New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-26
MARKED EFFECT OF THE M'KINLEY BILL l!
ONE BRANCH OF INDUSTRY

MARKED EFFECT OF THE MKINLEY BILL IN
ONE BRANCH OF INDUSTRY.
TO the Editor Of The Trfb une'
Sir: "The Albany Argus" on the 25th Inst, said
editoriay: "The Tribune can with safety be chal-
lenged to name a single manufactured article, the
price Of which has been reduced owing to the more
active competition OF American producers, effected by
tho Mckinley tariff Where reductions In price
have been effected they be traced almost directly
TO reductions I'm the price OF the materials OF which
the manufactured products were made. There mas
been n deterioration In quality where prices nave
been reduced stationary ana every one hno"S
that wages have not increased
A notable article, familiar to all, for a moment
kept I'm mind, while bit Of metal Is Transmitted into
beating life, may be instanccd to diSarm mat
challenge ut each OF its five deceptive turns. lhat
which Is true Of the manufactured article here
named, IS likewise true OF all our manufactured
products.
l. Since the Mckinley tariff went Into ehect'
American Watches the production Of which conf
masses NIL the intrlcaccs and the highest SIKH In
mechanism have twice been reduced In price. on each
occasion the reduction more than 20 per cent,
amounting TO total Of more than 30 per cent
. Those reductions owing directly 10 the
more active competition Of American producers
effected by the Mckinley tariff e. fro'ccnoh") anu
thc enlarged markets to which its auxiliary Keel
proclty. uncrrlnSly pointed.
a
to could I'm no wise be traced TO reductions In the
rrIco of materials Of which the manufactured
producs were made.n The cost Of raw material III
a watch IS innnltesimal; 0099 per cent OF the cost
OF production Is paid TO labor To iuS'rn'c' rive
cents, worth OF steel wrought into springs would
be worth $4,000
A. The. statement that there has been n de-
tcrloration In quality where prices have been re
duc.d, might have been improved by a second
l,fnps d uid a.
s,arcelv have been suggested. Quality Of product ~
,oyv tho Issue between competitive manufacturers
The most marked Improvements, covering lin"
perod which have ever been introduced Into watches
have been made since the reductions III PlocN
above referred 10. conspicuous fact whlch lo'oVo
jewellers will affirm. and which comparison VIII
prove.
3 In the light OF all the facts, he Is ihdeed
reckless with falscious statements who VIII con
,,,ue IN assert: And everybody knows that wages
hove NOT increased Gradually and steadily during
,he mast year wages have advanced. THIS Is SHOW"
in individual and by factory payr"hs AL o'e'
m. United states The trend OF wages Is up"'uu
and Will continue 20 rise as the benehoai ehec's VI
the Mckinley tann become better understood hec-
iprocty IS a beacon which has shed much hght on
foreign markets. and wages VIII further ri9e 10 W"
transport our products 10 other countries.
loss than thirty years ago the industry OF winch
~. have here made mention Was struggling TOT IN
existence In the United states less than 100 hands
were employed England and switzerland then mauo
the tlmepeces and they were only within the r'Hch
~ the rich. Protection fcstered the Industry mere
m. dci,ca,e mechanism WAS the Yankees delight
what has been the return 10 this country Forty
thousand skilled wOrkmcn are now employee III
various factories which dot both Eastern ana western
s,nrcs. Prices have been reduced more than opo 1
nor cont and an elegant watch Is now Wi'hil t,e
income limit OF ALL Let us look abroad Free t
England has retired from the business save , IN
little repairing which she does on the watches wion
she made when she held sway. s"ltT"rl3hu, P',ho
80 wotcnmnkers onc.thrd tho wages which are
current here sees the inevitable. and mas l"'nrn
hands with England Ia advocating ire" trade Tor tne
.'nitad states During this time the American w''ch
mas won an envable and world Wild" reputation. IL
!" ,he direct outgrowth Of protection ana dethoh-
strai"s the wonderful practical results al unr
American system In lowering prices W '"' '
md Increasing wages Of the artisan. , . .,
policy which has been all In al IN o pT0" WEe,
Is vr, oiled With greater possibilities for tue future
American workmen will not permit t" be overlTS"h'
York September q. 1897.