The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-10-25
FACTS ABOUT TRADE.
Business Comparisons That ought to Quiet
 Free Traders.

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 issue to q report upon the business con- ditions of the United States during the first six months of the present year, as compared with similar con di tions existing between January l and June 80, 1892.
 We have received reports from S2o different employers of labor who are able to find work for 20, 800 fewer hands this year than in 1892. They paid al- most SS, 900, ,0OO less money for wages, and their output, or the amount of business which they transacted, was nearly one-half less than during the first six months of 1892.
 The average earnings of each wage earncr between January l and June 80, 1899, was S250. The average earn | ings of each wage-earner during the corresponding six months of this year was Sl95 Thus there was a loss of S55 to every one of these individuals who were employed.
 The analysis of the reports, accord ing to sections of the country, brings the facts learned by investigation more strikingly home, both to the employer of labor and the employe. The state ments presented regarding the condi- tions that have recently existed in the different sections of the country are also extremely interesting.
 | A valuable tabulated exhibit is that which shows the per cent. of business that was done by each separate indus try this year as compared with 1892. Unfortunately there are very few cases where there has been no shrinkage, and there was but one showing an in- creased business for this year.
 The Mckinley census that was taken by the American Protective Tariff league in 1892 showed that over S4o,- OOO, 900 of money had been invested in new or enlarged industries within two years. Also that work had been pro- vided for 37,2s5 additional hands.
 Now we are under the painful neces- sity of showing that 20, 500 people have been deprived of work in 320 different industries Also that those who were at work have received nearly SS, GOO, 900 less money within six months than they did two years ago. It is further shown that the amount of business was but 56 per cent. of that transacted in 1892.
 A year ago this month we published the results of our industrial census. This showed that there had been a de- crease in business within twelve months of 47.2 per cent, decrease in wages earned of 69 per cent, and . decrease in the number of persons em- ployed in factories of about cox per | cent.
 We now have to report a shrinkage | of 30 per cent. in the number of per sons employed; loss of 45 per cent. in the amount of wages earned, and of A per cent. in the output of industrial establishments. A year ago the av- craze decrease was recorded as S2.35 per week in the wages of each em- ploye, or S61.10 for the half years | work. We now record loss of S55 for each person for the first six months work this year as compared with the money which he earned during the same period in 1892.
 If we look back still further and compare the present results with the | census of 1890, we find on the basis of the reports that we have received that | there were as many as 1,413, $50 idle persons in the country this year who were actively employed in 1890. We | further find that there was more than one billion dollars less wages earned l than in 1892. We further find that the | value of the product of the factories has decreased by more than five billion dollars Also that three billion dol- | lars less money has been paid for ma terial to be used in manufactures. We cannot but accept as thoroughly reliable the information we have re- eeived, and upon which we have based our calculations It is extremely pain full to us to record such a distressful condition of business, which must in- volve pinching and poverty in most American households.
 After these facts have been carefully studied by every reader and thinkerin the country, we should hardly expect to find one solitary individual to ad- vocate a policy of free trade as against protection to American labor hnd American industries.
 We trust that the verdict of the peo- pie month from now will be an over, whelming majority against any ap- preach to free trade and for the resto- ration of proper and adequate protee- tiou.-American Economist.
 DRIFT OF OPINION.