Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-05-11
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Abroad than at Home.
Any fool can ask questions. any
idiot can utter a falsehood, and neither
the question nor the falsehood can be
answered without Investigation, re-
quiring sometimes much care and
time. For the past three months our
Free Traders have rung the changes
on the accusation that our manufactur-
ers were selling their products abroad
at a much lower price than in the
home market. This accusation mas
been made, as most Free Trade state
ments are. in general without any at
tempt at specific names or amounts.
The few instances of guesswork have
been so ridiculous as to deserve no no.
tice
This question of export discounts
was thoroughly Investigated ten years
ago, and we are no more afraid of it
now than we were at that time, when
it proved to be the biggest kind of a
bugaboo. Until a thorough investiga-
ton is made by a competent autho-
rized committee, with power to sum-
mon and question reliable witnesses.
no one can wholly affirm 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. dis
pose abroad of their surplus stock or
any of their stock at cut rates. Is this
not a universal rule of trade? Does
not every merchant have his clear
ance sale?" Are not unreasonable and
shopworn goods marked down below
cost?" Are mot stale and damaged
coI6
prices, frequently below cost of pro-
duction? Is it 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 in
troduce a 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 it's merits?
There is one firm in the state of New
York which gave away last year over
1000, 900 sample bottles of medicine
Besides the cost of the medicine was
the cost of the bottles and postage and
the work of bottlfng, packing, ship
ping, addressing, etc, and yet that
firm charged fifty cents and 81 bottle
for the same medicine.
These are all fair and legitimate ex-
pedients of trade. If an American
manufacturer, in order to introduce a
machine, or tool, rail, or anything
else into a new market, as an induce
ment makes special price or d1S-
count 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 pro-
fits, is it anybody'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 prosperity, is not the
loser by an operation which provides
increased employment in American
mills and factories.
Has any but a blind Free Trader
any idea that our manufacturers are
going to habitualIy 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 dateo;
to introduce new goods; to introduce
goods into a new market. So much
for the export price.
But Free Traders assert that Pro-
lection enables the manufactures to
extort exorbitant prices at home Tar
in excess of what is reasonable
profit. We do not need any investigat-
ing committee to settle this question
for u.s. Every man is capable of set
thing it for himself. And there Is not
an honest man in any part of the
United States today but must ac-
knowledge that he can buy any and
every necessary thing cheaper, con-
s:dering 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 be-
| fore. 1t does not matter if structural
! iron or wire nails are somewhat high
err: it costs no more to buy or rent
| house. 1t does not matter II wool or
| leather fiuctuate in price; clothing
| and shoes were never SO reasonable in
| price The advertisements in the daily
| papers prove this statement. Com
| pare 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.
4 Why?
Our grand home market, built up
by Protection, makes such an enor-
| nous demand that commodities are
] turned out by the thousands instead
- t1,1 br-drods No ope- will uueztiou