The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1893-09-01
FREE TRADE HEDGING.
Do0ocratic Organs NanifestinS . Ter
dency Toward Protection.

Inc DOSCOQ Herald, WQlcD S2lQ las
year that rise in wages is dir ectly op
posed to free trade" is becoming
alarmed at the damaging effects of it.
own doctrine upon labor, in the shut
ting down of mills, the discharge q
workmen by thousands, and the feed
ing of people at public expense who
last year enjoyed in abundance the
comforts of life. Hence it is beginning
to hedge. In a recent issue it aftirms
that as soon as financial confidence is
restored the ''old tendency toward i'm
proved wages and lessened hours OF
work" will be resumed; that lin the
immediate future this happy condition
of affairs bids fair to be intensified as
the result of tariff changes" and that
liberty of trade will give returns in
the form Of wages far more satisfactory
than any they have hitherto received IS
The Herald realizes that the time for
opening another campaign of educa-
ton" is drawing near, and that some
thing must be done to parry the effects
of the general suspension of industry
and wages. 1t has begun to feed the
starving wori1men on promises.
The Herald was just as ardent free
trader year ago. when it conceded
that free trade was opposed to an in
crease of wages, as 1t is now when it is
called to face the fact that the mere
menace of free trade is destroying
American industry. Other free trade
papers, not less intelligent or ardent
than the Herald. are not so apologetic
The New York Times confessed not
more than fortnight ago that the
wages of labor must undergo ''long
and painful surgery" as the result of
tariff reform, and the New York Evening
Post about the same time declared that
1.-THE reductions of wages now begin
ming to be reported are to be deplored
on general principles, but under pres
ent circumstances they are hardly to
be avoided. 1t should be remembered
that steady and very long continued
rise in the value of wages has existed"
The New York Times and the Evening
Post were last year among the most
earnest supporters of the democratic
tar reform" platform. Were they
then of the natural conse-
quences that were sure to follow the
removal of all protection? Ard in this
we quote from tie Buffalo
Courier some words of Thomas Dolan,
q democratic textile manufacturer of
in order to show his error.
According to the Courier Mr.. Dolan
spoke as follows:
Il believe that the depression is almost Who'll
" due to the silver policy II the alarm was
due to the victory Of the democrats, Why was it
not manifested last November? The people
knew then as well as they know now that it
was within the power Of the new administra-
ton to repeal the tariff laws, yet no uneasiness
was felt In fact, in the wooden business every
thing went along swimmingiy until the first Of
July
This effort to relieve the democratic
tariff declaration in the platform of re-
Sponsibility for the recent depression,
by asserting that there was no mani
of it in November, is met by
q quotation from the New York Daily
Commercial Bulletin, an organ of free
trade. on the 18th day of that month
Just nine days after the election of MIR.
Cleveland:
The chief pressure Of these transient disar-
'angements will be found to finally settle upon
'aw materials and labor. II the manufacturer
las to accept lower price for his product he
must either close his works or get compensa-
ion in q reduction Of the costs of production,
Ind that economy must be his first resort for
The producer of raw materials
an have NO choice but to accept his share Of
at once II he must, later il he may.
labor may be expected to yield its quota Of
grudgingly and tardily and possibly
lot without more or less disturbing resort to
ockouts and strikes. Those who have taught
vorkingmen that . reduction Of tariff does not
mean a relative reduction Of wages have
ldulterated great reform with very paradox
cal doctrine, but We doubt whether they have
ucceeded to any great extent in misleading
heir pupils
We have put these quotations togeth-
r in order to show that the democratic
rec trade organs desired and confident
y expected a reduction of wages when
hey commended the Chicago platform
asst year. The trouble with them is
hat it has come with greater sudden
ness and force than they were looking
Tor. Hence the information from some
quarters that wages are to be higher
AuuCA IhC liz" duJuStLucut Wien IL Is
and from others that the
free trade declaration is not
for the very result predict
ID by themselves concerning it when it
vas the great war-cry of the campaign
The plain fact is that the closing of
Mills and factories is not wholly due to
he silver situation, and repeal of the
purchase clause of the silver law will
lot set their wheels in motion. The
rue explanation is that manufacturers
Ire not willing to buy materials at
prices to put into products
which may have to be sold at free trade
prices In shutting down they are Sim
ply exercising ordinary business pru-
lence. The fnancier will not invest
his money where there is doubt of his
yetting either principal or interest,
md the manufacturer is animated by
The same desire to protect himself
Repeal of the purchase clause of the
silver law is greatly to be desired, but
with it must come an emphatic declara-
ion by congress that the tariff is not
70 be reformed" in accordance with
he declarations of the democratic
platform. or the ''hard times" now ex-
will not give way to pros