Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1892 — Pianos and the McKinley Tariff. [ARTICLE]

Pianos and the McKinley Tariff.

The year 1891 was one of the dullest; Known in the histpry of the piano indue- j try, and the prospects are not flattering ! for 1892. For many months in 1891 |

numerous factories were running on half time, «nd not a few gave their employes extended vacations. Factories that usually turn out forty on fifty pianos a week last year made but twelve or fifteen a week. A prominent manufacturer said the other day that the McKinley tariff bill has increased the cost of making pianos from $4 to $6. Tuning pins, hammer felt, music wire, etc., cost more than formerly. Some of the larger manufacturers, however, say that the extreme dullness in trade is not due so much to the increased cost of producing pianos—which is comparatively small—as to the evil effects on the country at large of the McKinley measure. Several prominent manufacturers, who stood by “protection" two years ago, are now outspoken enemies of that misnamed system. Handicapped as our manufacturers have always been under “protection,” they have, by superior ingenuity an’d ability, been able to compete in the markets of the world, and our exports of pianos have exceeded $250,000 a year. With free raw materials our exports would soon exceed. $1,000,000. It never occurred to McKinley that by giving raw materials free to our manufacturers he would not only enable them to sell cheaper at home but to compete abroad, sell more goods, increase their plants and employ more men at better wages. It has, however, occurred to thousands of workmen who have had their wages reduced, or are thrown out of work, because of highpriced, restricted, “protected” markets, and they will as speedily as possible stop the career of this robber of the poor man—"protection. ”