Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1901-05-09
PRICES HERE AND ABROAD.

question not the falsehood can be an
swered without investigation, requiring
sometimes much care and time. For
the past three months our Free-Traders
have rung the changes on the accusa-
| ton that our manufacturers were sell
| ing their products abroad at much
lower price than in the home market.
| This accusation has been made, as most
| Trade statements are, in general
without any attempt at specific names
or amounts. The few instances OF
| guesswork have been so ridiculous as
to deserve no notice.
This question Of export discounts was
| thoroughly investigated ten years ago,
and we were no more afraid Of it now
than we were at that time, when 1t
proved to be the biggest kind of buga-
| boo Until thorough investigation
is made by a competent committee,
with power to summon and question re-
| liable witnesses, no one can wholly al
firm or deny statements in general or
in particular. In the meantime there
are phases Of the subject that will bear
discussion.
For the sake of argument let us sup
pose that our manufacturers do dispose
abroad Of their surplus stock or any or
| their stock at cut rates. Is this not
universal rule of trade? Does not
every merchant have his clearance
Sale?" Are not unreasonable and shop
worn goods marked down "below cost!'
| Are not stale and damaged products
sold away under regular prices, fire.
quently below cost Of production? Is
1t anything rare for our great stores
| to put a certain article or articles on
sale at or below actual cost to attract
customers, who will buy paying articles
in such quantities as to make up for
the small loss? To introduce new
product does not the maker put it at a
very low price, or, in fact, give away
samples at first, till the people have
proved its merits?
There is one firm in the State of New
| York which gave away last year over
| 100000 sample bottles of medicine.
Besides the cost of the medicine was
the cost Of bottles and postage and the
| work Of -bottling, packing, shipping, ad-
| dressing, ETC., and yet that firm charged
80 cents and 81 a bottle for the same
| medicine
These are all fair and legitimate ex-
pedients of trade. If an American
manufacturer, in order to introduce
machine or tool, or rail, or anything
else into a new market, as an induce
! ment makes a special price or discount
| ON a trial order, putting the article at
cost or perhaps below cost, and being
willing to pocket his loss for the sake
of future trade and profits is it any
| body's business, and must he sell at
the same price to his established trade,
| which would mean that he would soon
sell to no one at any price? Certainly
American labor, the basis Of all prosper
| ity, is not the loser by an operation
| which provides increased employment
| In Am erican mills and factories.
Has any one but a blind Free-Trader
any idea that our manufacturers are
going to habitually sell their products
at a loss unless for some good trade
reason? These reasons are four, and
no more: To get rid of surplus stock;
to get rid of undesirable stock (stale,
unreasonable, damaged or out of date;
to introduce new goods; to introduce
goods into a new market. So much for
the export price.
But Traders assert that protec-
ton enables the manufacturer to extort
exorbitant prices at home far in excess
Of what is a reasonable profit. We do
not nee dany investigating committee
to settle this question for US. Every
man is capable of settling it for him
self. And there is nor an honest man
in any part of the United States to-day
but must acknowledge that he can buy
any and every necessary thing cheaper,
considering quantity and quality, than
ever before in his life. 1t does not
matter if steel rails are little higher;
it costs less to ride and less to send
freight on the railroad than ever before
It does not matter if structural iron or
wire nails are somewhat higher; it
costs no more to buy or rent a house
1t does not matter if wool or leather
1uctuate in price; clothing and shoes
were never so reasonable in price. The
advertisements in the daily papers
prove this statement. Compare prices
with those Of five years ago under Free
Trade, with ten years ago, with twenty
years ago, with any past year, and it
will be found that the same qualities
Of goods for wear or use were never so
cheap as now. Why?
Our grand home market, built up by
protection, makes such an enormous de-
mand that commodities are turned out
by the thousands instead of the hun