The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-10-12
Business vs.. Politics.

trade and the fraud and robbery of
protection. But when they talk BUsI-
NESS and deign to consider the material
interests of the country, they invari-
ably fall back upon protection, as the
only sure foundation of American in
dustries and American wages.
The career of the present Democratic
administration well illustrates the
truth of the above propositions. That
administration came into power on the
declaration of the Chicago platform
that protection is "a fraud and a rob-
berry and unconstitutional"
That was POLITICS.
But when the Democratic admins
tration was confronted with the re-
sponsibility of enacting new tariff
law it was forced to admit, and did
admit, although grudgingly instead of
honestly, that protection TO American
Industries is ifnperatively demanded.
That was BUSINESS.
Hcnce the new tariff law recognizes
the truth, the justice and the necessity
Of the principle Of protection for which
the Republican party has boldly and
honestly contented for many a year
and thus gives the lie TO the Chicago
|
Democratic tariff law in many a provi-
principle of national economy, that law
is still so fine a sample of Democratic
"how-not-to-do-it" as to damage what
it even pretends to protect. It is ar
rant botch work.
When the Detroit Free Press, the
leading organ of Michigan Democracy
talks Politics, it extols the Chicago
platform of free trade. But when it
talks BUSINESS, it endorses the doctrine
of protection IS necessary for the fos-
tering and upbuilding of American in
terests.
In it's issue of Septem Der 8, the Free
Press publishes and editorially en-
dorses an interview with Alexander
MacGruthar, director of the Standard
Pearl Button Company, of Detroit,
which is remarkable testimonial to
the justice of protection. But the Free
Press was talking BUSINESS at that
time and not PoLITIcs-at least not
Democratic politics, for it was very
good Republican politics.
That interview represents Mr.. Mac
Gruthar as very much pleased with the
amount of fraud, robbery and uncon-
stitutionality" in the shape of protec-
|
he is interested. The Austrian manu-
facturers had found a way of lodging
the old tariff law, by drilling no holes
in their buttons and then importing
them at a low rate of tariff as manu-
featured pearl" instead of buttons,
thus demoralizing the markets. The
new law prevents this dodge and thus,
as the Free Press claims, AFFORDS THE
PEARL BUTTON INDUSTRY MORE PRO-
| LECTION THAN THE MCKINLEY LAW
DID.
If the Free Press had been talking
| POLITICS it would have denounced this
as "a fraud and a robbery and uncon-
stitutional," but since it was talking
BUSINESS it gloried in the fact that a
local factory had escaped the blight of
| Democratic free trade.
Some of the expressions made by Mr..
| MacGruthar in this interview so highly
endorsed by the Free Press are very
pertinent. Since they embody good
Republican doctrine and are also com
mended by the Free Press, the people
can safely rely upon them as axioms Of
sound political economy
Mr.. MacGruthar says: "We need
some protection, such as is provided in
the new bill, for it is difficult to build
up an infant industry. The help have
to be educated and the expenses of
turning out the goods are consequently
greater than they would be il our
establishments had been running for
generations. This is what the Repub-
lican party has claimed for years And
the Free Press endorses it as a good
BUSINESS principle, although it is con-
trary to Democratic politics.
Mr.. MacGruthar again says: ut is,
of course, impossible for US to compete
with Austrian labor. Skilled labor
over there, 1T has been shown, receives
about So per week and our men will
not work, nor should they be asked to
work, for any such figures. The pres
ent tariff bill solves the difficulty
nicely for both manufacturers and
American workmen by providing am
pie protection, leaving a cf ance for
good profits to the manufacturer and
the opportunity to make liberal earn
ings for the workman. This is not
matter OF POLITICS; it is BUSINESS" The
Republican party has never asked the
American workman to work for any
such wages and so it erected the pro-
tective policy as a barrier between him
and European wages. The Free Press
commends that barrier on BUSINESS
piihCipiSo, oiJHOuSn ~ 1918 W Squdrc
with Democratic politics.
The legitimate conclusions are plain.
Republican politics and good bust
ness policies are synonymous.
That is demonstrated by the course
of the Democratic administration in
framing its tariff bill, and has been
conceded by the leading Democratic
organ of the state.
Democratic politics not only vary far
from good business principles, but if
carried out are destructive OF American
industries.
That is demonstrated by the coward
ice OF the Democratic administration
in abandoning its declaration of fraud,
robbery and unconstitutionality" and
adopting the Republican principle of
protection as the basis of much of its
tariff law, and it is further demon
strated by the admissions of the Free
Press
The best interests OF the country are
safer in the hands of the Republican