The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-03-23
EFFECT OF THE WILSON BILL.

TIC SENATE, is dluioSL all dSSuTeu
fact. Amendments and modifica-
tions may be made to it before its
final passage, but its main features
will not be materially effected, and
withal it will remain a low tariff
measure, paralyzing our industries
and running our workingmen. Ii
is sure to become a law, and will
remain in operation at least three
years, because it is hardly proba
BILE that the republicans will regain
control of all branches of the gov
ernment before 1897, and it will
require control of all then to make
the change. 1t now becomes a
matter of paramount considera-
ton to ascertain what its effects
will be. By the triumph of the
democratic party at the last presi-
DENTAL election we are now suffer
ing a season of depression and en-
forced idleness. By the endorse
ment of the Chicago platform the
democracy was pledged to a policy
Of tariff tinkering. lis results are
painfully apparent.
All industries affected by the
Mckinley bill have been either
checked or paralyzed. Manufac
turers and dealers would not be so
insane as to buy raw material and
by working it up into a finished
product accumulate large stock,
when by such an operation he was
liable to lose money. The proper
thing to do under such circum-
stances was to dispose of the stock
already accumulated, and manu-
facture no more than sufficient to
supply the present demand. This
was thu first cause of the depres-
sion. By reducing the output Of
our manufactures a vast number
of men were thrown out Of EN-
ployment and this destroyed or
reduced their means for buying,
consequently the sales of our
tradespeople have been materially
lessened and complete stagnation is
the result. Wien change in exist
ing conditions is forseen. those
whose interests Will he effected
, seek to accommodate them
selves to the new conditions. The
enactment Of the Wilson bill means
| departure from the policy under
which the country has been pros
porous and those affected by it are
adjusting their business affairs &C.
sordingly.
Producers understand that their
products must come. into competi-
ton with those of foreign pro-
ducers. on terms less favorable
than they have enjoyed in the past;
that they must produce cheaply
enough to meet the products man
ufactured by cheaper labor.
Wages must be reduced to meet
this. Strikes are of no effect for
the reason that plenty of idle men
are to be had for any position that
is offered. Protected in !ustries
are by no means the only ones af-
fected; each and every one must
suffer.
A reduction Of wages in any one
large field of labor means re-
duction all along the line until ev.
cry wage learner shares in the de-
crease.
Every one knows what to ex-
pect and as soon as the Wilson bill
goes into force, the process of re-
duction will 60 steadily on until
wages have fallen to a level COM
mensurate with the protection af-
forded by it. This reduction has
been on for some time in anticipa-
ton OF the present conditions, for
which the democratic party is
alone TO blame, and it must con
tinue until the minimum is reach
ed. Factories, mills and other in
dustries may start up, but with
less hands and at reduced wages.
The price of our labor will more
nearly reach the European STAN
dard, their ability to buy will be
curailed, and thus our store
keepers will generally experience
hard times. The farmers will also
be injured. Their market will de-
crease. They will see plainly that
the buying capacity of the masses
has been diminished, which will
affect them just as it does every.
one else. Though groceries,
clothing and provisions may be
cheaper, they will have less money
with which to buy, and thus the
advantages promised them by free
trade demagogues will turn out to
be delusion and snare.
THE lime for city election will
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