The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-01-10
LABOR PROFITS BY
TARIFF PROTECTION

That a mind brilliant in many re-
spectz may be appallingly dull in
others is illustrated by the recent re-
mark of a college professor that our
tariff laws shOulc be repealed, and
that while he believes that American
standards OF wage, and nving must
be maintained, he bell yes gin Henry
FOrd's way of maintaining those
standards-high wages, all possible
care of working people as respects
health, physical comfort, recreation
and enJOyments, low cost of produc-
ton, and astonishing chapness of the
product to the consumer" The pro
lessor ,sumes that what Ford has
done in the manufacture of a cheap
automobile he al do in any other
line Of production, which is mani
testify a false assumption. MIR. Ford
did not start his industry without pro
tection-he had the protection OF gov
eminent patent laws. Under that
protection, he built up an immense
production plant, so extensive that
no n could compete with him, re
CARELESS of patents. But his auto
mobile is not an ordinary product.
One Of the essentials of extensive
auto production and sale is the main
~tenance Of "~service stations" where
extra parts may be had. This is par
ticularly necessary in the cas- of a
cheap car. Even if Ford cars could
be manufactured for so per cent less
in Germany, it would be impractical
> bic for a German producer to put
them on the market here in competi-
ton with an American manufacturer
because of the difficulty in promptly
supplying agencies with cars anC
parts. The Ford concern is unique
in the industrial world.
An entirely different situation j:
presented in the Gaze of cutlery, op
tical goods, toys, etc., in the produc
ton of which Germany offers de
structive competition. If German.
can produce at 20 per cent less thar
an American manufacturer, she Cal
put the American manufacturer o
cutlery, optical goods, etc., out o
( business, unless a protective duty b
charged on imports.
'I The delusion that Ford is almos
ie omnipotent has been exploded by hi
experience with a railroad. For tn
D. first few months after taking over
$ bankrupt railroad at a small per Ger
LII of its cost, Ford made a remarkabI
p showing. He was able to divert tra1
10 fic to his road and get business ths
ID no other owner could. But in receI
rs months the remarkable prosperity {
u the Ford road has disappeared, if tt
reports of business transacted al
correct.
" Mr.. Ford is a genius-no n Wi
~ question that. He has made an eve
e greater success in the development
automobile manufacturing and distr
button than John D. Dockefeller MAJ
in the production and distribution
81 oil. Mr.. Ford is entitled to credit fl
"a everything which he has accomplishe
but is is folly to assume that becau'
he made a success in n particuli
line he a make a success of ever
thing, regardless of economic prinI
ol Piles.
~ Mr.. Ford's success is not due to h
paying high wages and looking aft
~ the comfort of his employees. 1t
due to inventions protected by p;
" ent rights which enabled him to bui
~, up quantity production and distrib
les tion. He had the vision, the coura
of his convictions, and organizi
'le' ability which inspired him to see a
take advantage of an opportunit
~ His success has nothing whatever
do with the need for a general p
VI tective tariff as a means of guard
American labor against destructi
ve competition from Europe and Asia.
eds