The San Francisco call., 1896-08-08
HOW FREE TRADE WOULD HURT THE IRON INDUSTRY.

have been quickened by restored conn
dence ana stability in values, some OF tne
important items OF cost will certainly DC
increased 81 so TO 81 per ton. linen we ;
shall have, with only ordinarily successiui
business conditions prevailing, the cost OF
American pig iron S14 to $l5 per ton oe,
livered in these Eastern markets, ana
where it must com pete with EngiiSn pig
iron, which its producers can sell at
profit at SO to $40 per ton. And these
Eastern markets are by far the largest ana
best we have in this country. why tnls
difference in cost? The answer is simple.
Fully 80 per cent of the cost of the ton OF
pig iron is labor or the product of labor.
AS this home labor has during the past
ten years or more cost double that paid by
the furnaces in England, it follows that
this difference must be equalized by q
tariff duty, or wages must be reduced or
our furnaces abandoned"
Continuing, they said that wise pro-
tective tariff would cause prosperity.
Repeal the Wilson BILL" they said, "and
pass resolution not to disturb the
present tariff for a number of years, and
the country, North and South, will become
prosperous. Virginia and other Southern
States will become large manufacturers of
iron, steel and textile fabrics. The thou
sands of horsepower OF water now run
ming to waste will be utilized in spinning
and weaving cotton and wool. A reduc-
tlon in the rate of duties will result IN q
reduction in wages, and corresponding
injury to the home market; for the labor
ing classes are the great consumers of the
country, and majority of them spend all
they earn. The higher their wages the
more they buy of the gardener, farmer,
manufacturer and merchant. 1t is not the
interest of these to have low wages"
The way the Wilson bill works is shown
by the evidence of the American Road
Machine Company of Kennett square,
Pennsylvania. They say:
Canadian manufacturers are able to
make implements at lower cost than
American manufacturers can. At a recent
meeting of grIcultural-implement manu-
facturers there were presented the expert
ences OF two manufacturers who have
branches OF their works in Canada. One
of them stated that he could manufacture
his goods cheaper in Canada than he could
in the United States. Another said that
he should largely increase his manufac-
lures in Canada for the purpose of supply
ing his trade in the United States.
Another large American manufacturer,
when asked to express his views on this
feature OF the Wilson bill, stated that he
was Indifferent, as if it passed he would
establish branch of his works in Canada.
Being asked if be would supply his Ameri-
can trade therefrOm he. replied that he
certainly should do so.'
Thus it is seen Mat Bryan's ideas of free
trade are not less disastrous to the Ameri-
can iron industry than to the lum Der and
wool business. Even the cheap labor OF
Canada-much dearer than that of Eng
land-is a great injury to this country
but under free trade every American
workman would soon be compelled to live
in way as meager as the poorest English
wage slave-a condition of squalor and
suffering that it is the mission OF the Re.
publican party to avert.