Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-01-19

From the Boston Advertiser

There are at the moment of this writing
two very instructive periodical publications
from across the water lying on our editorial
desk One of them is the Irish Textile
journal, published monthly at Belfast.
The other is the Textile Manufacturer,
issued II times a year from the city of
Manchester. In both there is a delightful,
frank discussion af the Wilson bill in com
parison with the Mckinley bill. New
England manufacturers and operatives who
have been assured by tariff reform organs
and orators that they have nothing to fear
from Democratic tariff legislation will be
interested in seeing how this question is
looked upon by their foreign competitors,
and what those competitors say when they
are discoursing quite among themselves.
The Belfast periodical is devoted spec
tally to the interests of linen manufactur-
ers. In a letter from its New York cor
respondent under date of Nov. rs, 1898,
written soon after the draft OF the Wilson
bill was published, this significant para
graph appears
Al! the proposed duties are straight al valorem
rates. There are no specific handicaps whaiSo-
at 20 per cent. This is only tritling difference
on goods counting over 100 threads But
it would scorch linen Innings and interlnings and
other piece goods counting under 100 threads
square inch of course very badly, as they now
pay 80 per cent. There will be many changes in
the bill before its final passage but II is ten to
one If the linen goods item Will be reviewed and
| the tombstone may now be set over the grave of
| the American linen industry.
That concluding sentence is particularly
candid and confident. How do American
voters like it? Please read it again: "Ihc
| tombstone man nor be set Orer the grace Qt
| the 1mericdH linen industry
The Manchester publication is not quite
so outspoken. 1t makes note of the fear
entertained in England that telling the
whole truth may hinder the passage of the
! Wilson bill, since whatever is said by way
of British rejoicing will be quoted in
America, but the editor processes to think
there is nothing to fear, since "Mr. Meeker,
the American consul, tells me there is not
the slightest doubt the bill will pass
Nevertheless, the editor admits that "a
good many opinions and good many
valuable figures have been kept back be-
cause Bradford men fear that capital will
be made of them by American Republicans.
This is followed by a lengthy demon
stration, figured out in much detail, OF
which the conclusion is that the Wilson bill
will give English manufacturers of wooden
goods an enormous advantage in the Amer
lean market compared with the condition OF
things under the Mckinley bill, and especi-
ally that the free wool clause of the Demo
cratic tariff will in practice amount to very
little as an offset in favor of the American
producer. This latter point is shown up il
fine shape. These are the eliminating
words: There is 100 per cent less duty OF
the manufactured article from Bradford
and the American manufactures will &c
only % cents concession on his wool fo
the two pounds that produce a yard o
cloth. . How, under such circunstan
ces, can the free wool clause hurt tn
Bradford manufacturer" In other words
how can it help the New England manu-
fapturaro