The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-04-12
80 RAM MATgRIALs.

1t is of great importance that iron, steel, lead, WOOL hides and
other articles which are the basis Of manufacturing industry snail De
free from any tax or duty whatever
First, in order that manufacturers Of countless articles shall be
able to put their industries upon q sound basis.
: Second, in order that their products shall be cheaper, so that they
! may supply more of them to our people, and, therefore, give more
employment to our labor
! Third, in order that the extra cost Of materials shall not handicap
: the products Of American labor in their competition with foreign
! manufactures in any country in the world.
We do export both crude and manufactured articles to every part
of the world. It as clear as day that we could export more of them
and employ more American labor IN making them, ! it were not for
the protective taxes which increase the cost of the materials, nipple
: ments and machinery used in producing and marketing them. The
; protective duties are thus taxes upon all American labor, but fall with
especial severity upon the labor engaged in producing articles which
must find a foreign market. These articles are increasing in quantity
and variety. Those engaged in producing them outnumoer those who
could possibly be exposed to the injurious competition of imported
products, if every protective duty were to be abolished We must
now seek a market abroad for our surplus production mot only of
cotton, corn, wheat, -four and provisions, but also Of finished man.
ufactured goods, such as cotton fabrics, machinery, hardware and
metallic products Of every kind.
ssBut. it has been asked, care not pig iron and steel bars and
bflets produced so cheapy here that this country exports millions II
dollars worth? How then, could we get these materials cheaper, even
if there we're no duty upon them?"
The answer is that while iron and steel are produced cheaply in
this country they are not sold cheaply here. They are sold for report at
lower prices than those we have to pay, and foreign manufacturers
who use them get the benefit. In other words the bearing of the
protective duties is the same that it was ten years ago, although the
conditions have changed. Then foreign hardware manufacturers
we're able to buy cheap foreign iron and steel, which we couldn't get
on account of the protective tariff duties; while now foreign manufac-
turers can buy cheap American iron and STEEL which we cannot buy SO
low, because of those protective duties.
1t is true now. as it was ten years ago, that the foreign hardware
or machinery manufacturers advantage lies in his ability to obtain
cheaper materials and not in cheaper labor Our labor is really the
cheapest in the world, because, now, as then, it'll paid more, but it
produces more; so that the labor cost Of production is less here than in
foreign countries. Indeed, the articles which we most excel in pro-
ducing are those in W ich the proportion of labor is comparatively
large and material small, like machinery and shelf hardware; while we
find it harder to compete with articles requiring less labor and more
material, like anyls.
Free raw materials should be demanded, not for our export bust
ness alone, buu to benefit the whole American people; not as an end
but as a first step in a steady, consistent progress toward the only
Just and permanent condition for a free country free trade,