Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-12-10
TARIFF REDUCED WAGES.
Cost of Living Increases While the
WorkinGman's Pay
Decreases.

Decreases.
Thirty-two thousand operatives in the
cotton mills of New England have had
their wages cut 10 per cent. and they do
not view lower wages and high cost OF
living as prosperity for them whatever
it may be for the protected trusts. Then
again the employees of the American
Tinplate company-part OF the steel
trust-have returned to work at a 20
per cent. reduction of their wages and
they do not feel prosperous. Ii the re-
publican party had permitted the amend
ment to the Cuban reciprocity bill abol-
ishing the differential-extra duty-on
refined sugar, the saving Of 81 100000 or
SIS, 900, 600 to the cotton and tinplate
operatives, and other consumers, would
have helped to tide over the long cold
winter that has just begun. But the
sugar trust was more influential with
republican congressman than the people
and by taking off 20 per cent. OF the duty
on Cuban raw sugar they presented the
Sut5dl lluoI VIII llt oPpOltuhllJ w
make, as increased profit, almost to a
dollar what the people would have
saved by the abolishing of the extra duty
on refined sugar, which the democratic
amendment proposed to abolish. The
leaders OF this same republican congress
have agreed with President Roosevelt
that reciprocity for the sugar trust ant
the Cubans was the most important leg
islation that was necessary and they
have further agreed that no reform Of
the tariff in its shelter to the trusts is
needed. With no reduction or abolition
Of tariff taxes the numerous trusts, that
are protected like the sugar trust, can
continue to eXtort their enormous
profits. If the tariff taxes were reduced
to a reasonable figure, enough to pro-
duce what the government needs, hoI
estly administered, the trusts WOult
have to reduce their profits to corr,
spending rates, or competition tTol
abroad would come in and supply the
market. That most of the trusts are
able to make ample profits without any
protective tariff is shown by their eX-
porting their products to foreign coun-
tries and selling them in competition
with the foreign manufacturers after
paying the high duties which are de-
manded there. In many instances it has
been proven that, the price the trusts
obtain abroad are much less than they
charge our W people.
If the trusts were making no profit on
the goods they export, they would not
long continue such business, or be so
anxious to extend this trade, by sending
agents to increase it, Sc the excuse that
the trusts are losing money on the goods
they are selling in foreign markets, OF
dumping their surplus for whatever ii
will bring, is not borne out by the facts
not contiue to do a losing business and
be seeking more at the same Improbable
rate. The steel trust is bidding on for
eign contracts against the English, Ger
man, French and Belgium manufacture
ers, and successfully, too, at 80 per cent
less on some of its products. To enable
it to compete with the foreigners or
their own ground, it reduced the wages
Of its employees, but does not lower the
price of it's products at home. The work
men, the farmers and the balance of us
would all be better off, if the tariff wa
reduced and competition was allowed
to keep the trust prices down. If the
cost of living was reduced one-third, The
workmen could afford to labor for les:
wages and what a blessing the lower
cost of living would be to those will
limited incomes. The farmer would ge
the same price for what he raises unde.
a low as he does under a high tariff, be
cause the price of agricultural product,
are based upon supply and demand ant
no tariff car change that immuta
Bile law and the farmer las no proiec
ton to aid him except the duty on woo
and that has proven to be a boomerang
The wholesale and retail dealers make
: larger percentage of profits the cheapet
they can buy the goods they sell, so the.
would gain by tariff reduction. TIL
whole army of those who work fo
wages, be the wages large or small, ar,
benefited by a reasonable price for al
/ they buy. The high tariff adds to thos
prices directly and in a much create
proportion through the increased profit
the trusts and protected monopo,ie
t charge under the shelter of high prottc
ton. The republican masses feel TIM
protection is robbing them and are pro
testing, the Iowa Idea" being a samDl
! protest, but the republican leaders haV
: succeeded in putting even that small
I effort to sleep.
Almost any respectable democra
,ainht ho alnctad if he stnnd on a Mat