The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-09-22

should be provided for under separate
sections, but so far as we can anticipate
your action on clothing ready-made and
articles of wearing apparel of every de-
scription," we take it for granted that
you will give the manufacturer of cloth
ing the same amount of protection as to
the manufacturer of cloth, and an addi
tion to compensate him for the further
expenditure in making up the same.
1t is significant fact that in the total
labor cost of our manufacturing, fully
seventy-five per cent of the whole is paid
out for labor in making up the garment
after the cloth is produced.
The knit goods industry of this cOun-
try, commonly known as shirts and
drawers, is peculiarly an American in
dustry. First, because we manufacture
in this country more largely than in all
the rest of the world put together; sec
ondly, because we use all we manufac-
ture, which is true of no other country.
We do not make these goods for export,
but entirely for domestic use. lis with
in the knowledge of comparatively
young men when the product of one
large mill would have supplied all do
mestic demands, but the use of knit un-
derwear has become so universal, both
for men, women and children and youths
that to-day in our country it is an excep-
tion to find single person out of the
65,000,000 who do not wear under-cloth-
ing of either cotton or wool.
Our manufacturers so nearly meet the
general demand, that not to exceed ST.
200, 900 worth of knit goods of wool or
part wool, of all kinds and character are
imported annually, and the few shirts
a,NI 4 l., l,,x
the rich. You will, therefore, see that
should you reduce the duty upon this ar
ticle, so as to admit of a larger importa-
amount of production i'll this country,
shutting up as many mills in proportion,
and would deprive American labor of it's
legitimate fruits. You may reduce the
duty below the importing level on the
idea that manufacturers must run their
mills and employ labor, but you must
not forget the fact that no law which
you can pass will compel any of the
manufacturers to start up their mills and
run them at loss.
Raw materials must first be bought to
produce goods, wages must be paid to
make these goods, and when they are
manufactured and ready for market, if
they cannot be sold at a profit, the mill
shuts down. There is nothing further
for the manufacturers to economize, eX-
cept wages; goods must be sold in COM
petion with those admitted from foreign
countries under low duties. If the man
ufacturers cannot make them to compete
with the foreign goods, and secure
profit, he must necessarily reduce his
cost of production, which means reduc-
ton of wages to the laborer.
These are vital points, and of interest
to the whole country. We cannot be-
lieve that your policy is to so fix the
tariff, that foreign goods may be i'm
ported and domestic gooGs and home
labor thereby displaced by foreign goods
and foreign labor.
This committee has endeavored thus
briefly to impress you with the fact that
it is not entirely question of protection
or tariff for revenue only, but rather the
choice, on the part of those who shall
dictate the revenue policy of our coun-
try, as to whether we will consume the
product of foreign labor and leave our
own in idleness, or whether we shall
protect our laborers and enable them to
receive proper and fair compensation
for that labor, and consume in our own
country their product.-The Knit Goods
Manufacturers of the o. S., by its Com
mittee.