New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-26

ONE FRUIT or DEMOCRATIC IICT0Ef.
One of the great Industries upon WHICH 'hc
Democratic Congress Il making WIZ ho''
sayagply the iron and steel manulac'uit' mas
lust made its annual statement OF production
in 1892 AS the quantity Of all its manufacturer
products is fairly measured by It's cohsuhp'io"
of pig iron. the decrease of 2,G'2,'oo IONS VI
about - per cent in the production OF p'S 'lon
for the wear 1893 compared with lS9- ihlics
n change of no small magnitude Ill the eh'iic
industry But there is also To De taken in'o
account the increase or decrease OF s'ochs y"
hand. The production was only ''l-f''o- 'oi'
last wear, but the unsold stocks Oh nan"
also increased about 100000 tons curing 'ho
wear. so that the quantity taken for consumption
by the manufacture was only 09oo'ooo 'on'
against 0241217 In 1Sc-a decrease OF ~
per cent If this were the whole OF inc s'.u
story il would mean tremendous chahse III
the demand for American labor. hu' 'i'e W.
crease in production, as is well khoWh' o'o", ="
during the last half Of the year lo'''' anu III
that period the production was ~ per c'"'
smaller than the first half of the year, anu fl'o
per cent smaller than IN the second hali Vi I'o-'
1t is worth while TO consider Il moment '''o
meaning Of so great n change According W
estimates Of the Iron and Steel Associ''oi'' no'
long ago published. there were apoui HUI d"
MILTON persons employed last spring IN all ae-
nortments of this great industry. Hence de-
crease of Al per cent In the output ilhpi'eS ~
croot q decrease in the employment Of labor rs
If 100000 men had been without work lor SIN
antire months. Undoubtedly the proportion un-
| employed was at times greater and at other
times less. while during the whole period many
/ ,orf nf cacn
week. But besides all this the wages OF those
| remaining employed have been materially re-
duced in consequence Of the fierce competition
for the small business offered, and while no ac-
curate statistics of the extent of production can
no made It evidently lessons the purchasing
power of those employed as much rs II ~ or
on nor cont Of that number had been without
work. 1t is therefore reasonable TO say tha''
while n little more than half the ron-wOrkcrs
have been employed during the last six months
Of 1893. taking that period as IL whole, the pur-
chasing power Of the haf-million families de-
| ncndinc on that great industry. for goods pro-
duced by all other manufactures ana by the
| farms must have been reduced more than one
| half
OF the origin Of this great depression II Is not
necessary at this time to speak. 1t is enough
here to say that while other causes passed
away months ago. the apprehension OF great
change Of tariff has suficed TO keep more than
30 per cent of the iron works in the country
! idle. and to reduce by about half the purchasing
power Of the great number Of persons depend
ent on that industry. Whether other causes
contributed mt the ougo 10 close the mills
makes no difference. since it appears that after
| those other causes have ceased 10 operate the
expectation Of reduced duties, and that alone,
has prevented the employment Of so great n
share of the hands in this industry. But these
| are the results of a mere anticipation OF change.
| Can any one doubt that the actual change or
! tariff. which the manufacturers in this industry
have had cause to apprehend, would be fol-
lowed by an even greater depression, and loss
of work for a still greater proportion OF the
hands usually employed? The question pending
in Congress as to this industry appears to be
whether quarter Of million strong and will
ing Americans shall be given work ut fair
wages or shall be forced 10 90 without work
in order that products of other countries may
be purchased for consumption here.