The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-09-14
DANeERs or FRrz TRADE

the sanction Of Democratic National Con-
ventions, was not more indicative Of the
new and more courageous leadership to
which the party has now committed its
elf than the substitute which was adopt
ed. This substitute declares that pro-
tective duties are UnconstitutiOnal-hig
protection, low protectiOn-an unconsti-
tutional
A Democratic Congress holding this
view cannot enact, nor a Democratic
President approve any tariff schedule,
the purpose or effect Of which IS to limit
importations or 10 give any advantage to
an American workman OF producer. A
bounty might, judge, be given to the
importer under this view Of the Consti-
tuition, in order to increase imPortations,
and so the revenue-for revenue only"
is the limitation.
Reciprocity, ofeourse, falls under this
denunciAtion, for its object and effect are
not revenue, but the promotion Of COM
mercial exchanges, the profits Of which
90 wholly - urprodueers. This destrue-
tive, un-Americsn doctrine was not held
or taught by tie historic Democratic
statesmen whose fame as American pa
triots has reached this generation, Ger
tAinly not by jefferson or jackson.
This mad crusade against American
shops, the bitter epithets applied to
American manufacturers, the persistent
disbelief Of every report Of the opening
ofa tin-plate mill or Of an increase Of our
foreign trade by reciprocity are as sur
prising as they are disereditable.
There is nota thoughtful business man
in the country who does not know that
the enactment into law Of the deelaT4-
ton Of the Chicago convention upon the
subject Of the tariff would at once plunge
the country into business eonvulsion
such as it has never seen; and there Is
not thoughtful workingman who does
not know that it would at once enor-
mously reduce the amount Of work to
be done in this country by the increase
ofimportations that would follow and
necessitate a reduction Of his wages to the /
European standard.
If anyone suggests that this radical
policy VIII not be executed ifthe Demo
cratic party attains power, what shall be
thought Of party that IS thus capable
Of trifing with great interests? The /
threat Of such legislation would be only
less hurtful than the fact 4 distinguish
ed Democrat rightly described this move
ment as a challenge to the protected IL
dustries 70 a fight Of determination, and /
another such rightly expressed the logic /
Of the situation when he interpreted the |
Chicago platform to be Gn invitation t. /
al Democrats holding even the most
moderate protection views to into the |
Republican party.
EXISTING TARIFF LAWS
And nov a few words in regard to the /
existing tariff law. weare, fortunately, |
able to judge Of its influence upon pro-
duction and prices by the market reports.
The day Of the prophet Of calamity has
been succeeded by that Of the trade re-
porter. An examination into the effect
Of the law upon the prices Of protected
products and OF the cost af such articles
as enter into the living Of people Of small
means has been made by a Senate com
mittee, composed Of leading Senator'S Of
both parties, with the aid Of the best sta
tisticians and the report signed by all the
members Of the committee has been Civ
en- TO the public. No such wide and care
ful inquiry has ever before been made. /
These facts appear from the report:
First-The cost Of articles entering in
to the use Of those earning less than one
thousand dollars per annum has DEGREES
ed up to May, 1892, 81 per cent, while in
farm products there has been an increase
in prices, owing, in part, 70 an increased /
foreign demand and the opening Of new
markets In England, during the same /
period, the cost Of living increased IA
PEI cent Tested by their power to pur-
chase 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.75 Of one
per cent.
Third.-There hss been an advance in
the price Of all farm products Of 1857 per
cent. and OF all cereals $3.50 per cent.
CoRROBokATED BIZ A DEMOCRAT.
The ninth annual report Of the Chief Of
the Bureau Of Labor Statistics Of the State
OF New York, Dem oeratic officer, very
recently issued, strongly corroborztes az
to that state, the facts found by the Sen
ate committee. His extended inquiry
shows tha. in the year Immediately fol-
lowing the passage Of the tariff act Of
1890, the aggregate sum paid in wages in
that State was 81, ,377, ,925 IN excess, and
the aggregate production s3l ,315,lS0 in
excess Of the preceding year.
IN view Of this showing OF an increase
in wages, Of reduction in the cost ofar-
ticles Of common necessity, snd Of a
marked advance in the prices Of agrieult-
ural products, 1t Is plain that this tariff
law has not imposed burdens, but has
conferred benefits, upon the farmer and
the workingman.
Some special effects Of the act should
be noticed. 1t vas courageous attempt
to I'D our people OF a long maintained
foreign monopoly in the production Of
tin plate, pearl buttons. silk plush, lin
ems, lace, etc. Once or twice in our his
tory the production Of tin plate had been
attempted and prices obtained by the
Welsh makers would have enabled
our makers 10 produce it at
profit. Bot the Welsh makers at once
cut prices to a point that drove the
American beginners out Of the business;
and, when this was accomplished, again
made their own prices.
TIE TIS PIATE INDUSTRY.
A correspondent ofthe I,olllslrial World,
the official organ Of the Welsh tin plate
workers, published at Swansea, in the is
sue Of June 10, 1892, advised new trial
Of these methods. He says;
do not be deceived. Tne victory Of
the Republicans at the polls means the
rentsntion Of the Mckinley bill, and
meme fba r.u;1Iv a-cr,,i,,s, ioss Of the "a