Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 July 1891 — What Free Raw Materials Do. [ARTICLE]

What Free Raw Materials Do.

Tho high tariff advocates spurn tho idea lhat with fiee raw materials, and notwithstanding the higher earnings of Ameri, an mechanics, we can com pee without a tariff in the markets of the world with any country in tho world. Oc aslonallv, however, their organs admit tho truth. , The only, important industry In this country whichj bo/ore the putting of raw sugar upon the free list, has enjof< d tho benefit of free raw matjrials Is that c evot d to the manufacture of boots and shoes What American genius and skill has been ablo to accomplish in making boots and shoes is sh-W i by an elitorial in tho July isjue of tho Boot and Shoe Reordtr, as follows: “Foreigners who have visited us, and who, by the way. ara thoroughly post d in the details of shoo manufacturing, declare that we lead the world in toe (o nbination of cheapness and style in footwear. Wo do not repeat this in a spirit cf braggadocio, but simply as a means of leading up to ap important point toy oral practical English shoe men, who recoatly visited Boston, are now writing letters to the trade papers in their country, in tho endeavor to impress upon the British manufacturers the superiority of American methods of work. Oiie of these writers states that in this manufacture of medium to cheap boots and shoos the cost of labor per pair is considerably less than half the cost of similar goods in England, when the spending value of the dollar is taken into account Another of our English visitors, writing ou the American systom of shoe manufacture, asserts that he is so favorably impressed with American made boots and shoes that he should have no hesitation in opening a largo store in London for their sale. ” Our large exports of leather goods confirm these statements. What wo are already doing is shown by a correspondent of the New York 'l'ribunc, writing from Jamaica, as follows: “During my stay in Jamaica, I have nversed frequently with Captain D. Murphy, an enterprising American merchant, who, In a short period, has established a largo and profitable trade nor, only with the island bu; with Hayti and Central America. Beginning with his own specialty, Captain Murphy says that while shoes of English and German manufacture below 75 cents are cheaper than American goods, tho condition is toversed for all above that price. At 75 cents and up to $1.25, a pair of American shoes will average 10 per cent, less than foreign goods; from $1.25 to $1.75 the average cost will be 15 percent, less; and from $1.75 to $3, English, German, French and Austrian shoos will cost 20 per cent, more than New England shoes. ” With free wool and free iron why could wo not do the same with woolen goods and manufactures of iron and steel. That our manufacturers of such merchandise shall be allowed a trial is the aim of those who demand free raw materials.