The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-24
OUR MANUFACTURERS.

From the Address Of President Dolan Be
fore the National Association OF the
Manufacturers of the United States.
The time has come when the manufac-
turers of the United States should stand
together for the defense and promotion OF
their interests, which are indeed, III
large sense. the interests of the whole peo-
pie. Among the wealth-creGtors of the
United States the manufacturers rank
next after the farmers. and with the pros
perity of both classes of producers the
welfare of the nation is bound up in Il
positive manner. II Il patriotic American
shall rejoice, as he must, at the
census figures which show that the
total capital invested in manufactures
rose from 81. 900 100000 In 1850 to S55W,Mt'.-
600 in 1890: that the number of workin"n
increased from 1.333,0Oo to nearly o,OOoWo
and that the value of the product rose
from 81 300 600 900 to 1900 600 900. his rejoic-
ing is at the fruit of the skill, energy.
courage and persistence manifested
through three decades by the men who
are represented by you upon the floor Of
this convention.
And the magnificent consequences OF the
forward movement OF American manufac-
lures do indeed offer full warrant for ex-
ultation; for not alone do they show that
the country within half Il century has
moved up from the fourth or fifth place
among manufacturing nations to the uh-
contested leadership: not alone do they
indicate the progression of the people to-
ward that Industrial independence which
Is the condition of highest prosperity: they
prove also that We are giving profitable
employment to our people, providing Il
home market for our agricultural products
and other raw materials retaining profits
which once enriched the foreigner. ana
creating wealth which our own people
may enjoy. Surely II il well that ma
ton like ours should be self-contained and
self-dependent. And, to reach that con-
clusion. seeing that We are certain of
ability to feed ourselves, and to procure
at home all the primary substance from
which fabrics are made. II Is alone neces-
sary that we should do here all the work
of fabrication which Is required for the
supply of the needs of orr people.
The economic policy under which the
manufacturing industries have had such
astonishing development would appear to
have justified itself SO completely as to
require no further argument for its de-
fense. In 1860 the value of the manufac
tured product of the United States was
but 81, 1900, 900, 900. This represented the
total gain from the foundation of the
government. Between 1860 and 1890 the
gain was nearly S.500OCO,OoO or in thirty
years about 800 per cent. more than the
total gain in the seventy years down to
1860. The period of this enormous advance
was a period in which the policy of just
protection to American industry was en-
forced without interruption; and | conf
dently affirm that If we are again to be per-
,,,;t taI To oh ham W. mn
store to American manufacturers the
measure of protection which will permit
them to conduct their operations without
menace from the foreigners who have con-
ditions different from ours, and which give
to our rivals advantages that should be
neutralized at our own ports.
The tariff law now in operation Is inequl-
table and insufficient In two particulars.
1t gives to certain Industries favors not
extended TO others. and many of its sched-
ules do not accord to producers the pro-
lection which they require. If low u,i-
ties or no duties for manufactures are to
be the practice. then low duties or no du-
ties should be the rule In the cases of al!
the industries which require and have had
protection. No American has any right
TO protection from his government which
Is dened to other Americans. If fairly
high duties are to be applied anywhere.
justice demands that they shall be applied
everywhere they are needed for defense
against European or other invasion of this
market. ! offer the suggestion that this
association should undertake to employ,
by proper methods, its influence to OBJ
tain as speedily as possible such changes
of the tariff as will procure fair play for
all domestic manufacturers and other pro-
ducers in the shape of duties which will
permit them to conduct their business in
such a manner as to earn reasonable pro-
fits for themselves. give steady employ
ment to the working people and retain this
market more largely for their wages. Our
own market is the best in the world. 1t is
better probably than any other two or
three markets in existence. 1t is the only
market of which we may have absolute
control; and the most ordinary considera-
tons of business prudence should induce
us to hold 1t fast. not surrenderng any
portion of IT to foreigners in the vague
hope that We may compensate ourselves
for the losses of such folly by gaining en-
trance to the markets Of the world" of
which We hear SO much and know so lit
tie.
/ H /
We may question If 1t can be proved that
the productive capacity of our manufac-
turing machinery Is at all In excess of the
consuming capacity of the American peo-
pie: and We may even doubt IL the require
ments of the home, market can be met by
the operation of such machinery through
all the working hours of the year. were
alier, manufacturers wholly excluded from
this country. In some lines of pro-
duction there may be an excess for ex-
port: but. usually. these are departments
Of industry, like the manufacture of fur
niture and sole leather, I'm which We have
natural advantages not possessed by other
countries. But surely 1t is not warranta-
BILE to insist. for example. that we pro-
duce more cottOns and woolens than our
people can wear. in presence of the fact
that the imports to this country in 1894 of |
cotton and woolen goods aggregated near
ly $70OOO.00O and in the first ten months
of 1895 nearly $4,000. 900. Nor can there be |
reason for declaring that our domestic |
production, upon the whole. is excessive
when 1t Is perceived that. in the last fiscal
year. we imported Of foreign fabrics, near
ly all of which we could have made at
home. $685.. 900 worth. The markets of |
the world In which a manufacturing ma
ton can compete are already occupied by |
eager rivals. most Of whom can produce |
more cheaply than we can. Surely we
have little to gain by engaging, without