The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-16
SECRETARY REDFIELD.
An American Textile Manufactures
Tries 10 Teach Him Something.

ing the position II Secretary OF Com
merce should not he no narrow and
prejudiced in his views that he can
see no good in stimulating the devel-
opment Of American manufactures
Any one reading his article who is
not we'll posted would he misled
While the Secretary has held many
prominent positions he has many
things to learn. The idea Of his say
ing that a great party has preached
the doctrine of American inability is
absurd The Republican party has
never preached such doctrine. and ne
knows II. II has preached that In
order 70 pay double the wages that
are paid abroad a tariff or duty should
be put on foreign goods to equalize
the difference In the cost Of produce
ton. His whole article teens with
assertions Of the inefflciency Of the
American manufacturer. I challenge
him TO point to any mills In the world
that are more efficient than the aver
age textile mills here In America. yet
ne claims that the American manu-
facturer needs less tariff and more
efficiency.
Ignorance should be no excuse for a
man holding the position Of Secretary
Rediield I am speaking for the great
textile industry OF America. AS the
Secretary makes no exception in his
article. I take 1t for granted that he
puts all American manufacturers in
the same class.
The textile industry has been
brought up to the highest degree of
efficiency in England, France and
Germany. Our mills, using the same
kind Of machinery. have also been
brought UP TO the same high standard.
Why IL 1t We cannot compete with the
foreign mills7 II II only question
N labor and overhead charges. For
instance. a mill in America that has
n monthly payroll Of 10000. MAXIM
similar goods and with the same out
put as a mill In Bradford, England.
with a payroll Of only s250 (by
reason of the difference in the cost Of
labor would be undersold and driven
ont of business by the English mill
unless the American mill could reduce
its wages TO the English standard
In regard to overhead charges our
mills. machinery. engines. boilers,
shafting and many other fixtures have
all been built or made with good
American wages The result Is that
the overhead charges are also double
the charge In the case Of our foreign
competitors
II has always appeared 10 me mat
when the party to which Secretary
Redheld belongs ~ advocating free
trade It wants to bring our wages and
ma Al.
The free traders ignore the fact that
the textile business is open TO all
who wish n engage in II. and that no
matter how high the tariff is oompeti-
ton keeps prices down 20 a low and
competitive basis.
The Secretary has been in the iron
business, whore freight alone offers
quite a protection. He has been Vice
president Of an engineering concern
manufacturing blowers. but this prac-
teal experience does not NJ him 10 be
the mentor Of American manufartur-
crs. especially In regard TO the tariff
which has done so much to develop
our industries and increase the wages
Of our workmen.
The Secretary has nothing TO say
about the comfortable homes and good
living Of our work people prior 20
the last Presidential election. He
harps on old methods. old machinery,
old ideas inefficient management. In
fact, IN reading over his article we
get the Impression that the average
American manufacturer is living in
the past and has not awakened 70
the present life where economy. thrift.
efficiency and hard work are needed
in order TO compete with the great
majority OF our domestic mills To-
Gated in many different States.
The Secretary says:
The high tsrtn ha. BEEN ours. 20
many a manufacturer, because of the
training in Industrial cowardioe that has
gone with Il.
TINS might be true II competition
did not regulate prices and promote
economy and efficiency. This fact the
Secretary absolutely ignores. Give
the American manufacturer the same
rate of wages and overhead charges
that are paid abroad and he will COM
pete successfully with the world. But
does Mr.. Redfeld want the same
wages and conditions 10 prevail?
II he has a patent which Will enable
textile mills here 10 compete with for
eign mills and still pay our American
wages, he should make II known for
the benefit Of American industries.
instead of dealing in glitterlng gener-
alitles and putting us in a class where
We need the tariff TO make up for in
efficiency.
The war in Europe II responsible for
what Improvement there Is IN the
textile industry In America, with I'M
ports from Germany, Austria, Bel
GUM and the textile centres of France
cut Off II 1t We're not for the condi-
lions existing abroad this country
would he flooded with goods under the
low tariff OF the Wilson Aamnistra-
ton, and our mills would be com
PEELED to reduce wages fully 90 per
cent in order to compete This would
mean strikes and no end of trouble
before wages In this country could he
reduced to the European level
n 7. FoLwELL,
President Of the Manufacturers Club.
PHILADELPHIA, April IL.