New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-05
FREE TRADERS IN TROUBLE,

Driven from one refuge, the defender OF Free
Trade hunts another. Lately he was pretend
ing that prices of domestic goods to consumers
were greatly enhanced by new and higher
duties and he thought it proof enough to pick
ND occasional quotations of single articles out
of many thousand at one or two stores out OF
many thousand, these quotations being repre-
scented as sample bricks of the entire edifice.
But the report of the Senate Finance Commit
tee, showing retail prices OF more than 200
articles at different stores in each OF seventy
cities scattered all over the country, makes
that line of defence particularly hot and I'M
comfortable. The figures given for each article
at each city were the result of inquiries mt ten
or more stores, if so many had the article for
sale. but of such summaries by cities it was
found that out of 1850 only 1896 per cent
were higher in September, 1891, than in June
August, 1889, or about one-sixth, while all
the rest had either declined or remained I'M
altered The rise, moreover, was mainly In
articles of food, for out of $3.50 city quota
tons for other articles than food, only LIT
had advanced at all, 1871 per cent, or about
an eighth. while 2, 06O, or % IL per cent had
declined, and the remainder had remained I'M
changed.
Next the Free Trader took refuge in the
claim that if manufacturers obtained no higher
prces Protection could not be worth anything
to them But it was quickly shown that the
certainty of larger sales would make business
profitable, which with smaller sales would have
been improbable. If the materials and labor
in piece of cloth cost As cents per yard, and
it sold for so cents and the cost OF manage
ment and interest on plant wore $4,000
product OF 100, 900 yards would yield loss
on the year of 50, 900 but n product of 800, 900
Yards would yield a net profit of $1,000.
Driven from that poor refuge, the Free
Trader next sets up the plea that the protective
duty docs not give the manufacturer chance
to realize benefits from larger markets, because
it so rapidly creates for him new competitors.
THE Springfield Republican, puts the case
as to pearl buttons in this way
II will be observed that the eleven old establish
mcnts are not getting all the new business There
arc In fact seven times many competitors In the
field with them before and the number Increases
| daily, We are told. New firms new capital, new
plants seem TO be multiplying nearly fast as the
| new tariff brought business And this is always
| the result OF higher duties. which the friends 81 eX-
IRENE Protection Ike to describe How. this being
the Is Tho lndNluuni ri'nt hh'9
| increase IT. product that extent which will enable
II TO pay higher wages. etc. without raising prices,
than before the higher duties levied Is II not
plain that II the higher tariff creates new cSinblsh-
mens n, fn, II does new business, tho position Of
| each establishment. In the way of Increasing its
| product. has not In the average been improved
| The assumption that the manufacture in
| oreascs rs fast as /" the new business" which ii
might get is so obviously unwarrantcd and
| erroneous that the Free Trader will have to
hunt some other hiding place forthwith. 1.-The
new business" that is opened to the manu-
| facure is the entire business formerly supplied
| by imports from other countries. Until the
| American producers have multiplied their
capacity that they can supply the entire con-
sumption in this country, excluding imports
altogether there is always more new business
| for them Ia get without crowding each other.
In the case of tin plates, for example. the pro-
duc;on has more than doubled quarter after
quarter. but il can keep on doubling at the
same rate until 700 900 900 pounds or more
can bo turned out in year. Not until that
contamination has been attained and the
American industry has complete command OF
the American market will the benefits to each
| establishment be limited by the amount OF
"ncw business which competition with other
| American establishments may permit it to Sc
| cure.
But the admission that Protection does thus
| rapidly multiply manufacturing works in this
country-so rapidly that the Free Trader thinks
the manufacturers cinnot get any benefit from
those dutics-is worth noticing. This is the
precise result which the people want, because
IL, Il
cheaper goods in the end. The Free Trader
will hurt himself in crawling into that particu-
lar place of refuge, and had better look for
some other which does not involve an admission
so damaging.