Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1894-11-02
AMERICAN INDUSTRIES.
THEY ARE ALL ENTITLED TO A
FAIR PROTECTION.
What a Leading and Sensible South
ern Democratic Paper Has to Say
ora the Sss6jecf.


An important bulletin, issued by the
Census Bureau. is on the manufactures
of the United States .... .,..
1t is now possible to get some reliable
information concerning the industries Of
the country, a matter Of great Importance
in connection with the political turmoil
over the question of Protection TO Ameri-
can labor. .... M
This bulletin presents statistics Of six
ty-seven industries, each OF which turns
out products valued at 10000, 900 and
over yearly. These industries represent
all manufactures of iron, steel, cotton,
wool, leather, lumber, -four and grain
products, the slaughtering and packing Of
meats, the refining Of sugar, clothing, pc
troleum, printing and publishing, pottery
and glassware, the brewing and distilling
of liquors, the manufacture of tobacco
and many others.
There are 2S7, sol establishments re-
ported for the sixty -seven industries pre-
sented in this bulletin or $3.50 per cent.
OF the total number of establishments In
the United States.
These establishments shows ,249, 1875, 842
of capital invested, or S0.45 per cent. Of
the total capital for all classes Of indus
try. They also report 8, 730, 557 employees.
receiving $1,s11, 1856, s82 wages, or 1917
per cent. of the employees and 1884 per
cent of the wages for all industries. The
cost OF materials used was "a, 273, 400, 066,
or 80 81 per cent of the total materials
for all industries. The value Of product
was S7,618, 1886, 200 which was S1.31 per
cent of the total product Of manufactures
in, 1890
Here are more than seven thousand mil
lion dollars worth of manufactures made
each year In the United States by the la
Dor 100000 men. The question is, If
there were no Protection in the way of
Tariff on imported goods, how much Of
the American manufactures would be able
to compete with foreign imported pro.
ducts! II is we'll understood that in many
branches of production our people cannot
compete with foreign producers, and, in
such cases, absolute Free-trade would
drive out Of employment a certain num-
Der of the 300, 900 work people who are
now engaged in making those articles.
Just how many people would be turned
out Of employment by the free introduc-
ton of foreign products cannot be stated;
but it is plain that if the number should
be large, any legislation which would
bring about such a result would work
great wrong
1t is plain, then, that absolute Free
trade would close many mills and facto-
ries, and turn out into the world in idle
ness a large number of people who are
now industrious and sefsupporting But
it is claimed that the business Of Free
trade policy is to give the people cheaper
supplies There are between 5000, 900 and
5000, 900 people engaged in agriculture and
il is for their benefit that low prices of
supplies are desired. But if the agricul
turalists are to be benefited at the cost Of
the manufacturing lsborers, would not
that work grave injusticeS Why should
1000, 600 laborers in factories suffer in
order that 100000 in the fields should
prosper?
But would the agriculturalists prosper by
impoverishing the people who work in
factories2 The farmer wants to buy his
supplies in the cheapest market, but he
needs to sell his products in the highest.
How can high market for country pro- |
duce be created by impoverishing a large |
body of the people who consume his pro-
ducts?
Then it follows that by no manner OF
means should Free-trade policy be
because il would precipitate into
idleness vast body of the community. |
But it also follows that, should the other
extreme of excessive Protection be at
the agricultural population
would be made to pay unduly high for
their necessaries, and by just 50 much
they would be damaged
From this brief but succinct statement
Of the question it is seen that the best
results will be attained by a fair Pro
lection so we'll balanced as to prevent
the country from being deluged with
foreign cheap goods, and at the same
time not to create great manufacturing
and trusts. All wise states
is coming TO that, without re-
gard to party. and the day is not far dis
tant when the advocates Of fair and
reasonable Protection TO all American
Industries will have TO get together and
'esist the destructive Vaccinations of the
'anatical extremists, both of Free-trade
md high Protection. There is sense and
'eason in every proper effort to promote
he prosperity OF the country, and it must
'e accomplished by taking due care of
II interests. Any one-sided policy, no
natter whether in the interest Of Free
a ~ |