Birmingham age-herald., 1894-10-05
PROPHETIC WORDS. An Editorial Paragraph Recalls a Conversation of Long Ago.
AN IRON MANUFACTURER
Twelve Years Since Gave His Views of a High Protec-
 tive Tariff On Iron.
To the Age Herald:

y Tuesday morning, wherein is given the practical fro n worker, relative to his wages under high tariff recalls conversation the writer had in 1882 with one of the most thoroughly informed, practical and suc- cessful iron masters who ever owned and managed furnace plant in Alabama. His name, if mentioned, would leave no doubt on that point. He was from a dis tant state, had been engaged in pig iron making from his youth, was fully posted on all the details of the business and was then engaged in the construction of a fur nace' e'plant that has always been one of the most valuable and best paying in the dis trict.
 In discussing the cost of pig iron, which was then stated to be about S11 .60 per ton, he remarked:
 'You will be surprised, and probably not credit me, when tell you that before my furnace has been in blast three months will be making first-class pig iron at SS or less per ton.''
 The sta! !emeut was a surprise, but owing to the gentleman's high standing aud re- liability as practical business man, it was not doubted.
 "Do you then favor the present tariff,
 
 s1.2S less than the full cost at which you propose producing it?'' was asked.
 .Yes and no,' was the reply. "As a furnace owner I favor a high protective tariff because every cent over and above about A per ton is that much added to my profits. If were engaged in any other than the iron business, that is to say, spe- cially interested in the general welfare of the people, would not favor high pro- tective tariff, for it will only delay the de- yelopments and general prosperity of this section that much longer. That is the practical effect of high tariff laws.''
 uHow so?'' was asked.
 $ aWhy, 1t is simple and plain enough if you will only think of it. Nature has given this region euch inexhaustible stores of mineral wealth that under natural condi- tions 1t can compete with the universe in iron making. What most interests the people here is to get 8 market for the oul- put of the furnaces, not the cost of making iron. The commercial prosperity of country depends upon the freedom of it's trade. The less restricted the business in tercourse between people the greater their p 'osperity. The same is true with respect tr r5nations. Trade and commerce are not the mere swapping of dollars. Upon The most prosperous nations are those be- tween which there is the freest commercial intercourse, where they trade with each other and pay for their respective pur- claSeS, uOL III BOlu uOlldrS, put DY an 6X- change of commodities. America has within itself the most abundant wealth of natural resources of farm and mine and factory of any nation on earth, and if we could only sell our products in the open markets of the world and receive in pay ment for them the untaxed products of other nations the commercial supremacy of the United States would be only a question of time, and the products of our mines, factories and farms would crowd the markets of every land. As it is, the high prices we have to pay for foreign goods, on account of high tariff duties, which the consumers have to pay, we are unable to purchase largely from other countries, and pay for them in our own products and manufactures. Nations, like individuals, will trade with those who trade with them, and as we are in large measure prevented from trading with foreign nations, by req son of the high price we have to pay for their goods on account of excessive impost duties, they will not buy any more from us than is absolutely necessary-but go to other countries, where there is more free dom of international trade. Whats the result? Our home manufacturers and pro- ducers are, in large measure, confined to home consumption for market "Well, ism t it one of the real benefits of. protection that it encourages and develops industrial and manufacturing enterprises which give agriculturists home market for the products of their farms and in turn give the manufacturer home market for his manufactured wares and merchandisef That's the theory at least. -
 'sYes, and it is only theory. In fact, and in practical operation, 1t Is delusio and g humbug. IL is true that in the im- mediate vicinity of misunderstanding plants, within the limited circle of their influence and by reason of their presence, a home market is afforded for the truck patch owner and market gardner, but those re- siding few miles away are not bene- fited.'
 "You think notl"
 "I know they are not. Give me, If you please, the name of single cotton or corn planter, tobacco or wheat grower, potato or stock raiser, residing within twenty miles of Birmingham, with its great man. ket,' who now receives better prices for his cotton, corn, wheat, tobacco, potatoes and stock than he did when Elyton was the metropolis of Jefferson county. You cant do 1t. Taking broader view of the question, the United States produces an- nually vast amount more of wheat, cot ton, tobacco and other commodities than it's population can possibly assume. Every body knows this. What Is to be done about itf Stop raising surplus of these things or build additional manufacturing tablishments to employ enough more la borers to consume the surplusl This would be the legitimate conclusion from the arr gument, but it would take Q good many time what would become of the increased output of the piants7 The absurdity of the nome market theory is too patent to merit serious consideration.
 ''Then you believe that low tarin on