Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-04-13
Democratic Northwest.
SOPHISTRY EXPOSED.
THE FARMER AND LABoRER RATTLE
THE MANUFACTURER.

They Prove That Protection Lowers Wage,
and the Prices OF Farm Products, but In.
creases the Cost of Manufactured Goods.
An Absurd Proposition.
Farmer-Why did you say you were
in favor Of protective duties on manu-.
factured goods?
Manufacturer-To keep the pauper
made goods Of Europe out Of this coun.
try, so that our own manufacturers,
while paying high wages and providing
you farmers with big 'home markets.
will be left free to compete with each
other and in this way to cheaper the
cost Of our goods
F.-Yes, see. And do you also favor
high duties on farm products to increase
internal competition and lower prices?
M.-Oh, no, not at all. Duties on wheat,
corn, cotton, pork and beef keep out
foreign farm products and raise prices
for you.
F.-But there is no foreign competition
in these products. We export hundreds of
millions of dollars worth of them every
year. Besides you say that to cut off
foreign competition reduces prices.
M.-Yes, of manufactured articles, but
not of agricultural products. There is a
vast difference
FL confess that l can't understand
you; but, supposing your logic is sound,
why were prices of cotton, wheat and
corn under high duties lower in 1892
than ever before, while the prices OF
woolen goods, tin plate, cutlery, guns,
pearl buttons and other manufactured
goods under increased duties were higher
than in previous years?
MI think you are mistaken, but If
prices of farm products were lower last
year it must have been due to good crops.
FL beg your pardon. Crops were
not SO good as in 1891. when prices were
much higher
MI mean good crops abroad, so that
Europe did not require so much of your
grain and cotton,
F.-That is, you admit that it is the
foreign demand that fixes prices of grains,
cotton and meats and not tariff duties at
all?
MI admit nothing Of the kind. But
don't care to discuss the question fur
ther. You have been reading Henry
George or some other free trade theorist
until you would prefer to see England
prosper rather than your own country.
FL prefer to prosper myself rather
than to be heavily taxed for the benefit
of the tariff protected trusts which make
millionaires of you manufacturers. And,
once for all, let me say that am done
with your bogus protection to farmers
as well as real protection to manufac-
turers. You cant play your oawdust
bunko game on us any longer. Good
day.
Laborer-Did not hear you say that
you favor protection SO that you can pay
high wages?
Manufacturer Certainly Yes, pro.
lection always lowers prices, except in
the case Of farm products, as have just
explained.
LII can understand that if protec.
ton raises prices you can afford to pay
higher wages, though it would be op-
tional with yourself whether you would
do SO or not, but how can low prices en-
able you to pay high wages?
M.--Simply by protecting us and our
workmen from the pauper made goods
OF Europe.
Lit might protect you, but it could
not protect "your workmen," as you call
them, for If it really raised wages here
there is no tariff to prevent European
laborers from coming over here to com
pete with us and lower wages again. E
M.-You are beginning to theorize
just like that old hayseed that made me
SO tired just now. Protection is not
theory It is practical. This is the most
prosperous country on the globe, and it
is all due to protection.
LII know it is prosperous. It has
more millionaires than any other coun-
try-and more tramps also, perhaps.
But ! begin to think that our prosperity
is due to our fertile and cheap lands,
which keep wages high; to our repub-
iican form OF government, our freedom
from standing armies and the fact that
this is the greatest free trade country in
the world. there being absolute freedom
OF exchange between all of the states
and territories, and each state, on an av-
erage. being larger than the countries of
western Europe.
M. But you certainly would not have
free trade between countries?
There has always been free trade
in labor, all the poor man has to sell.
How could it injure him to have free
trade in goods. what he has to buy? Free
trade would protect the poor man by
giving him the most for his labor, Just
as high duties protect the rich manufac-
turer by giving him higher prices for
his goods. Do the rich need protection
more than the poor?
M.-You are worse than the farmer.
for you advocate socialism and anarchy
and think we have become rich by rob |
bing the poor and are not entitled to our
wealth.
L.-No, not exactly that, but I take
you. for business man and think voul