The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-04-10
Ultimate Free Trade.


On every hand comes reports of the bene-
hcial operation of the Wilson tariff law, by
which very large reductions were made in
the taxes imposed on the country by the
Republican party. The measure, to be sure,
was not as radical as it should have been,
out as the business of the country is adapting
itself to the new scale of duties, even the
most ardent advocates of high tariff, through
the various agitations of the subject, now
begin TO perceive the error of their former
ideas, and recognize the value of a freer
market for both consumer and manufacturer.
Men will learn, sooner or later, that public
tribute for private enrichment is at the bot.
tom of the whole tariff scheme, and that a
beginning only has been made in the Wilson
bill toward the eradication of this species of
social piracy. And when we read of the ac-
ton of manufacturers in forming associa-
uons with the avowed object of bringing
about, If possible, further enlargement of
the free list in raw materials, and endorsing
unquallfedly that phase of the Wilson bill
We may reasonably entertain hope of the
speedy abandonment by the Nation of sys-
tenn that has sapped its industrial life through
80 many disastrous years.
Like every true and needed reform, this
one has been of slow and painful growth,
because it has been too philosophic for rapid
popular appreciation or understanding, and
too just for the approval of the scheming
millionaire. But brighter day is dawning,
and until the tariff question is setted in &C
cordance with the principles of free and
unlimited trade, so long will it continue to
be the leading business issue in American
politics.
The following from the Pittsburgh Post, is
true index of what Is taking place in the
country today, as the result of Democratic
legislation along the lines of tariff reform
FRUITAGE OF TARIFF REFORM.
An organization of American manufactur-
ers has been formed, of which we will hear
more later on, for an extension of the prin.
elple OF free raw material, embodied in a
limited way in the Wilson tariff bill. "What
we want" says the President of the Sextro
manufacturing company, of Cincinnati. sis
free lumber, free glass, free hardware, free
Varnlsh, free glue, and free materials of
every kind that we use, which, together with
labor saving machinery and improved sys-
TENS OF manufacture, would no doubt enable
us TO sell our furniture anywhere in the
world" The weekly paper, american In
dustries," publishes several columns of let
terS from manufacturers, in the same tone,
from which it appears that the movement
has wide foundation, and is likely to be
permanent. The benefit of free hides has
been shown in an extraordinary development
OF the American leather trade with other
nations. Already there are indications, al
though free wool is but a matter OF a few
months, that there is an opening abroad for
American wooden manufactures. The cham
Der of commerce, of Middlesborough, Eng,
great iron and steel center, heard report
a few weeks ago from an agent sent to this
country, that the price of pig metal at Bir-
mingbam, Ala, was 81 per ton lower than
the price of similar iron in England. The
freight question remains to be adjusted, and
there is every prospect of that, and that
American iron will go to England just as
that enterprising Infant" shipped pig met
al to the mother country before the revolu-
tionary war.
Nor is this all. The facilities in the way
of free raw material have enabled American
manufacturers to pay higher wages. That
is perfectly logical. Heretofore there was
but one way for American manufacturers to
reduce cost of production, and that was in
cutting wages. Of course dividends were not
to be touched save as last resort. There is
general movement going on for an increase
of wages in the WOODEN industries. They had
n hard time under the Mckinley law, even
with their 100 per cent protection, but with
free wool and the pick of the wool of the
world, things are different. According to
the Cotton and Wool Reporter" one large
woolen manufacturing house states that it
has restored all but 10 per cent of the reduc-
ton made in wages during the past two years,
and means promptly to restore the rest, In
asmuch as the total production of their mills
is contracted for In advance, and it is good
business to guard against dissatisfaction on
the part of the employees. Such things are
the well-known incidents of improving bus
iness, but what of the great truth that wages
cannot go up till the tariff goes up? We
venture the prediction there will be steady
advance in wages in this country the next
few years, independent of high or low tariff,
but resting on the sounder doctrine that sup
ply and demand regulates wages, just as it
determines the price of products. And it is
TO be considered that the reduced taxes, by
the Wilson bill, on the necessities of life,
operates as an increase of wages by increas-
ing their purchasing power, which, after all,
is the true test.