The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-03-13
uNDERsELLrxG ENGLAND.

ment in this country over some facts
published by the Textile Mercury, an
English paper specially in the inter
est of the carpet trade. It was shown
that American carpet manufacturers
had invaded the English marked and
were damaging the business of British
manufacturers. Not only had they
been able to undersell in Kidderminster
and Administer goods, effecting a great
reduction in their prices, but had
caused almost the total failure of the
English Brussels industry" That paper
| added: For the first time in the his
tory of the country the States last
year shipped more carpets than we
sold to them"
Perhaps a few extracts from the
article will be better appreciated than
general reference to them. Here they
are;
This firm has suffered severely from
| two years and from the effects of
American competition. The almost
total failure of the Brussels industry,
consequent upon the enormous reduc-
ton in Administer makes, which that
competition has caused. has hit Kid.
derrninster very badly"
After announcing the failure OF
Whittal Brothers & Co., also of Kid
derminster, the English journal goes
on as follows:
'The Brussels section Of the Industry
has suffered severely from the reduc-
tor in prices of Administer makes.
brought about by the necessity Of
meeting the competition of the mo-
] ~ IL -.
| the Alexander Smith Company. of
Yonkers, New York State"
1t is also pointed out that the agent
Of this company arrived recently at
Liverpool, and that the English manu-
facturers "may expect an increase Of
carpet exports from the States before
! long"
'The fact is one which, in the pres
ent condition Of the English carpet
trade, is perhaps to be regretted.
reckoned with. From conversations
with leading buyers we are assured
that, Notwithstanding what has been
said against them, the American car
! pets are good value for the money.
| For the first time IN the history Of the
country the States last year shipped
( to this country more carpets than we
( OOA0 ~ L4AC41I.
| These are very striking evidences OF
the progress of the carpet industry
under the dreadfully depressing in
fuences of what the protectionists
! pleased to call free trade" But the
fun of the thing lies in the publication
of these statements of the English
paper in the American Economist, the
organ of the American Protective
Tariff League, which had predicted the
ruin Of the carpet industry under the
Democratic reduction of duties
( The Mchinleyites throughout the
country joined in the cry that only by
the high tariff of the Mckinley act
could American manufacturers com.
pete with the English manufacturers,
who had such "cheap labor at their
command. And here are these same
/ ruined" carpet makers not only hold
ing their own against the trade lover
the water but actually going into
English markets and underselling the
cheap labor goods and forcing the
admission that they furnished good
value for their money!
These facts are proofs that cannot
be overcome by protectionist sophis-
tries, that high tariff is not necessary
to prevent "ruinous English COMPETE
tion," but that under moderate tariff,
which brings carpets down to g, much
lower figure to the purchaser in this
country, the manufacturers can hold
their own and even underbid their
competitors abroad. who have been
held I'D as a great bugahOo tn frfphtan
the American public into faVorfng the
high tariff robbery. a few more OBJ
ject lessons like this will open the eyes
of the American public to the vagaries
of Republican protection.