Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-07-25
The Act of 1890 and Protection.

One OF the best answers to the Demo
cratic cry that the tariff act of 1890 was
a degradation to American workingmen,
is the speech of Mr.. Burrows of Michi-
gan, delivered in the House of Represen-
tativeS last winter. The speech is
crowded with facts and official figures,
showing how marvellous was the eXpan-
sion given to the industries of the country
by the protective features of that act
One Of the most striking portions of the
speech is as follows:
As a measure of protection to Ameri
can industries and American labor, the
act of 1890 in its results more than justi-
ties the prediction of its friends. That
1t would stimulate the development of
new enterprises and promote the growth
of established industries was conf
dendy asserted, but that its benehcent
effect would be so quickly manifest and
SO marvellous exceeded the highest hopes
to embark in untried ventures, enlarged
the field of labors profitable employment,
augmented our domestic and foreign
trade, and quickened with a new life the
manifold industries of all our people.
president Harrison only affirmed the
truth of history when in his last annual
message to Congress he said: so high
degree of prosperity and SO general a
diffusion of the comforts of life were
never before enjoyed by our people.
This exultant declaration made but
little over one year ago, Incredible as 1t
seems in the midst of present appalling
conditions, was nevertheless grounded on
indisputable facts.
The American Economist, a journal OF
the highest character, in its issue OF DC
tober -, 1892, published the result of
partial census of the industrial growth
of the country under the act OF lS9O.
which disclosed that from the time that
act went into effect, October 6, 1890, $40
aeSv industries had been established IN
the United States and Jos existing plants
extended and improved, demanding an
increased outlay of $40, 499,Oo0 IN cap
itat and the employment of 10000 addl-
tionai IaborerS In the textile industries
alone, during the first six months OF
1892, 135 new factories were built, com
prising 40 cotton mills (21 OF which were
located in the Southern states). Is knit
ting mills. % wooden mills, ID silk mills,
4 plush mills and , linen mills. In Sep
TENDER, 1892, there were 15,2O0,O0O
working spindies. an increase of 100000
over 1891; while during the year lS9l
American mills consumed 2,396. 900 bales
of cotton in the manufacture OF domestic
fabrics, it required 2,5S4,000 bales IN
1892. showing an increased consumption
of 1SS,000 bales in 4 single year.
But, marvellous as was this develop
ment. yet nowhere in the field of our in
1uStrial achievements was the triumph
of our protective system more completely
yindicated than in the creation OF the
American tin-plate industry 1t is as
astounding as it is gratifying. Inc re-
port of Mr.. Aver. the special agent OF the
treasury department, shows that his IN
duStry has been substantially created IN
this country as one of the results OF the
act of 1890 On the LIST day of July,
1891. there was practically no manu-
tacture Of tin plate in the United States
Pounds.
From July 1, 1891, to September
dnced o .'.''..-''N 49,. 30 S26, 922
duceG .'...............!... 1,4O9, S21
ST. ,' 1852. 30 20 factories produced. 3209. 225
1872, g factories produced. -. S.2OO,751
Making total production dur
ing the first year under the
operation of this law Of. 1885, 10
&c. 1852, % factories produced 1882, 725
From October 1, 1892, to Deem
duced ................!.. 1876, 491
81, 1888, 80 factories produced. 29, 566, 500
Eucaa April i, 1893, to June 30,
1888, IS factories produced - 81, 543, 5S7
Making total production for
s'But it is not necessary to multiply in
stances. | might consume the hour in
ssammoning an array of unimpeachable
witnesses to the potent influence of the
act of 1890 in establishing and main
tanning increased Industrial development
and promoting the enlarged employment
of labor with the resultant prosperity and
happiness to all our people In no single
particular did the act of 1890 fail to Sc
cure the beneficent results its authors
designed, and every prOphesy of i'll IN
which its enemies INDUCED utterly failed
of fulfllment.
you said it would develop no new in
tlustrieS-it created them by the hundreds,
You said it would bring no resultant
benefits to our WOrkmen-lt secured for
them enlarged employment and increased
wages You said it would enhance the
cost of the protected article-it cheapened
it 81 the consumer. You said it would
diminish our foreign trade-it augmented
It in 1892 to 81, S57 ,6S0,610, an increase
over the previous year of S12S,2S3, 604.
You said it would shut out our products
from foreign marketS-Our export trade
increased S145, 797,3SS, swelling its vol
ume to 81, 030. 27S, 14S, the largest ever
known in the history of the country and
exceeding the value of our imports by
500, ST5 .6S6. You said it would paralyZe
our domestic trade-it was never more
vigorous than in the years Immediately
y
prophecy Of Ill found swift and complete
REPUTATION in increased industrial activity
on every hand and enhanced individual
and national prosperity. IApplause.l
Coming Homo to Roost.
The Ohio State Journal says that while
decent public opinion viii unanimously
approve the stand taken by President
Cleveland in the present strike trouble,
She people with fairly good memories will
recall some of the socialistic expressions
employed by the President himself in adj
dressing the people on this very question
of the differences between capital and
labor They will probably remember that
Sac is the man who talked in a message to
Congress about workingmen suffering
from ''the doom Of perpetual servitude,
well knowing in MS heart that he was
uttering rank damagogic falsehood, and
that every peer boy in this country has a
better chance to get on in the world than
lie enjoyed. Mr.. Cleveland is the man
who in the same message to Congress
discoursed in d sympathetic tone on what
be maliciously termed ''the communism
of oppressed poverty and toll which, eX
asperated by injustice. attacks with wild
disorder the citadel of rule (the white
house II NAV he that the