The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-28

Clothing for All Who Labor.
Ms York Preq.
The current is running strongly IN
favor OF protection, and unless some
thing unforeseen happens President Har-
rison will be reelected almost wholly
on that issue. One after another the
arguments OF free traders have been
disposed OF or demolished, us it were,
with tho overwhelming facts showing
tho benefit OF O tariff generally and tho
almost unexpected results OF the Nc
Kialcy law.
Those who had faith in protection
looked forward to u period OF industrial
activity Us the law became operative,
but they were hardly prepared for all
that has happcucd. One alter another
large textile concerns have closed their
doors on the other side OF the Atlantic
md arc now starting up on this side IN
American cities with American work
mon and operatives. silk concerns,
plush factories, carpet, taN ana ute
mills and those engaged in making
cloth and drcss goods arc competing
with each other TO get here ilTst TO
supply the richest market in the world.
MASTER OF TIE COMMERCIAL WORLD.
What is true in this branch ofindus-
try is equally true in some others. The
progress made in tho manufacture Of
tin plate and cotton tics makes it GER
tain that another decade oil protection
will make the United States master Of
the world in the iron trade. Indeed
these were tho only two important
items lett Tor England. American tariff
laws have taken from that country Co.
0UO,0U0 customers for its iron and steel
andcompclledhGr to take second place as
an iron producing country. And II the
history OF such industries as steel rails
is to DO repeated in tin plate and cotton
tics, We shall soo supply both those
useful commodities ut prices far below
their present cost, Under sufficient
competition the price OF wire nails has
gone down from s cents in 1882 to 9!
cents per pound to-day. Although the
duty was over $l3, the average price of
steel rails only differed from "a to s. in
England and the United States during
1880 and 1890, the years the above esti-
mate OF difference in cost OF production
was taken. The more industries that
migrate TO this country the better. In
doing so they employ American labor
and ultimately give better and cheaper
manufactured goods.
Within the decade ended in 1890 over
1000, 900 persons were called into these
industrial operations. THIS means
something like 10000 0 persons en-.
gagged in manufacturing alone, and
probably not far from 100000 en-
gagged in g~ainiul pursuits. All statistics
thus far made public by the census
office show beyond tho possibility OF a
doubt that in this period the amount OF
money paid in wages has not only i'm
mensely increased actually but rela-
lively.
UNPLEASANT ACTS FoR FREE TRADERS.
1t has been said that the United
States, while a prosperous example OF
protection, is in its wide area and var
led climate also a fair illustration OF
Tree Iraue-Luab lbI WlLlliu TO OWn uOE-
ders. More than this. The United
States stands to-day unrivaled probably
only by Great Britain as the greatest
free trade country on earth. That Is,
there is more merchandise to-day com
ing into our ports free OF duty than
dutiable. Under this broad minded
policy the Republican party has re-
duced the rates OF duty on our total inn
portation from AZ per cent in 1868 to
about 90 per cent, according to the re-
portof the bureau OF statistics just is
sued. What a fall is there? Study the
growth OF the free list and you will find
that from an average OF about 81 per
cent Of the total export for the five
years ended in 1871 it has expanded un-
ill last year it was nearly SO per cent
ovcr hall of our entire importations,
IMPORTS FROM 1867 TO 1891.
Here is a table showing value OF i'm
ports entered for consumption during
twenty-five years, from 1867 to 1891, by
periods OF five years, also the values for
1891 and 1892: