Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1892 — Cheapness Under McKinleyism. [ARTICLE]

Cheapness Under McKinleyism.

The fact that many articles are now cheaper than they were two years ago has been seized upon by Republican editors and stump orators as a proof that the McKinley law has reduced prices. But people who keep themselves informed as to the changing conditions of trade will not he deceived by this transparent humbug. Many raw materials—qotably cotton and wool—are now much lower than they were In 1890, and this fall in prices was brought about in the main by far other causes than the McKinley law. But there is another reason why some prices have not advanced, a reason that is never heard from protectionist speakers and newspaper organs. Honest trade papers, however, are telling some hard truths about the kind of cheapness which we are having under McKinleyism, Such a paper is The American Wool and Cotton Reporter, of Boston, a journal of the very highest character and edited by n Republican and protectionist. Hera is what The Reporter says about McKinley cheapness: “There is some complaiut made by clothiers that the quality of the goods now being in fide by tho domestic mills is not up to the old standard. Tho complaint is not alone with the manufacturing clothier, but is made also by the retail dealer; even some of the well known standard makes are put down as falling of their old standard. No doubt Home of the trade will remember that one of the leading clothiers in this city came out with a letter some two years ago, in which it was stated that as a result of the MoKiuley bill prices would either be higher or else the product of the mills protected would deteriorate. Almost immediately following the passage of the bill prices were advanced, but in many cases they did not hold, as public sentiment was strongly against a wholesale advance. , “Wheu many of the prices returned to their old figures and business became more settled manufacturers commenced to make a poorer fabric, yet claim it was the same thing, and held to the old price. This practice must have proved profitable, at least for the time being, as It was continued and carried further, so that today the trade complains. To the eye many of the cloths appear fully up to the standard, and it is only after they are doing service for the consumer that the deception is discovered.” It is evident that under McKinleyism “cheap and nasty go together,” and we are now buying the particular kind of coats made famous by President Harrison In his noted remark, “I cannot find myself in full sympathy with this demanti for cheaper coats, which seems to me necessarily to involve a cheaper man and woman under the coats."