New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-13
4 MiNUF1CTTRE INJURED.

Here Is a manufacturer who Is not happy, and
has no reason to be. In many other lines bust
ness has so improved that employers are volun-
tarily paying higher wages, but he cannot ana
the reports Of advances elsewhere seem to him
calculated to disturb his employees. The Tribune
advises him TO call them together. TO read the
following letter to the Editor. and then to add
70 the comments whatever his practical knowl-
edge of the business may lead him 10 think
necessary:
You are unconecously making II rather uncornfort-
ahle for us manufacturers who are not able TO put
up wages by publishing the advance given IN other
facilities We only reduced our men 10 per cent
when these Democratic times set in. and we could
no, possblv afford to make any advances. In fact.
we should Gu, more. We depending on the WOOL
lon industries for business Our customers. although
some are running nearly full. are making no money
consequently. they don't spend any more than IL act
ually necessary We machinery bullders nave !,
pretty tough-shut down entirely for some time ana
occasionally start up to fiji some small order. am
well acquainted with the managers OF our largest
manufactures. and they al say business Is very
DOOR scarcely paying expenses. am no CALAMITY
bowler am a Republican from away back and
wish for better times. think 1t Is doing consider
abe harm in publishing the reports OF raise In
wages II makes uncasness among those not
getting a raise. Wish we could afford to make an
advance | nave heard several business men express
themselves as do.
This is evidently genuine and honest com
paini however strangely II may strike many
readers. But 1t Is not particularly surprising.
For months The Tribune has been advised OF
similar difficulties, partly in the same. but also
In other branches Of manufacture, and a general
reply to all may be Of public interest.
Reports Of various changes In the rate OF wages
paid. whether up or down are news which no
body can suppress II he tries. Also, II Is absurd
10 make The effort Hands employed must be
educated themselves. rs 10 the meaning OF a
Democratic tariff. before wise action can be ex-
pccicd. II they are not enabled 10 understand
that this barter and botcn tariff hurts some in
dustr.s terribly. while IL helps some and mere
IL bothcrs others. there Is small chance for the
manufacturers Ii Is not merely a Democratic
tariff I'm spirit not merely Il Free Traders tarin
In ruling purpose which the "pcriidy and dis
honor thwartcl TO a large extent but above
all. n blrndering and ignorant, tariff. which stu
pIdly helps some industries without meaning
TO- fall, to hurt some which It meant TO destroy.
and seriously hurts others which lis Ignorant
supporters perhaps did not mean 10 hurt At Ill.
This woollcn machine manufacturer. for IN
stance. finds that the manufacturers ~ woollcn
goods are MOI III WI ibi' w W.. 'h''' -
because they realize small profits or none wher"
they are able 10 run AT all. But he sees that cot
ton and iron mills. and those who manufacture
the machinery FOR cotton and iron mills. are very
much more favored out II ten thousand hands
employed perhaps not ten will al first thought
grasp the fact that the duties on woolcn goods
were reduced very much more than the duties on
cotton goods or products OF iron and steel Yet
that Is the fact which this manufacturer has to
teach his employees II he wants "A better state OF
things In the years that are coming.
Woocn goods. though reduced In duty about
onc-haf. while the apparent reduction In duties
on other manufactured products WAS relatively
less. WERE In fact affected more by the change
~ iarlf than any other manufactured articles.
The duty was changed In character Instead Of n
partly specific duty. which shut ont vast num-
Der Of frauds. the Democratic traditional policy
imposed m al valorcm duty. In consequence
nobody can guess how largely The revenue Is cut
down every day by fraud. or how largely the
American manufacturers are affected There
are official protests. for Instance. ~ To the I'M
poriailons ~ many thousand pieces Of Clay
worslcds. which the best experts say could not
be- manufactured NJ the prices ~ which they are
sold But Illustrations only turn the eye from
the benefit Of foreign rather than American pro-
.lucrrs II IL works that way. who can be sur
pris,d?