Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-06-24
How Protection Cheapens Things.

L L
Mr.. Butler. The gentleman has stated
that wooden goods are cheaper to the
consumer now than they were before the
passage of the Mckinley bill.
Mr.. Dingley; l have.
Mr.. Butler: Now, as a matter OF in
formation, would like to know by what
process the business of manufacturing
wooden goods has revived if the manu-
facturer is compelled to sell his goods
now for less than he did before
Mr.. Dngley: l think | can explain,
in reply to the gentleman's question, a
principle in connection with protection
which has not been brought 20 bis notice /;
and when have done so he will see the
soundness of the claim of the protection
lists that the encouragement OF manutac-
lures in this country, so as to give our
own manufacturers the home market, or
large and certain market, tends to re-
6uce the cost of the manufactured pro-
duct.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, the fact, of course,
cannot be denied that wooden goods are
low er than they were before the Mckinley
tariff act was passed. mean all snch
goods as are made in this country and
used by the masses; and it is also the
fact that every woolen mill in this cOun-
try and every set of wool-manuiacturing
machinery is to-day running, whereas
quarter of them were silent in lSSS.
A Member: Do You mean to say that
every wooden mil in the country IS run
ming to day -,
Mr.. DiIgley: I mean every mill
adapted TO produce the kin0 Of goods
that are wanted. Some old mills adapted
only to the production of goods used
twenty years ago and that are not want
ed now are, of course, not running. This
or any other manufacturing business can
not be successfully carried on in the same
vav that it was twenty or thirty years
AGO. fla man does not keep mp with the
times in anything, Of course be cannot
succeed.
Now. what is the explanation of this
fact which cannot be denied Desiring
TO get an explanation, went to leading
manufacturer who, knew, bad quarter
of his machinery shut down in 1899,
while in 1891 he was running every
spindle. | said to him: "What are you
getting for your goods now?" He told me.
Then asked how does that compare with
the prices of 1892 He answered zone
to 10 cents q yard less, according to
grade" "Did you make any profit in
1885," "No; l lost money! "Did
YOU make anything in 1891 :" ayes,
made a very fair profit" Glow
could you make a profit if you re-
ceived to 10 cents less per yard than
you did in 1880, vhen, as You stated, you
lost money (" "Why," said he "every
wooden manufacturer knows the reason.
When could run only three-fourths Of
my machinery could not produce goods
as eheaply as l can now when run all Of
It. When my market is large and certain
I can strain every particle of machinery |
have am encouraged TO put new CAPT
tai into the business. to bring into use
new labor saving deYice7, and, besides, a
large part of the expenses are very nearly
tie same whether run three fourths of
my machinery or the whole of it Thus
can make goods at lower cost per yard
with a quick market and large demand
that allows me to increase my production
than l can when the market is dull"
That is the explanatlon.-COn Congressional
Record.