The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-07-13
The LIMIT or Projection.

says the Value OF Labor Decides.
"'What should determine the limit Of
protection for American industries2' IL
10 quite 2 subject and there are great
mnhy opinions. b. Il. MELLoR."
The limit of protection to American
industries should be determined by the
cost Of labor in similar industries In
other countries. For instance, II GER
tain work in certain factory costs an
American manufacturer 50 per day,
and similar work In similar factories In
Europe can be performed for 81 or Si.50
per day, then we believe the product of
the American factory should be pro-
tected TO the extent of that dollar.
which Is the difference between the
lowest rate paid abroad and the ratio
paid In this country.
In framing tariff for protection. IL
Is essential to bear In mind that the
greatest amount of competition will
naturally come from such countries as
pay the lowest rate of wages. II an
article can be made in England for n
dollar and In Germany for sevcnty-fvc
cents, the two being OF equal quality,
the German article will secure the
trade and the American wage-earner
must be protected against the low Ger
man rate. The knowledge of what
such rates are should be In the possess
sion Of business men engaged in differ
emit industries. An American wooden
manufacturer should have reliable aud
authoritative data regarding the wages
paid In other countries by those who
are engaged In making similar goods.
II may be true that the lower wage
rate paid I'm other countries Is, In some
cases, sufficient for the needs of those
people TO procure the actual necessa-
ries of life, but we are not prepared 30
ask American labor 10 work for mere
existence, and we trust that we never
shall be compelled TO do so. The great
mass CO CIR people -,ssh For prosperity
TO their fellow-citizens, that they may
earn not only the actual necessities but
also something in addition that will
enable them TO enjoy some of the COM
forts, and. further, TO save money for
their old age. A poorhouse policy Is
out of place in the United States.
In determining the amount OF protec-
tlIIA MII0HcnNl W hAnIIttAh uAH0OI anu
American industries othor factors enter
into consideration. The interest on the
capital employed is higher here than In
Europe. Cheap ocenn freight on the
other side viii often enable foreign
goods TO be laid down In our ports for
less money than similar American goods
could be delivered there from our man
ufacturing towns. When our railroads,
moreover, give special concessions in
freight rates 10 foreign goods that are
shipped to our interior points then our
manufacturers are still further handi-
capped.
In any future tariff for protection
that may be framed there are some en-
tirely new considerations TO be borne
In mind. The termination of the war
between China and japan win stimu-
late industrial progress In the latter
country, which Is already rapidly adj
vancing It's manufacturing industries.
But few years will elapse before Japan
ese goods will be found In our own and
In the European markets, supplanting
such as we have imagined IL would
never be possible to make except here
or In Europe. Japanese cotton and
wooden goods of all kinds win very
shortly be strong competitors with our
own cottons and woolens. Russian cot
ton goods are also 20 be looked for,
and now we find that the cotton In
dustry Is being planted in China, upon
English lines, no Less than ten mills
being erected or equipped there. which
will, Of course. be worked mainly with