Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1894-01-26
TIE INDUSTRIAL DEPRESSION.

7,I- =
That the protective policy Of
this country for the past thirty
years has been one of the chief
mainstays and upbuilders Of Ameri-
can manufacturing industries, and
the chief support Of high priced
labor as against cheap foreign
labor, we sincerely believe. In
his argument against the fallacies
of the free trade Wilson bill Con.
gresham ]. c. Burrows, of Michi-
gan, gave facts and figures that
can not be questioned, and made
a powerful speech against change
in the tariff policy of the country.
Speaking of the present depression
he said:
"l'he Mckinley tariff never closed q
mill In the United States. shut up a
mine. stoppe,i wheel. blew out u fur.
mace tire. "r dove singl. workman
into the streets. This genera. paralysis
of business throughout the country
comes sOlely from the ascendencv Of
political party pledged to the repeal OF
the act of ;S9D and the substitution,
therefor Of Il tariff Invested of all pro.
tective features. With such u party III
full control of the government is it any
WOmier that tl"mesli.. manufacturers
suspend operations until advised 0f tl.r
conditions under which they must mar.
ket tle /. output
Business prudence dictated tile s,ls.
pension "f the manufacture of domestic
fabrics will. Iigi.-priced labor u"til the
co .ditiOns sl.Onld be determined upon
wllicI. the foreign Competing products
should br permit. d tn cntrr our mar.
ke's. Importers naturally limited their
orders tp the strict ecrssities of trad.
In anticipation Of more favorable con-.
tlitiOns. Aud su ammflcturer aud
importer alike prudrntly suspended
business until the democratic party
should Tx the terms mpon which they
would be permitted to resume. When
the Judge prOnO,lilces the sentence OF
death "m tll- convicted fplon there is no
change in tle law. but tl,- victim Is
apt to l"se interest ~ human affairs.
On an Oc, an v, yage the chart and COM
pass m y remain unnisturb, d. hut with
Il madman at the wheel and u lnl,atic
OH tlle fridge the interest nf the pas
s-ngers will be chiefly centered in the
supply of life preservers.
T"is industrial depression came. ther
fshe, MUt as Il result of existing tariff
rates, but from an apprehension lit
seems INV to have b. en- well fUumded)
that these rates were tU be so modified
as to overthrow and destroy our pr {.
trctive pulley, exposing our domestic
manufacturers To ruimOns foreign
competition. aud iIaugurate in this
county all er;l of frpe-trHde with all its
attendant evils. y
The record of this years Industrial
and individual suffering resulting from
this proposed Legislation will never be
made u.'. 1t exceeds tile possibilities
of human calculation. You have
OILY to substitute for the pending meas
nre joimt resolution declar.ltnry of
your purpose t0 maintain existing law
in full force and effect during the coll
ti"uarce of this administration. aud
business activity would Instantly take
the place of business depression. 1t
would arrest the slaughter Of our :lock-.
open our mines. religit the fires of our
furnaces. uncllain the wheels of Onr i'm
dnstr,es. start every spindle and loom.
call the tramping. starving millions
bark from enforced idlri,e>s to prnllt-
able employment. and the American
republic would leap with bn,lnd to its
accustomed place in The van Of indus
tria. natiuns.