The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1892-09-16


the wages Of our working people ana for the
prosperity OF orr domestic Industries. But
| under n more courageous leadership tho DEM
| Ocratic party has now practically declared
| that, IL given power, it willenact u tariff law
| without any regard to its effect upon wages or
| upon the capital invested in our great indus
| tries.
Democratic Platform Criticised.
| The majority report of the committee on
| platform TO the Democratic National Conven-
ton at Chicago contained this clause: THAT
| when custom house taxation Is levied upon
al ticles of any kind produced in this country
the difference between the cost of labor here
| ana abroad, when such di fference exists fully
measures any possible benefits to labor; and
the enormous additional impositions of the ex-
isting tariff fall with crushing force upon our
| farmers and workingmen."
| Here we have distinct admission of the Re-
| publican contention, that American workmen
are advantaged by tariff rate equal to the
| difference between home and foreign wages,
and declaration only against the alleged " adj
| ditional imrostions" of the existing tariff law.
Again. this majority report further declared:
But, in making reduction in taxes IL Is not
| proposed TO injure any domestic industries but
! rather to promote their healthy growth.
! Moreover, many industries have come to rely
| upon legislation for successful continuance SO
| that any change of law must be at every step
| regardful of the labor and capital thus in
voived."
Here we have an admission that many of our
| industries depend upon protective duties for
their successful continuance, and declaration
! that tariff changes should be regardful of the
worllmen in such industries and of the invested
capital.
| Declaration of the Substitute.
The overN helming rejection of these propo-
| sitions, which had before received the sane
ton of Democratic national conventions,
was not more indicative of the new and more
| courage leadership to which the party has
| now committed itself than the subs titute
| which was adopted. This substitute declares
| that protective duties are unconstitutional
! high protection, low protection-all unconsti-
tutionaL Democratic congress holding this
view cannot 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, l judge, be
given to tie importer, under this view of the
| constitution in order to in rease importations
and Sd the reyenue-for revenue only" is the
limitation.
Reciprocity, of course, falls under this de-
nunciation, for its object and effect are not
revenue but the promotion of commercial ex-
changes, the profits of which go wholly to our
producers.
not held or taught by the historic Democratic
statesmen whose fame as American patriots
has reached this generation-certainlyn not by
jefferson and jackson. This mad crusade
against American shops, the bitter epithets
applied TO American manufacturers the per-
slstent disbelief OF every report OF opening a
tin-plate mill or Of an increase of our foreign
trade by reciprocity, are as surprising as they
are discreditabe.
Objections to Such "a Policy.
There is not thoughtful business man in
the country who does not know that the en-
,,,tx .l.., k1.(
cago convention upon the subject of the tariff
would at once plunge the country into q BUSH
ness CONFUSION such as it has ever seen; and
there is not thoughtful workin man who
does not know that it would at once enormou
ly reduce the amount of work to be done In
this country, by the increase of importations
that would follow, and ne essitates reduction
of his wages to the European standard. If any
one suggests that this radio al policy will not he
executed if tie Democratic party attains
power, what shall be thought Of party that is
capable of thus trlfling with great int rests?
The threat of such legislation would be only
less hurtful than the fact.
A distinguished Democrat rightly described
this movement as q challenge to the protected
| industries to a fight of determination; and an
other such rightly expressed the logic Of the
situation when he interpreted the Chicago
platform to be an invitation to all Democrats
holding even the most moderate protection
views to go into the Republican party.
Effect of the Mckinley Law.
And now a few words in regard to the exist.
ing tariff law, We are fortunately able to Judge
of it's influence upon production and prices by
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 protected products
and Of the cost Of such articles as enter into
the living of people of small means has been
made by q senate committee composed Of lead
ircS pntn of wit tba ~ f1a
best statisticians, and the report, signed by all
the members of the committee has been given
to the public. No such wide and careful in
quiry has ever before been made. These facts
appear from the report;
The Senate Report Summarized.
First-The cost Of articles entering into the
use of those earning less than $1,000 per annum
had decreased up to May, 1892, 3.4 per cent,
while in farm products there has been an in
crease in prices, owing in part to an increased
foreign demand ard the opening Of new mar
kets. In England during the same period, the
cost of living 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
in the rate Of wages of 10 of per cent.
Thrl-Thcre has been advance in the
price of all farm products of 1851 per cent, and
Of all cereals $3.50 per cent
Commissioner Peck's Report.
The ninth annual report Of the chief Of the
bureau of labor statistics of the state of New
York, Democratic official, very recently
issued, strongly corroborates as to that state,
the facts found by the senate COM
mittee. His extended inquiry shows that in
the year Immediately following the passage of
the tariff act of 1880 the aggregate sum paid in
wages in that state was S6,377, 025 in excess.
and the aggregate production So ,3l5, $50 in en-
cess of the preceding year In view of this
showing of an increase In wages, of q reduc-
ton in the cost of articles of common neces-
sty and of marked advance in the prices of
agricultural products, it is plain that this tariff
law has not imposed burdens but has con-
ferred benefits upon the farmer and the work
ingman.
FIGHTING FOREIGN MONOPOLIES.
One Purpose of the Present Law-Some
Tin-PIate History.
Some special effects of the act should be no.
ticed. It was courageous attempt to rid our
people Of q long maintained foreign monopo-