Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1894-12-06
NEW YORK'S OPINION.
HER CONGRESSMAN REVIEW THE
"SPLENOID NOTHING" TARIFF.

IlOn, tn6 lc8S tu0 uoLudil IOf noAc pIou-
acts. The less the demand for goods pro-
iuced at home. the smaller the amount
manufactured. The smaller the mount
manufactured, the fewer workingmen
required or the less the aggregate paid
by manufacturers.
The more workingmen out OF employ
nent the harder he times, and the
harder the times the less money Is cir
Therefore what will it profit
man out of work in this country if
England and France and Germany ART
the more prosperous by reason Of in
expectations. even if as the re-
suit there is a decrease in the q of
goods at home?
JAMES S. SHERMAN, NJ. c.,
Twenty-Ifth District. New York.
IL is difficult to forecast the farreach-
ing effects of the new tariff law. 1t Is
certainly to be hoped that some of its
disastrous results have been discounted
in the past Is months. Ever since Dem
control of the enate as well rs
of the house and the executive became
apparent the universal prosperity then
existing has given place to universal
disaster and distress such as no pen can
describe. This was largely due to the
threatened assault upon American in
dustries. Now that we a see the ex-
tent of those attacks under the new law
we may at least hope that for the next
Is months distress and disaster will not
be SO universal.
Under the new law it is painfully
evident that wages in many branches of
industry must be cut down from 10 to
so per cent, while in other branches the
fair protection. That this cutting down
process will be attended with wide
spread strikes is a matter of the most
serious apprehension. Strikes are disas-
trous though the striking workmen are
in the right. They are doubly disastrous
when, as sometimes happens, the work
ingman is in the wrong. There is
abundant reason for the fear that the
strikes in the cotton and pottery indus
tries will be followed by still others.
The mischief of the reduction in q
few industries is that wages will go
down in sympathy in other branches Of
labor.
For example, if wages are higher in
one industry, those following a less re-
munerative calling will offer their serv-
ices at a lower rate, and SO the rates
reach a common level. Under the census
of 1890 the total wage earnings Of u
people reach about $40, 600, 600, 900 q
year. An average reduction of 20 per
cent means a loss of $2, 900. 900. 900 an
nually.
Taking into account the reductions
made in the last Is months and the fur
ther reductions manufacturers will be
compelled to make under the new bill,
90 per cent is a ow estimate OF the re-
duction of wage earnings sure to follow.
Such a reduction would take away one
fifth of the consuming power Of u
people, would destroy one-ifth Of our
own markets and one fifteenth of the
markets of the world. We cannot esti-
mate the loss of our own markets under
this bill. 1t has opened the COR to for
eign importations. Foreign goods will
crowd out the American from u OWL
mari It's. We ann see the end, but Of
one thing we may rest assured-pros-
perity will return again only through
Republican success and Republican leg
islation. SERRNo +. PAYNE.
Washington.
The effect of the German Wilson bill
cannot be otherwise than injurious to
all industries in the United States un-
less it be- that of sugar refining and
most harmful to all workingnen and
.z-... "a &l..,u f..is.a Th. nI.Kf,
ley bill aimed to protect all our indus
tries, including the agricultural inter
ests, and all our laboring people. 1t SO
operated and gave a new impetus to
manufacturing. increased the profits of
agriculture and gave employment to all
who desired it at good wages. The en-
tire country was prosperous, and the
people generally We're contented.
The Gorman-W Wilson bill puts at de-
fiance all principles of tariff for revenue
only as well as the true principles of
protection. 1t throws wide open the
doors for foreign competition in most
directions, while it gives protection to
a few favored industries, and will in
class and monopolistic legislation. 1t
il O shameful surrender to trusts and a
most shameful abandonment of the
rights and interests Of the country as
q whole.
When this bill comes into operation,
our markets will be flooded with for
eign made articles, and our mills and
factories will be compelled to close or
reduce their output. The effect will be
disaster to many of our producers and
great and lasting injury to the others.
The purchasing power of the people will
be largely diminished and in thousands
Of instances destroyed. We shall find
not two but three men seeking every
q workman, as was the case under the
Mckinley bill prior to the incoming of
the present industry prostrating Demo
cratic administration
! The rural districts are now overrun
with men tramping from place to place
seeking employment. This evil will in
crease. for how can We employ men to
do work formerly lone here. but here
after to be done in Europe? If there
shall be a greater agricultural product
by reason of men aocking to the farms,
the market price will fall and the farm
er be injured, while the merchants and
workmen in the large towns will reap
40 benefit, for the purchasing power of
the farmers will be destroyed.
Sales of goods and of all manufacture
ed articles will fall of. prices must go
down, and the workingman out Of en-
ployment will be unable to purchase at
oil. 1t will be a cold day for this oun
try when the president permits this bill
to become a law, while trade in Europe
will pick up. Her mills and factories
will increase their production; her ships
will find active employment. bringing
her products to our shores. Foreign
prospects are bright indeed. while the
clouda of d~esnoudencv ara GRADUALLY but