The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-01-31

from the home producer. Prices at Cana
dian mills will be advanced to nearly the
amount of the present tariff. The price Of
Canadian stumpage will be greatly in
creased, and the Kanucks will get all the
benefit while our government will lose all
the revenue she now derives from Canadian
importations.
Putnamsville, Vt, Jan. s, 1894
HON. HENRY A.. FLETCHER-FARMER.
In reply to the inquiries contained in
your circular, | would say: In my judg-
ment, the passage of the Wilson bill would
prove serious disaster to the farming in
terests of Vermont, not only because the
| duty on nearly all farm products Is either
abolished or largely reduced, thus enabling
the nearby Canadian farmer to put his
crops into our markets, but also because it
seems certain that the enactment OF that
| bill would either slaughter or seriously
cripple many OF the manufacturing indus
tries of New England, thus lessenng the
| number OF consumers and diminishing the
purchasing ability of the remainder. Many
persons, in discussing the tariff question,
seem to believe that great blessing would
be conferred upon the consumer by lessen
| ing the price to be paid for some commodi-
ties, without deeming it worthy Of consid-
Grafton whether, at the same stroke, they
| lessen his capacity to buy in a larger ratio
than they lessen the prices named.
Proctorsville. W., Jan. IL, 1894.
HUN albert DWlNEbL-LUmBEH
In response to your request for an express
sion of opinion to the effect the enact
ment of the Wilson bill will have on the
industries of this state: 1t would seem
there could lie but one judgment with any
| VermOnter who Is interested in any of the
enterprises Of the state. This being bor-
| der state, reduction of the duty on our
agricultural and mechanical productions,
or the opening of our markets to a free
trade with Canada and other foreign coun-
tries can but bring general decline to all
the industries of the state, and by no class
will this condition be felt more than by
the laborers Every foreign production,
whether it be of the farm, lumber, stone,
or manufactures, which goes to supply our
markets, could but divert a corresponding
amount of labor from the Industries of our
state. The distress in the manufacturing
districts of the country is the beginning of
the hardships which must and will come
| to the laboring classes should the Wilson
bill become the law of the land. AS Ver-
mont farmer and manufacturer of lumber,
L can see under the workings of that law
only disaster to many of the business enter
prises of the state. In the last few years
Vermont has made progress in developing
the resources of the state. or those en-
gagged in industrial pursuits, no class has
received greater benefit than the laboring
men. Besides those who are engaged in the
farming industry, there is large number
engaged in quarries and in the lumber bust
ness. These can hardly fail to see the COM
parative difference between the present
conditions under the Mckinley law and I'M
der prospective free trade or low tariff, as
proposed by the Wilson bill. The effect of
the Wilson bill on the manufacture of lum-
Der will be that of an embargo, unless the
price OF labor corresponds with the price
on the Canada side Of the line. The expert
ence OF laborers in other states can but be
to large extent the experience in this
state This great wrong to the industries
OF the nation was brought on by laborers
deceived; it will be corrected by laborers
enlightened, witho ltregard to party. Such
a measure as the Wilson bill cannot long
remain under republican form of govern
ment. The people are greater than parties.
They are the power. Their will will be
done
East Calais, January 10, 1894.
CROSS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
In reply to your recent request: We are
Just in receipt of communication from a
friend in Aberdeen, Scotland who has
been engaged in the manufacture of granite
there for great many years. This is an
extract from his letter: This is the time
to buy Scotch granite, as everything is at a
very low ebb awaiting the outcome of the
proposed tariff changes, which will adj
vance the prices here to a considerable ex-
tent, and give the dealers chance to make
up what they have lost under the present
passage alone, we think, fully explains the
situation, and proves the bill to be lust
what any candid and well balanced mind
knows 1t to be, /. g., a bill to aid the foreign
manufacturer at the expense of the Amer
lean manufacturer and workman: a bill to
increase wages and profits abroad, and lower
them at home. We sincerely believe that
the effect the Wilson bill would have on orr
business, If enacted in its present form,
would be to either close our works or cause
us to reduce the wages of our workmen
twenty per cent. The foreign GRANTEES have
become very popular with the American
people within the past five years, and there
is nearly as much of it imported all manu-
featured ready to set up in our cemeteries,
as there Is American granite manufactured
lor monumental purposes in this country.
This is being done under a duty of forty per
cent Does any one believe that there will
not be more imported under a duty of
twenty per cent? We certainly do not; and
every monument that is made abroad takes
that much away from the American la
borer. If we could only get the benefit of
the reduction in the duty, the effect would
not be so disastrous, as some one would get
some benefit from it, The foreign manufac-
turer will put the price up and pocket the
money which should go to the consumer or
into Uncle Sans treasury to pay the run
ming expenses of the government. We can
hardly believe that the party which is rum |
ming the government will dare to ruin our
industry TO establish some ones pet theory. |
Northfeld, Vt, January 10, 1884,
CHARLES II. RYLE-GRANITE.
Your request for an expression of feeling
on the proposed tariff, from all who have |
the interest and welfare of their community |
at heart, regardless of their party affilia- |
tons, is very courteous of you and should |
be appreciated by those who differ with you |
politically. The tariff on granite is, to a |
certain extent, different from nearly any |
thing else, so far az it affects our commit |
nifty. The industry here is confined almost |
wholly to cemetery work, which, of course,
is not necessity of life. Consequently it is |
not in line with democratic principles to |
make it the subject of an extreme reduction |
in the tariff thereon. Unlike multitude of |
other industries in our country, the granite |
business has stood on its own merits, with
out the guidance OF a trust, fortified, nur- |
tured and encouraged by protective tariff |
for the benefit of few bloated capitalists.
The consumer of granite has the benefit of |
a sharp competition, which is not affected
by tariff to any extent. In proof of this, / |
may say the price of granite monuments has
dropped from ten to fifteen per cent since
the passage of the Mckinley law, which ,
nearly doubled the tariff thereon. There