The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-25
PROTECTION MUST GO or WAGi
MUSr COME down.

1 PROTE(IION mlhI ~ va w hN+ -
| MCsr COME DDWN.
| Congress has passed joint resolution
| directing the Commissioner Of Labor 10
| investigate and report upon the effect OF
| the use Of machinery upon labor, and
the cost of production. II this investiga-
tton IS properly made it viii bring before
the American people facts which VIII
challenge the most interested enquiry
II will demonstrate, in the hrst pace,
that machinery has, within the past iorly
years. enormously increased the produc-
ton Of manufactured articles per capita
and the sum OF benefits to be distributed
amongst the people, and IT VIII further
demohstrate that the capacity OF each
lucrative in the way OF production Is very
nearly If not quite doubled in that time.
The law Of modern Development IS 'n't
machinery is taking the place IN manu-
facture Of men, and this controntS us
with an absolute certainty that we must
either secure wider markets Tor the SAFE
Of our manufactured articles or men
must cease looking TO manufactures as
the Mace where they are to earn theT
living. II Is doubtful also If we can even
stay where we are. in ceasins TO ada 10
the numbers employed in manufacture u
may actually become necessary to reduce
the number now employed. Tor improve
ment i'm machinery goes on from DAY ~
dav. and as machinery is improved lhe
need for human hands diminishes'
the first question which confronts us
wbon we take this case up is that OF
wages. can wages remain what they are
This is the view Of the case when most
interests workngmen. and this the work
inpm,o should at once take under con-
sideration for most earnest attention.
With protective tariff law II IS certain
we cannot enlarge our foreign markets.
ia any considerable extent. AS RUE nd-
tions Will not willingly buy from those
nations who do not buy from them Inc
law Of the case is that they place their
orders with those nations which buy their
owl, ,,~oductions The great rewards
which the protective tariff laws give TO
American manufacturers through giving
Thorn the monopoly of the American mar
ket has stimulated manufacture here untu
we produce more than the American peo-
Mo viii consume. The American work
ing man must see then. that wan ma
chinery always improving and thus Oh
ninishing his chance for empioymeht' and
with American markets restricted 20
America. his wages must come down
| T. would seem. therefore, 10 be the
| nIainest proposition in the world. that all
! American workingmen should be in favor
| ct hook every
vestige Of protective legislation. We can
| never extend our markets whilst We nave
q protective tariff. ana more manufactur-
| ing is being done now than the American
| people want.
| When our foreign trade IS critically
| y,mined il gives us indications or what
we would be able to DO If II were enllre-
| ~ free and unembarrassed. England Is
| q free trade country and the greatest
manufacturing country Of the world.
But notwithstanding our protective
| tariff laws she is by far the greatest
/ buver of what we sell IN the world. The
! total of our exports last year was
| ssl2.1i3547. and Of this there went TO
! England $i3l .c6},CS5. in the past six fiscal
wears the aggregate Of our exports was
| S.za17Sl,75S. OF which England took
| s.. G27. So4.932.
This Is an apparent paradox, but as
| England. thanks TO free trade is trading
| in every quarter of the globe, she evens
! the thing up by selling 70 as In other re-
| eions when we suppose we are buying
! from other parties.
Now, Notwithstanding the fact that
! England is a free trade country and the
| greatest manufacturing country in the
world. We sim sell her manufactured ar
/ ticles. During the last fiscal year we
sent to Engand a million dollars worth
of agricultural implements and cars and
! carriages. three ana a half million dol
lars worth Of builders hardware sew
| ing machines. steam engines and other
! machinery. including machine tools. and
| nearly two million dollars worth of the
manufactures of wood We have been
/ sending wood pulp. and we arc now
sending paper to England.
| Now here is something which, under
| all the facts of the case. ought 10 make
a profound impression upon the minds
/ of all men who have TO make their living
by wages. The meaning of it is that if
our trade is unfettered and made abso-
/ mteiy free. our Ooundless resources and
| that inventive turn of our people due
/ t. our free institutions and the native
| genius of our people will enable us to
| compete anywhere in the world with the
| manufactures Of any people in the world.
| American laborins men ought 70 see
from the facts that We have recited
that their condition must so on getting
worse if protection remains principle
| in our legislation. And they ought also
! TO see that IL they are only untrammeled
and given an opportunity to compete
! everywhere. they will have the best of
| everything that this world offers.