La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-03-12
sn,psulLp,No AND LABOR.
Free Trade Opposed to An Increase cs
| American ve~sele

Free Trade Opposed to An Increase cs
American vr.ael.
A late number of the Evening Sun.
in an article ON the proposed additions
to the navies of England and France.
quotes detailed statement showing
that the programme adopted for new
British war ships would absorb one
fourth OF Britain's current output OF
Iron. adding: In short. in naval con-
struction. along with its ordnance.
England and France combined are
spending over $65.000.00o yearly, most
OF II in wages in advanced forms of in
dustry. This sum is the wages of be-
tween 10000 and 200 mechanics
of different grades, and represents the
living OF some 500. 900 souls"
AS very nearly 9.0O0.0 900 tons Of iron
were probably made in Great Britain
last year. the adoption of an equally
comprehensive programme for warship
building by the United States would
call for mining.transporting and smelt-
irg some three and half million tons
OF iron ore. or an addition OF about
one-third to the ore that came out of
Lake Superior last year. At the same
sAa-'S NhS Shtfily llSEt Vi otAWSSAi lvOs-
000 and 200. 900 mechanics. which would
represent the support OF SON., 100000
or any large portion OF the above esti-
mate, could not fail to advance the
prosperity OF all productive industries
in this country.
But because a late number of the
London Economist. writing Of our late
ly acquired influence over the Iron and
steel trade OF the world, says: Much
Is ro doubt due to the free use of the
wealth accumulated during the period
OF high prices. and which has been
spent in the extension and erection Of
new works, securing every Pc sible i'm
provement In labor saving machinery"
every paper in this country controlled
or influenced by any British interest
would exclaim in horror, as they have
heretofore. against any addition to our
navy: for old works are always ex-
tended and new works erected when
there Is promise of increased demand.
And 1t Ia the new works. brought into
use by the demand for the few war
ships We have built, that have made the
reductions in the cost of steel and iron
which have given so much trouble to
our British rivals.
So the British led papers of this
country will continue to urge our me-
chanics that they will receive injury
from any increase in our shipbuilding.
And our farmers will be assured that
the entire cost OF our navy Is flched
from their pockets by editors and 9TH
ers who know that while the average
Briton takes little over $40 per an
mum and the Frenchman about 81
worth Of agricultural products from us.
Americans consume on an average over
$50 worth OF farm produce.
Many farmers will believe the edi-
tors and others. Many farmers, we
are sorry to know. believe that II they
transport both their wheat and cotton
some 1000 miles TO Manchester they
will get more cotton cloth than II the
cotton was worked UP alongside the
cotton field. and the wheat fed to
American operatives, who would eat
no more wheat not grown In America.
They actually think that the cost of
transporting the cotton and wheat
from the fields where they are grown
to Lancashire mills and bringing the
cotton cloth back to the farm or plan
tation Is net taken out of them. These
same farmers seem to think that high
cost OF iron and steel does not injure
them IL the price gees to British iron
masters.