St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-01
AN INDUSTRIAL REVIVAL.

AN INDUSTRIAL REVIVAL.
Despite the certainty of the passage
OF the Wilson tariff bill and the per-
sistent declarations of the protective
orators and press that It's enactment
will paralyze the iron Industries of the
country, the intelligence comes from
Pittsburg, the center of manufactures
of iron on this continent, that prepare
tons are completed for the resumption
of work in many establishments where
it has long been suspended, snd for an
increase in the working force in shops
that have remained i'll operation during
the finan cial stringency.
BY announcements made by the
various mill owners on the South side,
nearly every mill will be in operation
by the middle of this week. Most of
the plants will be run double turn,
something which they have not done
since the beginning OF the present de-
preston in business circles last spring.
The resumption on the South side alone.
it is estimated, will give employment o
5000 idle men.
This illustrates how little dependence
can be placed upon the utterances of
the professional politicians of the pro-
tectige school as to the necessity of
high tariff for the stimulation of this
particular branch of industry. The pro-
posed removal of the duty on iron ore
will assure the manufacturers of Il
cheaper raw material than they have
heretofore been able to procure, and it
will enable Them to enter foreign mar
kets heretofore closed to them, and COM
pete for trade that, despite all their en-
terprise, has remained beyond their
reach.
1t is common but erroneous idea
that American manufacturers of iron
cannot successfully compete with En-
gland, Germany and Belgium. Figures
diSprove this completely. A few years
ago, all the steel rails used on our rail-
roads were imported. For years past
we have not used pound Of foreign
made steel rails. but have exported
many million dollars worth to Europe.
During the year 1891, our total imports
of iron and steel, including iron ore,
amounted to but 80. 430, 159, while our
exports of the same products footed up
to the enormous sum of S2S,909, IT'S.
These figures show that, in spite of the
higher cost of labor in this country, we
not only can, but do compete success
fully with the manufacturers of Europe,
not only to the practical exclusion Of
articles of foreign manufacture from
this country, but to the extent of sup-
plying foreign nations with S20O00,O00
worth of our product.
With free iron ore at their command.
the manufacturers will have an added
advantage over their European Compel
itors, and will have little difficulty in
driving them from the markets of the
world. 1t Will not be necessary to re-
duce the wages Of employees, for an
American workman is worth more than
his European brother. He is more in
telligent, and can utilize both his men-
tai and physical forces to better advan-
tage. He has command of more and
better labor-saVing devices, and pro-
duceS more than double the product
that his more ignorant competitor can
produce without the aid Of machinery.
hOA y 10 llIliO NdOlC III plOCSoSCS III
use in the United States; the waste,
due to the ignorance of workmen and
the imperfect machinery employed, is
immense in Europe. Every advantage,
therefore, is with our manufacturers at
present; and with that of free ore added,
these advantages would be greatly en-
HANGED.
Actions speak louder than words.
The people are not to be blamed if they
question the sincerity or the honesty of
the protective organs in propheSying
ruin as one of the results of the removal
of duties on iron when they see the
manufacturers enlarging their business
on the eve of such change. 1t is manifest
that they would not risk their fortunes
i'll such enterprises if they felt alarm at
the outlook. They would seek to re-
trench, instead of extending their bust
ness.
This industrial revival will go further
than the strongest arguments in con-
vincing congress of the wisdom of the
proposed changes in the tariff on iron
and its products. Every mill that re-
sumes operations will strengthen the
tariff reform cause. Every workman
who is given employment will be an
argument in favor OF the Wilson bill.
The day of the nations redemption
from tariff spoliation systems is at hand.
Those most anxious for their retention
recognize the fact. and in the Increased
hum of machinery, i'll well-filled dinner
pals, III we'll fed and comfortably
clothed wives and children the great
army of workingmen will hail the re-
form as marking new era of prosperity
and happiness Tor them.