The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-03-03
ZINC MINER MUST HAVE
ADEQUATE PROTECTION
COST OF PRODUCTION IN FOR
ElGN COUNTRIES FAR BE-
LOW COST IN U. S.
american Economist)

(Amerlcan EcOnOmist)
During the last campaign we call
ed attention to the attitude of Gov
ernor Cox toward some of the i'm
pcrtant industries of the United
states In our issue of August 6,
1920. we quoted from his speech de-
livered in congress on March 80, 1909,
in which he advocated free trade in
boots and shoes. hides, lumber and
zinc
In our issue of August 10. 1920, we
showed the rapid increase of impor-
tauons of zinc ores and zinc in pigs,
blocks, sheets and dust during the
present tarix, over the importations
under the tariff of 1909. It was shown
that under the tariff of 1909. the av-
erage annual importations of zinc
ores amounted. in round numbers, to
30 700 tons gross while the average
annual impOrtations under the pres
Ont tariff, for the first six years
thereof were 10000 tons gross.
We then said IF Mr. Cox shall be
elected the zinc industry must die"
Because of his attitude and the atti-
tude of his party. in favoring free
trade, the voters decided not to elect
him to the presidency.
Importance of Zinc.
Those interested in the zinc indus
try are now asking for an adequate
protective tariX and recently appear
ed before the ways and means com
mittee of the house of representa-
tlves to explain their needs. The
brief filed by them shows some very
interesting and important facts. !
Among other things. the statement is
made that:
Zinc is the third most important |
base metal of the world, and during /
the war it proved to be essential for
the production of cartridge metal If
it had not been for the response of
the zinc industry in the United States
to the call made upon it, the allies
could not have continued to wage
war- successfully"
It thus appears that the United
States won the war in more ways
than one. Not only did our soldiers
turn the scale but the zinc industry
Of this country furnished the neces-
5ary materials for continuing the
war
Mexican Zinc
Notwithstanding the fact that the
zinc industry of the United States
vas one of the determining factors ]
n winning the war. yet the industry ]
las since the ending of the war. ex-
'erienced a reverse Great quanti- !
les of zinc ore are being imported !
nto this country from Mexico, that
oantry of low wages. Mexican SHOW :
lers receive soc per day. while Amer !
can shovelers receive IS per day. Nor" !
this all. The wages paid in this =
ountry are from three to six times ;
s high as those paid in Europe. and !
ne zinc producing countries of Eur !
pc are fast returning to a normal =
asis' so that we shall have not only 7,
compete with the poems of Mexico K
at with the nations of Europe where =
ne currency is so deprecated as to n
worth only small fraction of its NJ
zee value, the result being that if NJ
lie face value of wages paid in such "
'nntries were equal to the wages M
lid in this country. the foreign Nj
orkers would still be pitifully I'M N
'ipaid in comparison with our work NJ NJ
en-. In order to compete with them al
ider the present tarix our wages OF
ust be reduced to their level. I,'
The normal number of worlmen III
gagged in all branches of the zinc Sc
iustry is $4,000 most of them skill Ss
worlSmen. There is enough zinc in 81
is country to supply all our needs ST
thout the importation of a single Sn
md of foreign zinc The question III
be determined is whether we shall w
this great industry be wiped out w,
existence or whether we shall ex-
Use a wise foresight and maintain WI
on such a basis that when the ma Wi
n shall again engage in war we Wa
I'll not be obliged to depend upon WI
er countries for our munitions of w, w
r. only to find that the supply has WI
II taken over by the other nations Yoi
the world. who have had the in ZGr
igence to afford ample protection P I,Is'
this KEY industry PIC