People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-05-28

aLIsnla. va. ~
tured prodl cts are invading markets
where few years ago they were un-
known, and it is interesting to note
that heinCreased importation Of such
articles into the United States is be-
ginning TO cause uneasiness to Ameri-
can manu-, cturers."
Japan, enc Of the silver countries,
is increasing her production at rate
which seems rapid when compared
with our own advantages. We have
made some rOgress in the production
Of pottery, ut we venture to say that
the JapaneS', who IN 1884 employed
1900 wOrku en- in turning out $500
900 pieces, nd four years later en-
ployed 27,OO( men, who produced l26-
100000 pieces, rate Of increase that
has been well maintained since, have
no reason TO 81 rink from comparison.
The extension of their cotton and silk
industry has already been noted as
being on a threatening scale, menac-
ing a competition which Western peO-
pie will not be able to stand up
against.
The Textile Mercury. an English
trade publication expressed the belief
few days ago that the mischief had
already been accomplished, and re-
| marked: 1T is high time for the
English cotton spinner and manufac.
turer to look out for suitable fields to
which he may emigrate." The writer
added 1t really looks as if the
growth Of England's cotton industry
at home had reachei its limit, and
that English capital engaged in the
manufacture of cotton goods would
hereafter be forced to seek locations
in India and China in order TO find
profitable employment. - English
manufacturers can only hope to main.
tain their supremacy in the Eastern
markets by producing the goods on
the spot"
"The question for American manu-
facturers &c consider is whether they
could maintain themselves against a
competition which has nearly proved
fatal TO Lancashire. Should there be
an exodus of English capital to the
Orient for tie purpose Of establishing
manufacturing industries in China and
Japan. how could we in this country
hope to successfully exclude the food
OF cheap goods that would be poured
into tile United States? The tariff
scarcely ofie.s any obstacle 10 the
European manufacturer operating Gn-
der all tue Disadvantages incident 70
the gold standard. How, then, Could
we expect ~ successfully c0mne' Q
with the same manufacturer after he
has transferred his machinery to a
country where labor is phenomenally
cheap: The manufacturer, under
such circumstances, would ask 10 vain
for an increase Of the protective tar
i'll, for tue enlightened opinion Of the
agriculturalist would be against the
granting OF such a request, while the
producer is subjected TO the destruc-
tive influence ola constantly contract
ing measuTer Of values, When the
money of the world was composed OF
gold and silver the farmer could az
ford to stand shoulder to shoulder
with the manufacturer 10 the United
States and assist in building up a
great manufacturing industry. The
achievement of such a result meant
for him increasing markets near his
own door, and that translated into
plain English meant increased profits
through the diminutiOn Of cnst trans
portation and the elimination Of the
middleman. But the changed cOndi.
tions preclude the idea Of agriculture
making common cause with manu-
features. The farmers are now per.
fectly aware that the tremendous fall
in the price Of their products is due to
the appreciation Of the value OF gold,
and they will not be so foolish as TO
consent to rivet their shackles more
firmly by assisting In raising the