Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1895 — ARE MAKING THREATS [ARTICLE]

ARE MAKING THREATS

REPUBLICANS WOULD REPLACE M'KINLEY DUTIES. This Causes Wooten Manufacturers to Hesitate to Make Improvements— High Tariff Advocates Form a Conspiracy of Misrepresentation. G. O. P. Plana Outlined. It la the purpose of the Republican leaders to pass in the House at the coming session of Congress a bill restoring tlie duties ou wool. They hope to procure the passage of such a bill in the Senate also, and thus to invite a veto from the President lu this way the question as to a tax on wool, the manufacturers' raw material, is to be kept open for two years to come, with the understanding that the Republicans, if tbey shall obtain control of legislation in 181)7, will restore the high McKinley tax, or even impose a tux greater than that which was repealed a year ago. What may be the effect of this agitation and this policy upon the domestic woolfen industry? After tlie tax on raw material was removed, it became expedient for the manufacturer, who could for the first time freely select from aud blend the varying wools of the world, to adapt his machinery and methods to the new conditions, in order that he might compete advantageously with the products of foreign manufacturers who had for many years enjoyed the freedom which had been withheld from him. Some domestic manufacturers have made tlie required Improvements; others are beginning to make them; others have been Intending to make similar changes. The work of Improvement was delayed by the condition of business during tlie first six mouths of the new law. With respect to these changes, the American Wool and Cotton Reporter said last week, in an article relating to the growing popularity of worsted fabrics and the displacement of carded woolens by low-priced worsted goods: .1 “Old-fnsliloned wooled manufacturers are being dully superseded by.manufacturers whose thills aro equipped with the best and latest Improved machinery. Several changes among the mills which have been reported during the past few weeks have served to accentuate this point, and others are pending which will illustrate more conclusively than ever the evolution of the worsted manufacturer." But if the manufacturers shall become convinced that there Is to hang over 'them throughout the next two years the danger of the restoration of the old tax on their raw material—a tax which, 1n the fiscal years 1808 and 1801 was, on clothing wool, equivalent to 59% per cent.—and that tlie policy of tlie Republican party is to restore that tax, or to Impose even a larger one, If it shall obtain control of the law-making power in 1897, will not this tendency to lake advantage of the freedom now enjoyed by improving antiquated plants be discouraged or effectively repressed? There will lie no sense of security, no feeling ou the part of the manufacturer that he can invest his money safely on a busts of free raw material. He limy become the innocent victim of vindictive partisan politics. Who will he clearly responsible for his discouragement, If he shall be discouraged, for the repression of growing activity In the woolen Industry, and the obstruction of progress, If there shall he repression and obstruction? Undoubtedly tho Republican leaders, If they shall persist In the policy now foreshadowed, for tlie support of which there lias been formed a conspiracy of misrepresentation. The industry Is not In n condition of “deplorable depression" at the present time, although these conspirators suy it is, but their purpose is to bring about such a condition if this end can be accomplished by tlie policy which they lmve undertaken to support, and, if possible, to carry into effect.—New York Times .

Alger Cglln McKinley Down. Gen. Russell A’. Alger, of Michigan, one of tlie leading Republicans of tlie West, was recently interviewed on the issues of next year’s presidential campaign. He said: “It is generally understood that the Republican party once in power will revise the tariff. I don’t mean by revising tho tariff that we shall go back to the extreme measures of the past.” This declaration by au eminent Republican is evidence that the sentiment of his party in the West is opposed to a restoration of McKinleylsm. When Gen. Alger denies that If the Republicans are successful next year they will go back to the extreme measures of the past, he Is, of course, referring to the late unlamented McKinley tariff, which Is very ranch of the past. Bdt why this refusal to revive the high protection corpse? If extreme measures were good five years ago, surely they are good to-day. Have not the monopolies which paid for class legislation in their behalf in 1890, Just as strong claims as ever on the men and party which they bought? Does not Gen. Alger know that the protectionists want not merely extreme measures like the McKinley tariff, but laws which shall be prohibitive of all imports, as that tariff prohibited many articles? The difficulty in which Gen. Alger finds himself is that of many Western Republicans. They advocate tariff revision, but are afraid to say that they want another McKinley law. They know that the people of the West want no more high protection. They are ashamed to admit that tlie Wilson tariff is working well, aud so take refuge In vague declarations against extreme measures. But their trimming and evasion will not help them. The contest next year will be between the forces of tariff reform and of trade prohibition.' There will be no room in the Republican party for moderate protectioliists, nnd they will be compelled to either become Democrats or to join the worshipers of tlie McKinley idol. The Benefits of Foreign Trade. The Reading Stove Works have just sent a large consignment of wood burning stoves to Australia, and are busily engaged in filling another larger order of the same sort for Cape Town, Africa. During the debate on the McKinley bill It was contemptuously asked by a high protectionist, venting his fine scorn of foreign markets: “What’s abroad to

us?” Such trade Items as the Above show that “abroad” can be a good ileal to m; It can be breed and bntfer to the moulders of our State; and It can. be vastly more under the (rear conditions which our foreign commerce now enjoys.—Philadelphia Record. We Uxport Manufactures Now. The new tariff act has already, it seems, fulfilled to some extent the expectations of tariff reformers, as is indicated by the official returns of exports of manufactures in August last and in the eight months ended with August. The figures show that with free raw materials we are fast adding a foreign market to the home market protectionists value so highly and wish so resolutely to prey upon. The exports of manufactures in August were worth $19,050,1)24, u gain of $2,800,000 over August, 1594. In the eight months ended with August the total of exported manufactures was $129,440,884, a gain of $11,890,723 over the like period of 1594. If the rate of gain indicated is kept up during the calendar year there will have beou an increase of $17,000,000 lu exports of manufactures, or largely In excess of the record of any preceding year in our history. It would be $117,000,000 greater than the like exports in 1892 and 1893, when the McKinley act was in force. Our workmen get employment In manufacturing for foreign countries, and the demand for their labor and their wages are increased by this inroad into foreign markets. The protectionist policy Is one of abstention from foreign markets. Tlie wish is to control tlie home market, where wages can he dictated to workmen and prices to consumers. But tho Democratic policy is to add to the employment gotten lu manufacturing for the home market, tlie employment to be had in manufacturing for the foreign market. Free raw materials enable us to tnnke tilts addition, nnd the increased exports of manufactures lu August and preceding months show that we are doing it.—Baltimore Sun. Our “Ruined” Tin Plate Industry. According to the hired organs of monopoly the business interests of the country are in a terrible condition, all ou account of losing their dear McKinley tariff. Except inadvertently in their news columns the Republican papers never admit that industry is nourishing, or that 1) until ess is any better than . during tlie years of the McKinley panic. Even the official statlstiU's of trade and manufacturing are Hiqipressed by these newaiMLpera, which fear lest their readers may discover that tlie reduction of the tariff lias been followed by a general business revival. As nn Instance, the report of Special Treasury Agent Ayer on the tin plate Industry In tho United States for the year ending June 30, 1895, has beeu practically ignored by the protectionist press. Tlie report states that the production of commercial tin and ternc plates was 193,801,073 pounds, against 139,223,4*17 pounds for the preceding year, nn increase of about 89 per cent. Of this 100,570,934 pounds, or about 83 per cent., were made from sheets rolled in the United States, against about 02 per cent, made from such sheets during tlie preceding year. Forty-eight firms were producing during tho lust quurter of the fisenl year, against forty for tlie same period of 1894. Tlie number of rolling mills for rolling black plates completed on' June 30, 1895, was 144, ugulnst 71 on the corresponding date of 1894. This is a splendid year’s record for an industry on which the McKinley duties were reduced nearly 50 per cent, by the Wilson tariff. No wonder that tlie Republican papers are trying to conceal tho facts about tin plate. The Taxation of fleer. Tlie proposition to provide for any deficiency In public revenues which may arise through the failure of the Income tax to become operative, by tlie imposition of an additional tax of one dollar on each barrel of beer, is vigorously opposed by the protectionist organs. Tin* same spirit which prompted the McKinleyltes of 1890 to Increase tlie duties on articles of necessity for the people, rather than to raise the tax on whisky, now leads them to declare against a tax on a luxury which would easily be borne by its consumers. They tear that with higher taxes on beer they would have no excuse for agitating for a restoration of McKinleylsm, and are therefore urging the Republican members of Congress to oppose nil measures for increased internal revenue taxation. The attitude of the Republican press on the question of providing additional revenues shows clearly the hypocrisy of the professional protectionists. There can be no question that between tariff taxes on articles of general consumption and internal revenue taxes on whisky, beer, etc., the latter would bear less heavily on tlie great majority of the American people. Yet bemuse of their blind faith In ! the benefits of high tariff walls, the Republicans reject the better tax and will do all In their power to restore the McKinley tariff on food, clothing, and other necessities. Testimony to Democratic Prosperity. Under the heading, “Boom In the Mill Centers,” the New York Tribune, a leading protectionist organ, says: “Two features of the cotton market that attract attention are the great activity, positively amounting to a boom, in the American mill centers, and the strength of spot markets in the Squth. This telegram came from Fall River yesterday: ‘Sales of goods tremendous, being 401,000 pieces for the week. Market firm. Stock reduced.’ ” Now let us all weep over the ruined cotton Industry, wrecked by the wicked Wilson tariff. Carnegie’s Contracts. Andrew Carnegie appears to have known what he was talking about when he said that our iron mills needed high protection no longer. His company has just accepted an order for 1,100 tons of ship armor for the Russian government. In thus demonstrating the ability of American, manufacturers to compete successfully with the “pauper labor” of Europe in its own market Mr. Carnegie has invited a fresh dose of abuse from the McKinley newspapers.—New York World. i . Smoke that Offends Republicans. The iron furnaces of the United States are now turning out 50,000 tons a week more than their weekly output last October. John Sherman should make a note of this.—Boston Herald.