his employer tempts the wOrl
p. man to strike back he should be very sure thG
4 his blow does not fall upon his own head or a.
4 on his wife and children. The workmen in OF
. great industries are as body remarkably il
= telligent and are lovers OF home and countr.
n They may be reused by injustice, or VIII;
= seems 10 them 10 be such, or 10 be led for II
- moment by others into acts OF passion; bl
p they will settle the tariff contest in the call
r light of their November tiresides, and with so
n reference TO the prosperity Of the country
o which they are citizens and OF the homes the
a have founded for their wives and children.
% No intelligent advocate Of a protective tari
. claims that It is able OF itself TO maintain q VI
, form rate OF wages-without regard 10 fiuctu
q tions in the supply OF and demand for the pro
s ucts Of lsbor-but it is confidently elaine
] fnat tend I
D. wages and are the only barrier against =
!, duction TO The European scale.
a The southern states have had liberal part
. Gina ton in he benefits of the fariff law and