Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-09-07

the labor and the capital thus involved.
Here we have an admission that many OF
our Industries depend upon protective
and declaration that tariff changes
should be regardful of the workmen IN
such industries and of the invested capital.
The overwhelming rejection OF these prop
ositions, which had before received the
sanction Of Democratic national conven'
tions, 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
substitute declares that protective duties
are unconstitutional-high protection, low
protection--all unconstitutional.
A Democratic congress holding this view
can not enact, nor Democratic president
approve any tariff schedule the purpose or
effect of which is to limit importations 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 in
crease importations and get the revenue
for ''revenueonly' on the limitation. Reci-
procity, of course, falls under this defin1-
ton, for its object and effect are not revenue
but the promotion OF commercial ex-
changes. the profits of which go wholly to
our producers.
This destructive, un American doctrine
was not held or taught by the historic
Democratic statesmen, whose fame as
American patriots has reached this genera
tion-certainly not by jefferson or jack
son. This mad crusade against American
shops, the bitter epithets applied to Ameri.
| can manufacturers, .hc 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 discreditable.
| There is not thoughtful business man in
the country who does not know that 9 ;
lar - Ia ion
the Chicago convention upon the subject
| of the tariff would at once plunge the coun-
| try into business conyulsion such as IT
has never seen there is not thoughtful
| workingman who does not know that 1T
| would at once enormously reduce the
| amount of work & be done in this country,
by the increase of importations that woul
| follow, and lecessitate reduction OF his
| wages to the European standard. LII any
| one suggests that this radical policy Will
| not be executed If the Democratic party at
tains power, what shall be thought OF q
/! party that is capable of thus trlhlng with
| our great interests
The threat of such legislation would only
be less hurtfu. than the fact. A distiii-
guished Democrat rightly described this
movement as challenge to the protected
industries to fight of determination, and
another such rightly expressed the logic OF
the situation when he interpreted the Chi
cago platform to be an invitation to all
Democrats holding even the most moderate
| protection views to go into the Republican
party.
The Tariff Law.
And now, a few words in regard to the
existing tariff law We are fortunately
able to Judge of it's influence upon produc-
1 tion and prices by the market reports. 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 protection products and
OF the cost Of such articles as enter into
the living of people of small means, has
been made by senate committee, com
| posed 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 pub
lie No such wide and careful inquiry has
ever before been made. These facts appear
from the report:
J, First--The cost of articles entering into
the use of those earning less than VI, 600 pr
annum, has decreased up to May, 1899, "a
per cent, while in farm products there has
been an increase in prices, owing in part tC
, An increased foreign demand and the open
ing Of new markets. In England during
the same period the cost of living has IN
| creased 10 per cent Tested by their power
/ | to purchase articles of necessity the earn
! ings of our working people have never beer
as great as they are now.
Second--There has been an average ad
| | vance in the rate of wages of rs of ! pei
cent.
{ Third-There has been an advance in thu
price of all farm products of 1857 per cent.
9 and all cereals 80. so per cent.
The ninth annual report OF the chief o
3 the bureau of labor statistics of the stat
( of New York, Democratic officer, very re
9 Gently issued strongly corroborates as t
/ | that state the facts found by the senat
committee. His extended inquiry show
n that in the year Immediately following tn
4 passage of the tariff act of 1890 the aggre
z gate sum paid in wages in that state wa
i, $6,377, 925 in excess and the aggregate pre-
duction $31, 3l5, 100 excess OF the preceding
l. year.
a In view of this showing of an increase il
Z, wages, of reduction of the cost of article
l. of common necessity and of a marked &C
10 vance in the prices of agricultural products
y is so plain that this tariff law mas not in
l. posed burdens, but has conferred benefit
l. upon the farmer and the workingman.
le Some special effect of the act could b
h. noticed. 1t was a courageous attempt t
a rid our people of a long maintained forelg
" monopoly in the production OF tin plat
a. pearl buttons, silk plush, linens, lace, et'
Of Once or twice in our history
re- The Production of Tin Plate
u had been attempted, but the Wells
- makers would not enable our makers I
produce it at profit. But the Wells
makers at once cut prices to point tht
drove the American beginners out Of ii
ly business; and when this was accomplished
40 again made their own prices:
Is A correspondent Of The lndustrit
re World, the Official organ of the Welsh Il
ne plate workers, published at Swansea, !
the issue of June 10, 1892, advises . ne
W trial of these methods. He says;
w "Do not be deceived The victory OF II
,ir Republicans at the polls means the retei
X ton of the Mckinley bill and means tx
ar rapidly accruing loss of the ~ per cent.
oy the export of American trade. Had the
he been no Democratic victory in 1880, u
al spread of the tin plate manufacture IN VI
he United States would have been both rap
or and bona fide 1t is not yet t.
th late to do something to reduce the price
Oh plates Put them down to eleven shlllip,
Der box of one hundred, l4x20, full weigl
lls )asis. Let the workmen take half pay f
ty rev months and uuvn OUT more, onen
ut the masters forego profits for the sar
IN time"
'u- And again, that paper says: 1T is cies
lte " the interest of both employer and wor
'er men to produce tin plates, tariff or
IN tariff, at price that will drive all col
ci- petitors from the field"
ic. But, in spite of the doubts raised by
nd elections of 1890 and Of the machinations
ro. foreign producers to maintain their me
| opoly, the tin plate industry has been
to tablshed In the United States and the
:. lance between the Welsh producers and
in Democratic party for its destruction VIII .lI
al ury department of the production of
lie, and terne plates, in the United States, al
rift ing the last fiscal year, show total p
OF duction of 1920, $50 pounds, and co
ate parison of the first quarter 80
,ect pounds, with the last, sOoo;
Of ha it,Ht tctr