The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-27

at the present moment is not only de,
moralized but Is in a perfect state OF
stagnation, never equaled in the mem.
DRY of the oldest commission merchant
or manufacturer.
Whether this deplorable state Of af.
fairs is attributable to the silver ques-
ton, TO the passage of the new tariff
bill, to the general distrust of the Dem
ocratic party, now in power, or to the
universal feeling of trade despond-
ency." no one is able to decide. 1t
appears TO be a combination of the
whole. All we know is that it is here
and liable to remain for some time.
The competition from European
sources, especially from our English
cousins, has been seriously felt this
season. The orders for English fall
woolens and worsteds have been large,
though not so large as expected nor as
they would have been had the business
outlook been brighter.
Heretofore English medium and low
priced heavyweight fabrics have not
to any extent been imported for
the simple reason they were not able
to compete with similar weight goods
OF our home manufacture, owing to our
having under the old tariff, a specific, or
weight duty, on such goods.
This specific duty under the new tariff
has been abolished and now goods of
any weight, whether "a OF. or under"
or "32 or. and over" can be landed at
u n the same duty, viz: the ad
volerem duty only. Our legislators, in
framing this new tariff bill, by taking
of the specific duty never realized the
harm and detriment it would do to our
own manufacturing interests. Even
under the Mckinley tariff, our European
competitors were able to compete on
fairly equal terms with us on spring
fabrics, but were unable to do SO on
heavyweights. They can do so now
M more than do so. Home manu-
~facturers are forced to recognize this
tact through diminished orders. Some
mills are compelled to shut down; others
u on half time, and those manufac-
turers who have taken orders, have
taken them at such a figure that there
Is no money in them, the prices being
made so as to prevent the machinery
from standing idle.
Such is the present state of affairs
with no signs Of immediate relief. The
only hope of the manufacturers lies in
the Republican party getting again
into power and having on its platform
=" protection for home industries"
Would you not call it unnatural for a
parent to take his children's food and
1t to strangers, letting his own
children suffer? And does not this gov
eminent stand in the light of a parent to
US, its children?
The imports from the Bradford dis |
trict on worsted anG' woolens for the first |
three months Of this year are nearly six
of dollars in excess of the first
three months of 1894. The imports for
March alone being eight hundred thou
and dollars in excess of previous March.
The Bradford district is the largest
manufacturing district in Yorkshire for
ow AM medium priced fabrics; it has
hundreds OF mills and thousands of
peratives to whom our new tariff was a
irritable Godsend,
IL Great Britain with the aid of all
er Colonies as well as the entree to
very country on the face of the globe
United states excepted) cannot give her
eople employment why should we aid
by sacrificing our W people. Her
ldustries, her views, her politics,
err ambition, ETC., are each and all
to our own, aud it is
ir bounden duty in such trying
mes as these, with depression in al
ost all of our industries, to stand to-
ether, shoulder to shoulder and pro-
ct u labor, our homes and ourselves. I
hat is one mans meat is another mans .
'ison. Let those countries which 9
ant free trade, have it. 1t is evil S
'ntly not suitable for us and does not
rec with us. !
Now. Notwithstanding all this dull, '
satisfactory business, 5000 operatives @
INJECTED with one of the largest plants
the country have gone on strike, and
more may quit work.
AS a rule, the operatives in the wooden
d worsted mills in this country p
3 better educated, more intelligent. Il
ore industrious and studious than
ose OF other industries, and it does
that a strike in such times as these.
ming from such a source, would only o
tail more misery to what seems bad Ell
ough already il does not appear pos n
DE that intelligent, enlightened men =,
uld be so blinded TO their m
as to order one. In every d,
IL there are always some hot Is