The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1899-03-09

took his seat for the first time in con-
Eress, 1851, We were making 6o3,1S4
gross tons of pig iron, as compared
with 1903, 800 tons made in Great Brit
ain. This was about per cent OF the
total probable production for that year,
England making Az per cent. When
he died, still representing the Fourth
Congressional district in Pennsylvania,
we were making as much iron as Great
Britain. Since then we have made
more pig iron than the United King
dom, reaching for last year total
Of II, 773.S 34 gross tons, against prob
able production by Great Britain OF
9,250,000 tons. That is. our contribu-
ton to the worlds output OF pig IRON
has probably been about 33ls per cent,
as against 26h per cent by England.
It is doubtful if any one man has
done more to put this country in the
front rank as an iron producer and to
decrease the price Of this necessary
commodity, both in this country and
In the whole world, than Judge Kelley.
A protectionist in all things. he fully
appreciated the fact that the rate OK
progress made by civilization was more
dependent on low price Of iron than
on any other factor. And he knew
that the only way to permanently re-
duce the price of iron was to increase
the supply He accordingly was in
sistent in his efforts to induce such
commercial confidence in the future as
would justify the liberal expenditures
OF capital necessary for opening mines
and the construction OF railroads. fur
naces and labor-saving machinery re-
Quired In the production and manufac-
ture Of iron. He thought, and the ma
jority Of the civilized world has since
agreed with him, that the surest way
to develop this confidence and secure
the resulting increase in iron produc-
tion was by the imposition Of a pro-
tective tariff.
The object Of Representative KEEL
ley's labors was extremely distasteful
to the importers of iron ware, for
they had their interests served by a
high Price, which could be best secur-
ed by restricting the American output
Consequently they demanded of all pa
pers Influenced by payments for their
advertisements and the advertisements
Of other importers that Kelley should
be attacked and denounced, and the eff
forts of such newspapers were ably
seconded by that class of parasitic
writer's which seems unable to find
recompense for labors in the interest
of this country. The result was that
from the time the proportional make Of
American iron commenced to encroach
upon the British make Mr. Kelley was
one of the best and most generally
abused men on this continent. Wher-
ever the English language was spoken
he was known as Pig Iron Kelley.
The Golden motto, peace on earth
and goodwill to men," did not apply
to those who reduce the profits of Brit
ish manufacturers by charging the
supply of manufactured goods.
In 1860 the production of iron in this
country had been increasing in spite
OF the Walker" tariff and that Of
1857. Under the tariff of 1912, with
duty Of 50 per ton. we hoped to ex-
coed the make of Great Britain, and a
production of SOC, 900 tons was claimed
for both 1S47 and 184S. But the Walk
or tariff, with q 30 per cent ad valorem
duty, sent our make down to 500, 900
tons in 1852, to grow gradually to the
figures given above for 1860, In spite
OF a "a per cent duty imposed in 1857.
1t was during this period, when we
were more unready 10 compete than
at any other time in our history, that
England commenced iron shipbuilding,
aiding it with enormous subsidies to
her steamer lines and the discrimina-
lions of Lloyds' insurance rates.
The very decided jump in price from
a minimum OF $1,000 In 1871 to a maxi
mum of $53.S7h in 1872 was due to a
reduction in the tariff. which stopped
furnace building and Sd reduced conf
dence that the production of iron in
this country actually decreased In the
face Of an increasing demand. Those
OF our furnacemen who did not believe
the duty is always added to the price
reaped a very substantial reward for
their persistence. The great advan-
tage. however. resulting from the de-
creased duty went where it was in
tended-to England. That country
sold US iron and steel and manufac-
lures thereof to the value Of $685.
S34. 167 in the three years ending with
June 30, 1870, and to .ha value Of $219.-
COS, 434 In the three years ending with
1873. This largely increased foreign
expenditure added materially to the
financial stringency following the last
named year.
In view of the fact that pig iron IL
now sold at less than the probable
profit In many years between 1850 and
1880 it Is of interest to read tie words
Of Historian Fiske, characterizing the
system Of protection-viz.:
The shameful system. Of wholesale
robbery upon which congress had en-
tered by 1898. and which during the
last thirty years has been growing
ever more cynical, ruthless and base