New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-03
1CKINLEY PROSPERITY.

Tho tariff speeches recently made III the SEN
o.o boro doalt largely with mathematical cal
citations based upon averages OF prices. Inc
Republican debatcrs have had marked au-
vantage in the argument, because the iac,S as
closed bv the statistics respecting MCKINNEY
nrices have been on their side. Abstract con-
clusions from such tables as the Finance Com
mittce has laboriousy prepared belong to What
NAV be described rs the higher mathematics oil
tariff discussion An argument less compre-
bcnsive in its scope but perhaps more intelll-
cible to the ordinary mind, can be based upon
the industrial progress of town when mas
boen favorably affected by recent tariff legs
lation Such an argument VIII be fouhd Ill inc
forcihlc letter from staff correspondent III
Fall River which is published this morning on
another page.
Evidences of phenomenal prosperity abound
in that great centre of cotton manufacturing
Since the passage of the Mckinley act many
now factories have been built and many old
mills have been enlarged. In single year
there has been an increase Of 2OO,OOO IN the
number of spndlcs and an enlarged production
of sol 600 600. These extraordinary gains
have not been made at the expense OF the con-
sumner. From the passage of the Mckinney act
the prices Of cotton prints have been steadily
roduccd An enormous expansion OF the pro-
ductjyo resources of the town has been accom-
panied by the chcapening of the goods Tor inc
benefit OF the American people. hat i
striking illustration of what may he dcScr'bod
rs Mckinley prosperity. under which everybody
gains and nobody loses. Fall River. with ITS
S23. 600 900 invested in cotton factories It's
IS. 900 600 paid annually TO wage-carncrs' ITS
ST.. 600 900 OF workmcns deposits in the
savings banks, and its cotton prints hall cent
cheaper than they were in 1890, Is an ire
futable argument in favor OF Protective
Tariff.
Senators Vest and Carlisle, who arc lament
ING the terrible lot Of working people under
"tarif oppression" "robbery by trusts" ana
"McKinley prccs,o ought to make an eXcur-
sion TO Fall River and find out the facts. They
will find there one of the most prosperous work
ing communities in tho world, owning IN good
part its own houses having its millions on
deposit in the savings banks, and receiving
wages nearly double those paid in England.
There are no signs OF hard times ana business
depression there. The introduction OF higher
grades of manufacturing has put premium
upon skilled labor and greatly increased the
earnings of the best workmen. At the same
time. by Encouragement OF the wOrklng-hours'
wages have been virtually increased 1-3 per
cent at cost of $500 900 year to the manu-
facturers. This has been done in the face OF
a reduction of wages abroad, and OF second
impendng cut Of 10 per cent in Lancashire.
Mckinley prosperity in Fall River is shared in
large degree by the operatives whose labor has
been protected and its purchasing power ma
terially increased by Republican legislation.
What has the Democratic party TO offer to
such a community as that at Fall River?
tariff for revenue only. What will that in
voIve? A larger share of the American market
for foreign manufactures with cheaper labor
behind them. Work on new factories Will be
stoppcd old mills will be operated on shorter
time and with lower wage-rolls; the higher
grades OF manufacturing will be abandoned
worLmen will have inferior work and possibly
be thrown out of employment; the surplus
earnings in the savings banks will be drawn
out, and Fall River will rapidly decline in
prosperity. Even if it be true that a workman
can save 50 cents on a coat under revenue
tariff favoring English imponations-and when
did an American wage-earncr ever have as
cheap clothing as he has under the existing
tariff ?-is it worth while to make that saving, if
his wages are to be cut down one-half or one
third. or if he is to be thrown out of employ
ment altogether? A tariff for revenue only
would be disastrous alike to the manufacturer
and his workmen. 1t is the most cruel and
deadly Of all the English notions contained in
the Pandoras box of Democratic politics
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