The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-28
COTTON CHENILLE GOODS.

Aue TosT-INrELLI0ESCER In late issue
said concerning the chenille cotton goods:
Since the duties were increased in 1870 foreign
importations have practically been suspended.
The volume OF American production has been
greatly enlarged, and the numbsr of factories
has been multiplied. The result OF this great
increase In domestic manufacture II reduction
OF 10 per cent. in the pYica
This 10 the normal ensct OF protection. which
has been shown in the case of steel rails, salt.
cotton ties, linseed oil. pearl buttons carpets,
cut nails and many ether articles. The high
tariff 10 not tax, since Il cheapens the prices of
manufactured goods for consumers.
A correspondent makes the following
inquiries:
To tn. EprToR: VIII you please answer the
following questions:
Admitting that the foreigner pays the tariff
tax, how does the foreign merchant who sells
an article in this country upon which the
tarin Is more than LEO per cent, make any
money Gus OF the tansactionf Aud how can
he afford to do TT
II the tariff reduces the prices OF articles In
this country, - You allegs this morning, why
are the manufacturers themselves the greatest
champions of . high tariff And how does tho
tariff enable them to pay higher wages to their
employees II It reduces the price OF the manu-.
featured articlef
In the instance referred to he don't
make any money out of it, for our article
stated that "impoYtasions have been prac-
tically suspended" the duty on chenille
curtains and other goods manufactured of
cotton chenille Is 60 Fer cent. I'D vaIorem.
and under this duty he cannot afford to do
it apparently, or ''imoortations would not
be practically suspended"
Our article gives the reason for the fall
in price. the multiplication of domestic
factories and the increase in the volume
of American production. The great
increase Of domestic manufacture,
made possible through protection, has
reduced the price 40 per cent.
The manufacturer wants tariff
high enough to keep cut the flood of for
eign cheap goods against whose COMPETE
ton he cannot proftaoly do business. The
manufacturer given full control over our
home market can afford to do business if
he is only subject to domestic competition
consequent upon the multiplication Of
American factories. If we let in the for
eigner with his cheap labor goods he
drives our manufacturers out of business
and then gets control of our market.
Then the foreigner does just what he did
in the case of steel rails and tin plate
when he was not subject to American com.
petition. he puts up prices.
In 1872 the foreign tin plate manufact-
urers had control of our market and
charged si2 box. This price tempted
Americans into the tin plate business, and
then the foreign manufacturers combined
and dropped the price TO 81 box. This
drove the Americans out of the business,
and then the Welsh tin plate makers lifted
the price back to SO box. Today the
first year of American competition keeps
foreign tn plate down so that it rules no
higher than il did before the tax of 81. %
box was placed upon ii by the new tariff.
The small addition OF ~ cents q line 10
the tariff on pearl buttons has in two
years expanded the number of hands en-
gagged in them from 40 70 4,0oo. and raised
their average wages from $40 to SIS week
without raising the price of pearl button.
TO the public-in fact, decreasing It in the
aggregate very materially.
These facts dispose of the Democratic
contention that every tariff duty adds its
full amount TO the price of the article pro-
tected. If this fundamental Democratic
| argument were true, how could the prices
of the protected articles named in
our article have declinedf The main
.enance OF wages IS due to protec-
| ton 10 this extent. tina: the aban-
| donment Of the protective policy would
be followed by general decline IN
wages TO the European standard. WAGES
| would not only decline in manaEscturins
industries. bat in agricultural employ
fnents, which would be invaded by the Idle
labor resulting from the curtailmeat of our
manufacturing industries The possession
| of the whole home market by our manu-
fsctGrers snd the vast increase OF their
business. and the business OF the com.
manity generally under protection, enables
the manufacturer 10 pay higher wages
than he could when the tiood OF free for.
| eigr competition robs him Of his make,
| by cheap labor goods. The protective
tariff secures 20 the CAPITALIST freedom
| from molestaijon by eutfhroat foreir,
competition while the business extends
The tATla NOT oaly fsyogAoiy Affects the