The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-19
TIE WIT SHARPENING PROCESS.
The Psychologist Erect OF the Underwood
Tariff on American Industries.

To THE EDITOR or THE SuN--Str: Tho
public mind has been diverted so by long
protracted crises" from which apparently
| come no results In Mexico. and by discus
sion as to tolls at Panama, an Issue not By
any means defunct, there seems to be
great dearth OF pregnant comment on the
working OF the tariff law enacted by our
present Government. For my own part 1
am doing probably as other men are doing
at this time. that In to say. am forming
Judgments based on facts. such as 1 am
put In contact with. and these, while not
especially diversified. seem Impressive,
since all point In the same direction.
lind. for instance. or our stretch or
coastline as between Seattle and the Brit
ish province. there have been manufac-
tured until lately some OF the finest red
wood or high grade cedar shingles In the
world, that there were out upon that por-
ton OF our coast in 1912 gao or more 60
ing. prosperous mills engaged In turning
out the product mentioned. but that when
the present tariff law went in effect all Of
these mills were closed for the reason that
the shinglo mills across our border. em-
ploying cheap workmen from Japan. were
enabled thanks to our present tariff law,
to undersell tho product Of our country
men. I ind that the shingle business In
the State OF Washington was really ma
tionai in scope that these shingles were
sold all over the United States, and that
enough to come below tho cost OF manu-
facture in the state Of Washington: that
thousands of native American workmen
who had employment In our mills are now
thrown on their uppers "psychologically."
l have a friend whose business has been
the manufacture In this country not 500
miles from here, OF low priced hosiery for
men and women. I find that he was maxi
ing twenty-seven inch hose for women
at cost to him Of about so cents dozen
pair, which usually retailed at 10 cents a
pair. such increase in price including the
manufacturer, wholesalers' and retailers
prohts. the cost OF advertising and the ex-
pense of travelling statesmen. but when
tho Underwood tariff went into effect the
manufacturers in Germany, on account OF
the low local wages paid. were enabled
to put upon the American market an
equally good hose at IS cents a dozen
pair. OF which price 36 cents represents
the original cost of manufacture and So
cents the Underwood tariff tax. So, nat
urally, what has resulted In the case Of
my friends factory Is that II has been
closed because OF tho new tariff. tho men
and women who were employed in the
business mentioned have no work that II
is difficult, II not impossible. for them to
find any work because of shrinkage or
ruin In so many other lines as a result of
the new tarkf.
/ am told by people operating woollen
mills that they are running at a loss since
the enactment of the new tariff and I'M
less there be substantial cuts in wages
they too will have 20 close.
Conditions IN the iron trade are similar.
Amusement 10 excited In such circles by
the proposal to restore part of the sugar
duty. concerning which the report of
afessrs. Matthew Addy & Company. dated
Juno 6. remarks that the Administration
Is confessing that the sugar business on a
free trade basis will be ruined: but IL
sugar needs help, why not iron7 There
must ne some cause for this depression In
the iron trade: the present FREQ trade
tariff cannot escape a large part OF the
responsibility. OF course the iron trade
sympathizes with the sugar producers It
wants to see them restored again to pros
perlty; but IL sugar is TO get a seat at
the first table once more. IL wants TO join
In tho feast. President Wilson tells us
that the new tariff will sharpen the wits
of American manufacturers. That may be,
hut meantime we would like something
to eat"
II would be easy TO cite other instances,
all leading. as ! have noticed. TO the same
conclusion. that the Democratic party
instead OF fulfilling any of the promises
II made OF benefits to come TO the United
States from the Wilson Underwood pro-
posals. Is doing the United States vast
injury to-day. because. I think. the cases
happening to como within my sphere of
knowledge are unquestionably typical
Only this morning I have an appeal
from the Association for Improving the
Condition of tho Poor. over the esteemed
signature OF X. Fulton Cutting. chairman,
from which 1 quote: THE suffering re-
sulting from long, severe winter and the
unemployment OF many. forced into pow
erty hundreds who never before had to
seek aid. These circumstances have now
brought about unusual and distressing
conditions In our congested tenement dis