The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-12
F., proTEcr1oN1sr's CONFESSION.

\ PROTECT1OSfSI . So>f E''o'oi o-''
In SUNDAYS paper we reproduced from
the Baltimore Manufacturers Record an
interesting interview with Mr.. Abram ..
Hewitt on the outlook for iron we 1lno
in the New York Commercial Advertiser,
o, able hut intensely Republican news
paper. comments on Mr.. sHeWittc articIe
which are significant. The Commercial
Advertiser agrees with Mr. Hewitt IN an
that he says. and in the course OF us re-
marks undertakes to show why it is that we
ara now able to compete in European
markets in the sale of iron as we were
not able to do in days past
II saws that until late years the Two
chief obstacles to any lasting advance III
The iron market have been the low wages
o4 F,uropean. workingmen, which always
set = minimum for prices not much above
the bare cost of production, and me
diversity Of trade interests which, rem
dering impossible any regulation OF GUY
mt. serves TO intensity the temporary
purpose of overproducuon ana cores
nonaingly to aggregate the reacuonary
movements which invariably follow We
we're able to deal with the first difficulty
in this country he adds. by levyins
productive tariff duties, but IN SO DONG
we were precluded from competing IN
the foreign markets.
Here is an interesting confession from
!. distinguished source. The Commercial
Advertiser believes in the protective prln-
cinie but it confesses by inference mat
ubi.e we were able by applying hSh
tariff TO prevent outsiders from com
netting with us in this country IN the
,nan,,factu OF iron, we were unable, Tor
,ba same reason. to sell our iron IN Tor
.,;rn markets To be sure our New
York contemporary explains that we
are now able to sustain the home NOUS
,ry on a remunerative footing ana 10 eA-
TEND our competition abroad through lNe
|, interposition of a more natural agent
namely the increasing scarcity OF fuei IN
4uropean countries, which raises the cost
Of I1urope.s iron production by as much
as the lower standard OF wages diminish
ed it, But it also says that our ability
/ TO work the mines more cheaply. toSethet
with the extremely low rates for trans
oortation, alone have made it possible
| for the United States within the last lew
| wears 10 take rank as a prominent eX-
| porter OF iron
| We admit the higher price OF fuel II
/! European countries. but that is not the
whole truth The reason why We ara
| now able to make iron and the lnanutac-
! lures OF iron and various ither articles
/ in competition with foreign manufae'
/ lures OF iron and various other articles
4 dull times how to cheaper the cost o.
4 production. Under a protective system
| our manufacturers did not study aues
i tons of economy. It was accepted q:
! a fact that We could not compete witt
the foreigners. and as they were not per
mitsed 10 compete with US here, we wer,
content to live within ourselves and Il
make only enough goods for the hons
supply. Under the protective system thi
sort of thing would have gone on IN
Il definitely. but when the hard times cam
1 our manufacturers were compelled t
economic whether or not and 10 rednc
the cost of production TO the minimum
i Every edge was made to cut. as The say
ing gees. and by and by We discoGere.
tina, NE were making goods at such a los
agare that we could sell them In, the mar