The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-17
Differences in Exchange Favor
the Cheap Labor of the
Far East.
PROPER REMEDY POINTED OUT.
Senator's Told That the Parity Between
Gold and Silver Must Be
Restored.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 16.-The
evil days with which Western manufacture
ing industry is threatened by competition
from China and Japan were passionately
protrayed in the Senate to-day by Stewart
(Pop.) of Nevada, in connection with his
resolution instructing the Finance COM
mittee to inquire what the effect of the
difference of exchange between gold
standard countries and silver-standard
countries has on the agricultural and manu-
featuring industries of the United States.
Stewards contention was that as the
expenses of Eastern labor and materials
are paid for in silver in those countries,
and as the products are sold in the United
States and Europe for gold or It's equiva-
lent, the Orientals have, in the difference
of exchange, an advantage OF 80 per cent,
and that this advantage, joined to their
mechanical skill, their low wages and their
cheap mode of living, enables them to
undersell all competitors. and will, If not
checked, transfer the manufacturing OF the
world from the West to the East. The
only way to prevent such an evil, Stewart
argued, is to restore the parity between
gold and silver.
Stewart stated facts concerning the send
ing of japanese manufactured goods to the
United States and selling them far below
the prices at which they can be manufac-
tured here, instancing the matter of BIZ
cycles, which the japanese now sell in this
city for $12 gold, and he had dispatch
from San Francisco giving details of the
japanese invasion of the American mar
kets and stating that Japanese agency in
that city is selling parlor matches, doors,
sashes, blinds, clocks, watches, boots,
shoes, clothing, hats, caps, gloves, fancy
goods and notions at from 30 to so per
cent less than they can be manufactured
for in that City, with all freight and duty
paid by the japanese importer.
If the progress of China and Japanin the
manufacturing industry was not checked,
it was demonstTable, Mr.. Stewart said,
that the manufacturing for the whole
world would be transferred from the Occi-
dent to the Orient, and the only way of
checking it was to abolish the present adj
vantage of 80 per cent which they had in
exchange and to make silver as valuable
proportionately as gold.
Something" he declared, "must be
done, because if things remain as they are
Western civilization will shrink and
shrlvel, and the labor of this country is
not only going to be put on a plane with
Asiatic labor, but the Asiatics are going to
have so per cent advantage from the diff
ference of exchange in selling their prod
ucts here"
IN the course of his speech, Stewart de-
nounced the 'gold combine" and charged
that it controlled National conventions,
directed the selection of Presidential can
didates and practically dictated the course
of the Treasury Department. He hoped
that the question would be examined, and
that the American people would realize
where they would be with the gold policy,
and would contend for the rule of the peo-
pie under the constitution.
No action was taken on the resolution
which lies on the table, to be called up at
any time for further discussion.
The other proceedings in the Senate to-
day were of a routine character. Petitions
were presented for a restoration of the
wool and weolens schedule of the McKin-
ley tariff act and for one cent letter postage
BillsweTe introduced to exclude aliens from
public employment and 10 protect public
forest reservations, and a resolution was
offered and agreed to calling on the Presi-
dent for report as to why the law pro-
has not been executed.
The Senate at 2:20 P. NJ. adjourned until
tomorrow.