St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-17
YOU'RE DISINGENUOUS,
NEIGHROR.

The Tribune makes the editorial or
the GLOBE on the DEVELOPMENT of the
iron and steel industries of the group of
Northwestern states the subject OF an
editorial in which it assumes that the
GLOBE is less opposed to protective
tariff because it examined the statistics
going to prove its benefit to its favorite
industry. 1t intimates that the oppo-
sltion of the GLOBE TO protection Is
reserved for campaigns, and be-
tseen them it can speak of its effects
calmly and approSingly. 1t makes such
selections from the remarks OF the
GLOBE as tend to bear out its intention.
1t omits quoting what we said about the
demonstration the figures made of the
benefit 10 this especial Industry OF
the policy of taxing all the people to
make it profitable.
LII there is anything of sincerity IN
the claim of the protectionlsts that the
chief object Of their policy is to conserve
the dignity of the American laborer by
giving him larger wages in return Tor
his labor, then surely the wages in the
steel and iron industries should show
an increase proportional to the develop
ment of the industry; but we have the
testimony Of no less parsonage than
was JOHN JARRETT that the increase in
the wages of the iron and steel workers
was not due to the voluntary action OF
the employers, but to the strength OF the
labor organizations. The workmen had
to combine and use their united strength
to get from their employers part OF
the benefit that was to be wholly theirs.
But wages have not increased in the
proper ratio. The figures show that the
average product per man has increased
from 45 tons in 1870 to 1913 in 1890. nearly
200 per cent while his wages have i'll
creased. putting those of 1870 on gold
valuation, but % per cent. Relatively.
then, wages have decreased, while sub
jectively there has been small ad-
vance. The larger share by far of the
gain in productivity went to the en-
ployer
Having thus picked out the sentences
Oh which to build its argument. and
omitted those which destroy it. it con-
cludes with this question, which it evil
IDENTIFY conceives TO be unanswerable:
''Why. indeed, should congress meet in
special session to repeal an economic
act under the operation of which wages
rise, profits to capital fall. and the cost
of manufactured necessities steadily
and markedly fall?'
Our contemporary "takeS fragment
for the whole;" it measures the efficacy
of the act by its effect on one industry;
it complacently ignores its operation
and its ineffieiency on others. The same
act that protects the iron worker PRO
tects" the farmer. 1t increased the tax
on wheat from 20 to % cents bushel;
Oh fax seed from 20 to 80 cents bushel;
on beef and pork from 1 to cents a
pound; Oh butter from to cents
pound, and so Oh through all the prod
ucts of the soil. Under its operation"
wheat sells in Minneapolis at 60 cents. a
price equaled only by the old free trade
times, and the general average of farm
products have shrunken in values. viii
il claim for the MCKINLEY act the same
effect of falling profits to the capital in
vested in farming and the decrease of
cost of the manufactured necessities"
OF the farm that it claims for it in the
manufactures of iron and steel?