The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1911-07-06
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Special Washington Correspond
ent of The Times.


By Clyde H. Tavenncr.
Washington, D. C.-There is one
protectionist argument that will never
again occupy the place in American
politics that it has in the past.
That is the argument that a high
protection wall is necessary to enable
American manufacturers to compete
in home markets with foreign manu-
featured goods.
The reason this stock protectionist
argument will never again perform
the same valuable mission for the Re-
publicans, is because of a speech de-
livered in the House by VIM. C.
Redfield of New York, who is man.
ufacturer himself, and who for IS
years has been selling American
manufactures in foreign countries.
Redfield contended and proved that
the difference in daily wage at home
and abroad should not be the sole
basis of determining the amount of
protection to be applied to given
article.
He cited instance after instance in
which he sold articles manufactured
by S. day American employees in
countries where labor received less
than one dollar day.
Redfield took the position that
American manufacturers did not need
as much protection as they are now
enjoying Ito protect them from
foreign competition because they
are successfully competing with for
eign manufacturers in all parts of the
world.
"How does it happen demanded
Redfield, "that in a quotation recent
ly made for machinery to a mine in
Japan the American price was $2l5
less than the English price?
"How does it happen that 720
American locomotives are running
upon the Japanese railways, and up
on the railways of Formosa and upon
those of Manchuria? These are sold
in open competition with the makers
in Great Britain
Redfield related an incident between
an American salesman who recently
took a large contract from the jap
anese Imperial State Railways and
one of the managers Of the Imperial
Railways shop.
The Japanese official was under
impression that he could manufacture
locomotives cheaper than an Ameri-
can plant because Japanese wages
are but one-fifth of American wages.
"Both men got out their cost
books" said Redfield, "and they
found that the fact was the labor cost
for locomotives on the same specifi-
cations was three and one-half times
greater in the Japanese shops than in
the American shops. And this is
perfectly normal fact and not an alb.
normal one"
Redfield said when he was in Cal.
cutta, India, recently, his agent point
ed to pair of American made shoes
he was wearing.
II paid 1885 for those shoes" said
the agent. ut is the regular Ameri-
IAN S. Shoe
Redfield said that when he returned
o New York he found the same shoe
selling on Broadway for IS. 81 shall
9e glad to give names and addresses
o any member who inquiries in ,
private.
Redfield gave score of similar in
stances. 1t is impossible to do justice
o his remarkable revelation in this
lispatch.
Every reader of this article may Sc :
ure, free of charge, a copy of the !.
omplete speech, without doubt one =
f the most remarkable of its kind
yer made in Congress, by writing
Ion. James T. Lloyd, Chairman,
'ational Democratic Congressional :,
Washington, D. C.
PrOgressives on Their Guard.
Progressive Republicans were con- q
picuous at the Presidents recent +,
'edding anniversary celebration by
,eir absence. Even former presi- b
ent Roosevelt was missing. The h
kplanation is this: The progressives al
ID not of course mean any slight to u
e President, but feared that if they O,
tended the celebration the White &
ouse press bureau would send out