The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-15


An ODJhCT LESSON IN CUTLERY.
Senator Vest. Of Missouri. Il one OF
those captivating takers who should al
ways keep away from the introduction
az facts into their speeches. He can
make brilliant speech when he avoids
facts. but facts do undoubtedly spo1l it.
Facts arc to Senator Vests speaches
what funny anecdotes are to sermons
Funny stories have their place. but that
place is not in sermons: they mar the eff
feet and distract the attention OF the
listener. Facts are ell very well in their
place. but that place u not In Senator
Vests speeches: they mar the effect and
distract the attention Of the auditor from
the rolling periods and dazzling apostro-
phies. which hare doae so much to keep
Mr.. Vest In the United States senate.
In the course of the debate on the tariff
Mr.. Vest, who belongs to that branch OF
the Democracy known as Bourbons, still
thinks 1t part Of his duty as a Demo-
crat to oppose a protective tariff because
that IL one Of the principles OF the Re-
publican party. II the Democrats were
In favor of protection. Mr.. Vest is one OF
those valuable gentlemen who would be
quite az willing and just as ready to
demonstrate that 1t was the only saliva
ton of the country.
Knowing that Mr. Vest 10 opposed to a
tariff on general principles, those who
are likely to be injured BIZ 1t have found
him very willing advocate Of every OBJ
lection. When. for instance. the cutlery
paragraphs were considered. and the
tariff on penknives. pocket knives, razors
and scissors was under discussion, Mr..
Vest offered a substitute embodying the
rates Of the present law. He did not
know why this should be done, but he
read a statement from q large cutlery
house. showing q comparison between
the Wilson rate and the proposed rate,
for the purpose Of proving that the latter
would keep out foreign goods. This
would not seem much OF an objection to
increased demand for his labor. but 1t did
seem SO to Mr.. Vest.
Mr.. Plat. of Connecticut. pointed out
that 1.2eS.o 600 dozen knives were imported
last year. and $4,000 dozen were made in
the United States. showing that only
one-tlfth OF the demand was supplied by
this country. This would be no objection
to an American mechanic. but 1t did not
affect Mr. Vest or disarm his opposition.
1t was then pointed out that the effect
greatly increase the consumption of home
manufactures and even to promote for
eign trade in American cutlery Senator
Vest, who seems TO have been quite well
fortified by importers of cutlery. then read
another letter, which stated that the
writer had shipped 800 dozen knives to
Sheffield, showing that our cutlery was
invading the great English cutlery CEN
ter. The senator gave an object lesson
In cutlery by spreading many kinds OF
pocket knives. table knives. etc, on the
desks around him. He pointed out that
In each case the American knife was bet
ter and cheaper than the English kr e.
He wanted TO demonstrate he said. that
we make better cutlery and pay more to
our sahorers, and yet IL was proposed TO
raise the duty. The effect OF the tariff,
then. would be TO keep out the inferior
grade Of goods shipped from Europe. the
work OF cheap labor. and to preserve for
our market the whole of this country for
the better grade Of goods at a lower price
and with a higher rate of wages TO the
lahorer. Mr. Vest could not see this: he
could only see that II we kept out the
foreign goods We were going TO make Ii
worse for the importers
Senator Plat, of Connecticut. cannot
make a speech like Mr.. Vest. hu, be can
see the poin; % a proposition much more
Vests cwn statements showed that The
| duty hurt no one In this country, and
| that as a result. OK II the American
| cutler was making a better knife and
/ selling II for less than the English maker
l received FER the same knite in Sheffield
/ There could scarcely b. better rlvs-
! traitor Of N. scunaness - the doctrine
! Of protection ss applied 20 oar conditions.
| Here IS a clear c&@e. where through tse
/ operations OF a tariff. an American In
/ 6gssry has been fosterca So WI that 4
! enables Us 10 compete with the English
! in their own market. while we have con-
| timed 10 pay q much higher rate ef
wages - the laeorsr. The new schedule
| viii extend this protection 50 that the
| market will be kept free from the COM
/ rsou grades es EngiEsh manufacturers
| No man who wants good knife or a
/ good razor cares whether he PAYS e
/ cents sr Is cents or even = cents more on
/ less. rfcvi6ea he IS sure q getting an
I article which will se % service 20 him.
/ When cheap goods are palrnes OF upon
| TIRE buyer rs OF prime quality hecause
| ,hey bear = Sheffield stamp q fraud ia
| perpe,rateSs upon tina American buyer as
| well "a upon THE American workman who
. has lost tbs work represented by every
piece e cutlery made abroad
: