Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 November 1892 — What Free Raw Materials Do. [ARTICLE]

What Free Raw Materials Do.

Our McKinley! friends in Massachusetts complain that, with tree raw material and a tariff for revenue only on flnisied goods, their boot and shoe industry is not getting ahead as it ought. It is doing first rate in Massachusetts, but if they wish to see a business booming, under the application of Democratic theories of trade, let them come to St. Louis, or else consider theso figures, furnished by the StLouis Shoe Manufacturers and Jobbers’ Association, showing what one town is doing with free hides and no “protection:” jn 1882 s . Louis made 400,000 pairs of s.ioes at an average price of #1.35 per pair; total vhluj, $540,000. In 1880 St. Louis made 1.200.000 pairs of shoes ut an averace price of $1.65 per pair; total value, $1.980,01w. An increase of 200 per cent in number of pairs made, 22 per cent in value per pair, and 266 per cent in total valuation. In 1891 St Louis made 4,500,000 pairs of shoes at an average pr.ce of fl. 85 per pair; total value. 58.325.000. An increase over 1886 of 275 per cent in number of pairs made. 12 per cent in value per pair, 32J per cent in total valuation. The increase of the ten years from Jan. 1. 1882, to Dec. 31, 1891, is 1.025 per cent on number of pairs made. 37 per cent in value per pair, and 1.441 per cent in tstal valuation. 'lbis remarkable showing places St Louis at the head of the list .a the manufacture of shoes, and shows that we have greatly improved the quaMty as well as increased the output What do you think of that? And re-

member that with free raw material and with boots and shoes taxed for revenue only we have built up this immense trade during the same time that our Woolen mills were being wiped out and our steel-producing business knocked in the head by Republican high taxes. Turn us loose out here, or only give us half a chance, and we will sell New England all the goods and lend it all the money it needs —and do it, too, at reasonable rates. Our day is coming, and when it does come we will show New England Protectionists that we are neither “infants” nor hogs here in the Valley.—St Louis Republic.