The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-09-30
PROTECTION FALLAcIEs.

The western advocates of a high tariff
derive much satisfaction from the pro,
auctions OF the New York Press, which
they copy with delight, but do not take
the trouble to investigate. Not Ions
since the Press made the following state.
ment, which was promptly repeated by it.
echoes, black lines underscored and all
The first six months of 1892 saw twenty.
one new textile factories started in the
southern states. The corresponding
period of 1893, with free trade in pros
pect, saw only nine.
OF course that was interpreted to mean
Republican prosperity, Democratic ad-
versity; on the absurd Republican theory
that laws operate. before they are enacted.
But facts are worth more than theories,
and the truth is stronger than fiction
though it may take little more time to
"get there. The Manufacturers Record
Baltimore paper that makes a specially
of industrial statistics, thus lets daylight
into the black lined darkness of the Press
announcement:
The carefully kept records of our Office,
made up from returns direct from the
companies themselves, show that thirty
OHS HSW I6Ablle COIN panleS were started
in the south during the first half of 1892,
instead of twenty-one, as given by the
Press, and during the first six months of
1898 the number was not nine, but forty
eight.
1t is noticeable that the echoes OF the
Press, which copied its falsehood, do not
take any notice of its reputation, nor of
the still further statement that at least
twenty OF these enterprises put the mills
under construction since the beginning
of the present year, and nine more, COM
menced just before the beginning of the
year, have been completed since then and
put into operation. Lest there might be
a doubt as to the facts, the Record gives
eight companies and Of the nine mills in
addition just referred TO.
1t is when details and figures are pro-
duced that good work can be done in
showing up tariff fallacies and falsehoods.
The ordinary tariff deceiver is contented
with generalities and assumptions in re-
gard to the fear of free trade" and the
"threat" of free raw materials. These can
be met with straight common sense and
and this may be repeated as often as the
free trade scare is attempted.
One of the instances in which American
manufacturers have endeavored to take
advantage of the situation, to lower wages
SO as to make bigger profits and keep up
the cry against tariff reform, is that of
Smith and Wesson, the revolver makers,
who issued the annexed notice at their
works in Springfield, Massachusetts:
In view of the probable reduction to De
made in the tariff in the near future and
the consequent increased competition, we
do not deem it advisable to increase our
stock OF goods at the present cost. We
therefore give notice that on the first day
of October there Will be uniform reduc-
ton of 10 per cent. in the wages of all
our employees, including piece work, ex-
cept those who are drawing $3.50 per day
or less, and those with whom we have
contracts.
The patent fraud in this announcement
will be appreciated when it is considered
that no tariff reduction on pistols will
affect the Smith and Wesson revolver,
which is unique and sells as readily
abroad as it does at home. And there is
another thing to be understood, which is,
that Smith and Wesson goods are sold at a
fixed figure, with an extra discount on
all goods for export. That is to say, the
Smith and Wesson pistol is sold for less
abroad than it is in the United States, and
thus the American purchaser pays the in
crease between the foreign and domestic
price.
1t is one more proof that protection
merely protects a class, but leaves the
masses to the mercy of the manufacturers
and dealers who are benefited By a high
tariff. The falsehood that the importer
pays the tax, though still family affirmed,
has been SO thoroughly stamped upon
that there is hardly breath enough left in
it to survive and be of any service.