The Coconino weekly sun., 1893-09-14
A TEST OF THEORIES.
FaIlaclous Views of the Advocates of
 Free Trade.

T
 Free Trade.
 Tho people are fast coming to prac- tical test of tariff reform theories. At the bottom of all free trade reasoning there lies the theory that the people will be able to consume and will con- sume as much without protection as they have done with it. For the pres ent, it is admitted that consumption has materially diminished, and this is attributed to financial difficulties. But presently, men argue, the old clothes will be worn out, and stocks of goods in country stores will be exhausted, : and the millions needing the same sup . ply as before will get them, only at somewhat lower cost. The mills will be started again, perhaps paying some what lower wages, but for that lower cost of products will compensate. The country is so mighty and so prosper that it's industries cannot long be de- pressed.
 All may sincerely hope that these theories will prove correct, at least us to the recovery, if not as to the cause. But in order to reach a clearer under stGnding, let it be supposed that the depression will for time deprive quarter of the workers of employment Already about quarter of the shoe and cotton machinery is idle, 42 per cent of the woolen and 47 per cent of the knitting machinery, and at least 45 per cent. of the iron machinery, which implies Q corresponding decrease in the mining of iron ore and coal and lime stone used for manufacture. Also let it be supposed that reductions of wages, which have ranged already from 10 to 90 per cent. in many establishments still ct work, will average at no dis tant date about 20 per cent. Then for every dollar expended by the millions last fall a quarter will not be earned, and of the remaining 75 cents 15 will be taken of by reduction of wages, leaving 50 cents to be expended instead of 100 cents last fall.
 If it were possible to reduce all prices in that proportion, the people us a whole could consume as much as be- fore. But it is not possible, because about 40 per cent in value of things entering into the cost of living are the products of farms, and such products are abnormally low, the farmer finding it difficult to make ends meet But again, the cost of large proportion of the manufactured products used by the millions has already been reduced by home competition so far that such goods are as cheap as in any other country. This is true, as free-trade in- yestigators themselves admit, of all the cheaper grades of clothing such as the millions use But these manufac- tured articles cover at least quarter of the total expenditures Thus no re- duction can be expected as to 40 cents on the dollar representing farm prod ucts, or as to 25 cents on the dollar rep resenting the cheaper manufactured products, and if all other expenses were reduced to nothing, rents, fuel, lights, personal services, transporta- ton, and the luXuries and comforts imported from abroad or produced at higher cost here, still the 60 cents earned instead of the s1 earned last fall would not suffice to cover mere necessities.
 The free trader believes that the man who Is thrown out or work VIII Stlll eat as much, wear as good clothes, oc- cupy as good a home and procure as many of all the luxuries and comforts as the man who earns good wages. We shall see If it is true. The theory is that men who earn lower wages will be able to buy just as much with these wages because things will be cheaper. But the farmers do not know how to chcapen their wheat, and the manu- lecturers of cheap woolens and cottonS and shoes cannot sell even as cheaply as they do now, unless they have an enormous demand The closing of many works means simply this, that without demand enough to run the works full time and with full force they cannot produce at current prices, or sell at such prices without loss.
 Everybody will hope that the free trader will fipd some way to avoid compelling Americans to eat only sixty cents worth where they did cat dol lars worth. Men of our own race do 1t in Canada and in Great Britain But they will not in this country if they can help it.--N. Y. Tribune.