The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-07-06
Our Washington Letter.

(By Clyde H. Tavenner, special
Washington correspondent of The
Reporter.)
Washington, June 30.-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
able American manufacturers to
compete in home markets with for
eign manufactured goods.
The reason this stock protection
list argument will never again per-
form the same valuable mission for
the Republicans, is because OF a
speech delivered in the House by
VIM. C. Redfeld, Of New York, who
is a manufacturer himself, and who
for IS years has been selling Amer
lean manufactures in foreign coun-
tries.
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 given to q
given article.
He cited instance after instance
in which he sold articles manufac-
tured by IS day American en-
ployes in countries where labor re-
ceived less than one dollar day.
Redfeld took the position that
American manufacturers did not
need as much protection as they
were now enjoying Ito protect them
from foreign competition" because
they are successfully competing with
foreign manufacturers in all parts
of the world.
"How does it happen demanded
Redfield;,. that in quotation re-
Gently made for machinery to mine
in Japan the American price was
1925 less than the English price?"
"How does it happen that 100
American locomotives are running
upon the Japanese railways, and up
on the railways Of Formosa and up
on those of Manchuria? These are
sold in open competition with the
makers in Great Britain"
Redfeld related an incident be-
tween an American salesman who
recently took large contract from
the Japanese Imperial State Rail-
ways and one of the managers Of
the Imperial Railway shop.
The Japanese official was under
the impression that he could manu-
facture locomotives cheaper than an
American plant because Japanese
wages are but one-f1fth 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
specifications 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 abnormal one."
Redfield said that when he was in
Calcutta, India, recently his agent
pointed to pair of American made
shoes he was wearing.
Il paid 1886 for those shoes"
said the agent. 1T is the regular
American IS shoe.'
Redfield said that when he re-
turned to New York he found the
same shoe selling on Broadway for
s.. II shall be glad to give names
and addresses to any member who
inquiries in private.
instances. 1t is impossible to give
justice to his remarkable revelation
in this dispatch.
Every reader of this article may
secure, free of charge, copy of
the complete speech, without doubt
one of the most remarkable of it's
kind ever made in Congress, by writ
ing Hon. James T. Lloyd, Chairman,
National Democratic Congressional
Committee, Washington, D. c.
Progressives on Their Guard.
Progressive republicans were con-
spicuous at the Presidents recent
wedding anniversary celebration by
their absence. Even Roosevelt, the
man who made Taft president, was
missing. The explanation is this:
The progressives did not of course
intend any slight to the President,
but actually feared that if they at
tended the celebration the White
House press bureau would send out
ed Taft for denomination and re-
election.
If Republican approaches within
shouting distance of the executive
mansion these days, Mr.. Taft's Sec
rotary feeds the Associated Press
with the news" said Republican is
strong for the denomination of the
President.
AS the genuine progressives are
opposed to Taft's denomination,
they are not disposed to take any
chances of being misrepresented.
Popular Elections Endangered.
The resolution providing for the
election of United States senators
by the direct vote of the people, fall
ed to receive the concurrence of the
House because of the Senate Amend
ment retaining federal control over
elections. This amendment, which
would probably have defeated rati-
fication by the necessary three
fourths Of the states, even had the
house accepted it, was tackled on the
resolution by Bristown, of Kansas,
Lorimer, of Illinois, Guggenheim, of
Colorado and the solid delegation of