The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1912-09-27
Fourth Article.

~ III III ia tA@A&s
The simple figures showing the
growth and present magnitude OF the
industries of New Jersey that are the
product Of the protective tariff system
read like romance. These figures are
official. They are part of the United
States census and therefore are indls-
putable, and they constitute an argu
ment for tariff protection that the free
trader with his doctrines and theory
finds it impossible to combat.
1T Is now three years since the manu-
featuring census of 1900, the last cen
gus, was taken, and In these three
years the state has progressed In Its
Industrial growth at the same ratio as
between the years 1904 and 1909, which
period showed nm enormous increase.
A comparison of the figures for 1904
and 1900 shows that the number OF
establishments increased 259 per cent,
the wage earners 22.5 per cent, the
value OF the product 47.0 per cent, the
value added by manufacture 40 per
cent and the capital invested 30 per
cent-all this in five years. Add three
years more of growth and see what
dizzy percentages we getl
During 1910 an average of 81 800
wage earners, representing IT per cent
OF the total population, We're employed
In manufactures, while In 1909 an av-
erage Of 326,223, or 1919 per cent Of
the total population, were so engaged
The total value of the manufactures Of
the state amounted to only $50, S51 900
In 1919, while In 1909, exclusive of the
value of the products of the nelghbor-
hood and hand industries, 1t reached
S1,145, 800 200, or nearly twenty-nine
times the value reported in 1s49, and
yet the population of the state In 1910
was only little more than five times
the population in 1850. The gross
value of the product per capita of the
total population of the state increased
from $st In 1910 to $451 in 1909. New
Jersey reported 80 per cent of the
total value of products of the manu-
featuring industries in the United
States IN 1919 and 55 per cent In 1909,
holding sixth place among the states
In gross value of manufactures at
both censuses.
Briefly, New Jersey in 1909 had SSH
manufacturing establishments, which
gave employment to an average of
37t ,2G5 persons during the year and
paid out $21S,046.000 In salaries and
wages OF the persons employed $780,
223 We're wage earners. These estab-
lishments turned out products to the
value of $1,1i5,529,00 TO produce
which materials worth $720, 1888 900
We're used. The value added by man
ufacture was thus $425, 1896 900, which
figures best represent the net wealth
created by manufacturing operations
during the year. That is to say, the
manufacturing industries of New Jer-
sey In 1909 created 1925, 100000 of sol
Id wealth, At the rate OF increase for
the Ave years the present annual net
product Of wealth exceeds $500.000,000,
and the annual salaries and wages
amount to fully $250,000,000.
We have seen in former article
where this enormous earned wealth
goes. 1t enrlches every class. 1t fills
the Golfers of the banks and enables
them to loan millions to business men
for their enterprises. Without this
wealth no bank in New Jersey could
exist. 1t supports all the retail stores.
Without 1t the store owners would be
bankrupt The great department stores
owe all their prosperity to the tariff
protected industries, and every corner
grocery is under the same obligation.
Without this industrial wealth the
doctor, the dentist, the lawyer, would
have little or no business and small In
comes. More than half of them would
he starved out and compelled to take
up laboring work or brlgandage for
living. And where would the wage
Garner and his family turn?
4 free trade authority has said that
the great need of this nation was that
of driving the working population out
of the cities into the rural sections to
do agricultural work Factory labor,
ne holds. should be discouraged in or
der to make farmers. But how Ia the
factory worker to get the means of
support ia the rural sections? How
can he buy a farm and stock Il? How
is he to learn farming? And IL the
city worker is impoverished and driven
out where is the farmer going to find
a market for his products?
Industries that create $500. 600 a
year while paying $250,0o0,oo0 year
IN wages and salaries are surely worth
preserving, considering all that they
represent Before we consent to their
sacrifice let us ask what compensations
we are to get. We are promised cheap
err necessarles. 1t is shown that IL we
wipe out tariff protection the foreign
producers will come right In and sup
ply us with what we want at foreign
prices Admitting that these prices
are lower than those in the United
States what would the effect be on the
foreigners prices by the opening, free
OF the vast American markets7 As
suredly it would be to put up the for.
eigner's prices. And the trusts In
England and France and Germany
would not be less greedy than the
American trusts have been.
Our tight little Industrial state, with
its vast earning power, its great army
of 100000 wage earners and with all its
vital interests depending on tariff pro
lection, is not quite capable of economic
suicide 1t will not blindly destroy its
own great prosperity-will not consent
to its ruin. That would indeed be in
credible madness. Governor Wilson,
credited as a presidential candidate to