New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-14
THE TIiREE TESTS.


tariff went into effect, October u, 1890. Ii Is
the duty Of every voter 10 ask himself what
this measure has done for the country, t. face
the facts without prejudice, and 10 Judge
whether lis work ought 20 be continued by
victory or arrested by defeat OF the Eepub-
lican party ~ measure Of that nature could
accomplish within 80 short a time all the good
il was intended to d. The operation Of this
bill was greatly hndcrcd because, barely 4
month ai,cr it went into eject. Democratic
victories caused the impression that II would
quickly be repealed. In >pl;c of this the Re
publican patty is content t. be judged hy the
results this great measure la, already accom-
pli,hcd, asking only that the facts be honestly
considered
IL has Gauss many new manufacturing works
20 be established, which give employment 20
multitude Of hands. Details OF many in this
state. Connecticut and New-Jcrscy have been
published by TIE TRIBUNE. Dispute Is pos
sible about the number of such Establishments.
but among honest men there can bc no dispute
abOnt the main fact that many Of them have
been brought into operation by the new tariff.
Every one Of these creates a larger demand for
labor in lis ncighboihood, a la ger demand for
materials produced by farmers or miners,
larger demand for at sans 10 build and furnish
homes for workers. 4 larger demand for food
to supply them and their families, for cloth
ing, and for all the nocos.agic> and comforts
Of life. 80 far, no man can doubt that some
good has been done.
New demand for labor always tends to lift
wages Accordingly, wages Of labor through
out the country have somewhat advanced 50
much is established beyond dispute by the
unanimous report Of able leaders OF both par
ties in the Senate Finance Committee. The
official report Of the Democratic Labor Com
missioner Of New-YOrl shows an increase Of
about per cent in one year after the new
tariff went into effect, and he ha, Published,
with sworn aildayts by himself and his a,s0-
ciatcS, details from the official returns which
show the increase Of wages paid 10 many thou
sand hands in hundreds of occupations. The
annual report Of the Massachusetts Labor lu-
rcau, 4 body always non partisan and having
the highest reputation also shows an increase
of 800 per cent in wages paid in that State.
Now it is easy for unScrupulous partisans to
deny the facts established by these official re-
ports. But men who face facts honestly are
al
wages has resulted from the improved condi-
ten Of many industries under the new tariff.
and from the greater demand for labor which
that tariff has caused
These results are undenably Of real benefit
to the whole country. But the opponents of
Protection assert that the cost OF living has
been increased, though they are unable to give
any proof whatever Their assertion is met
by the report of the Senate Finance Committee.
which distinguished men of both parties signed
after the most exhaustive and thoroughly i'm
partial investigation ever made on such sub
ject. This report establishes beyond reason
able dispute the fact that the cost Of living
did not increase, but was actually reduced.
during the year after the new tariff went into
effect. 1t is supported by thousands of state
ments, obtained from traders books in seventy
cities embracing every part Of the country, by
the trained agents of the non partisan bureau
directed by the Hon. Carroll ID. Wright. If
any fact can he settled by an impartial inycsti-
CATION and agreement Of the most compctcn.
nves. igators on both sides it must b. admitted
that the new tariff has not enhanced the cost
of living
These three established facts entiflc the new
tariff to a favorable verdict of the people.
IL has not made products more costly, but il
has enlarged industries, created new works
increased the demand for labor and thus added
to the wages Of labor These statements no
longer rest upon partisan claims, but upon
proofs of the highest character obianabe. If
these things are true, what ground have voters
of any State 10 break down the National policy
which thus coniers distinct benefits upon all
citizens? individuals may not have shared
these benefits as yet but it is their duty as
citizens to support the policy which benefits the
people As whole. Dispute there may be about
the extent Of the benefits realized, but there
can be no reasonable dispute that the three
great facts above stated are true, and these