The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-12-21
Breaking The Record.

1t Is fitting that the last year of the
century should be In every way the
best. From an Industrial and COM
mercal standpoint the year 1900 in
the United States surpasses any pre-
vious year In our history. In popula-
tiou, In wealth, In production, In man.
ufacture, In export, in domestic trade,
10 fact in almost every field of indus
try and commerce we do not only lead
the world, but have broken our own
unparalleled records.
The question arises, why?
1t Is but few years since we were
In the throes of bankruptcy and ruin.
Since these dark days Of Democratic
Free Trade industrial disaster we
have most successfully prosecuted a
foreign war, have freed millions OF
human beings, and gone right on grow
ing richer and stronger.
And the question arises, why?
The answer can be given In two
words:
Protection and confidence.
The United States never did and
never can prosper under Free-Trade
or any tariff that is not a thoroughly
Protective Tariff. This assertion has
been proved too often to need much
discussion now. Only five years ago
we were borrowing, timid, idle peo-
pie; our mills were closed, our capital
was locked up, our expenditures ex-
ceeded our receipts, our balance OF
trade hardly worth noting. To-day
every condition is reversed.
And the question arises, Why?
Because Protective Tariff secures
a home market; home market means
a demand far greater than all the
worlds markets combined. This de-
demand entices capital, and every
mill is busy and every laborer employ
ed. We are producing and consuming,
consuming and producing. And our
fame has gone abroad, 50 that the
world is wanting our better made war
es, with the result that 1900 breaks
the record in exports of merchandise,
and especially in exports of manufact-
ures 1899 was record breaker. But
1900 will make still another and a
greater record. Each month shows
gain over the corresponding month
ofprevious years, as we'll as the preced-
ing months Of this year. The exports
for October, 1900. amounted to $685.
O93, 597, just double what they were in
1894. During the nine months ending
September 80, 1900, the exports of iron
and steel amounted to $97,3l2, 06O,
as compared with $24, S52, 62S for the
same period of 1885, Exports of agri-
cultural implements for the 9 months
of 1900 were $14, 1896, 1877. against 81, 1872
500 for the same period Of 1895. And
so on through the list. The Dlngley
law has given great impetus toevery
industry. Our wool imports have fall
len off two-thirds, with the result that
our own raisers have increased their
hocks and find ready market at COED
prices for their wool. So is whitney,
cry industry. We are producing at
home and increasing our wealth ana
savings enormously. We are to-day
the wealthiest and busiest and conse-
quently the harpiest people on eartn'
Merchants and manufacturers nave
confidence in the Government. They
know that our Protective Tariff Will
be in force four years, anyway, with
out even the threat of a change. New
mills are going up all over the land,
and more and more labor is being en-
Moved every week. This means liz
creasing markets for the products OF
the farm as we'll as the factory. Prices
will remain on a profitable basis at
both the farm and the mill, and our
surplus will go to swell the already en-
ormous balance of trade in our favor.
We are thus enabled to loan our cred
| it abroad to the various nations and
are no longer drained to meet the de-
mands of foreign creditors. The whole
world looks to the United States fol
both money and goods, and records
seem likely to be broken year after veal
for some time to come.
While Free.Trade England Is on the
verge of mighty convulsion In indus
trial circles, Protected America Il
climbing higher and higher to the pin
nacle of wealth and strength. Nowo
der, then, that the people so emphat
ically emphasized their confidence
| November in the administration o
William Mckinley and a Protection
and sound money party. The grea
error of 1892 was not repeated. 1t wa
| a terrible lessen we had to learn,