Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1896 — POLITICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POLITICS OF THE DAY

tXPORTS OF MANUFACTURES. The returns, bow almost complete, of the exports of manufactures for the last fiscal year give further evidence of the process which has been going on for some time, and under which the value of this class of exports has been steadily increasing. As recently as 1880 the proportion of the exports of manufactured goods to the total amount was only 12*4 per cent.; this year it promises to be at least 25 per cent. It is true that the value of these exports In 1880 was below the average of the quinquennial period of which It marked the close, and that the total exports of the last fiscal year show a gain in value of 25 per cent, over the average of that period. But, except iu 1877, the value of domestic manufactures exported never exceeded $125,000,000, while for the year ending with last June they will probably turn out to be $224,000,000. Taking the Increase for the last ten years only, the figures are sufficiently striking. In that time there has been a gain of $88,000,000 in annual value, and an advance from 19*4 to 25 per cent, in the proportion which this class of exj»orts bears to the whole. While of the gain of last year over threat- preceding is due to a considerable increase in the value of mineral oil, the value of the exports under that head for last year is barely $4,000,000 in excess of that of ten years ago. The items that go to make up the Increase of $88,000,000 are drawn from articles into which industrial processes enter more largely. For example, leather and its manufactures, which accounted iu 1886 for some $8,750,000 of our exports, stand now for $19,750,000; Aacliinery, which in 1886 accounted for $3,680,000, has risen to $14,500,000, and agricultural implements, which were $2,360,000 ten years ago, are now about $5,000,000. Cotton goods show little or no Increase, because of the heavy fall in price—a characteristic which our exports of this class share with those of Great Britain, which were less in value last year than they were ten years ago. Of copper in ingots, bars, sheets, etc., there has been an increase from $2,600,000 to $17,600,000, and in scientific and electrical apparatus from $480,000 to $2,500,000. The export of locomotive engines ten years ago kept well within $400,000, while for last year the value will reach $2,600,000. Of locks, hinges and other

builders’ hardware the export has risen from $1,280,000 to nearly $5,500,000. This increase in the value of the exports of our domestic manufactures is the more remarkable that it has occurred during a period in which the value of the same class of exports by the chief commercial nations has shown a decrease. The value of the ten chief articles of British exports declined from $725,000,000 in 1884 to $705,000,000 in 1894. The value of the foreign trade of Prance was 9 per cent., and that of Germany 27 per cent, less in 1894 than in 1884, and it is mainly due to the increased value of domestic manufactures 6old abroad that our exports of all classes of merchandise have, in spite of the dcreased valbe of the products of agriculture, so well held their own. It is significant of the place that the United States is destined to take in the world’s supply of mechanical equip-

meet that the total exports of the manufactures of iron and steel have increased from $312500,000 In the fiscal year 1895 to over $40,000,000 la the fiscal year 1896.—Boston Herald. Mr. Hobart and Hia Friends. According to the news columns of Mr. Hobart’s leading local organ, the “coal syndicate has started out on a regular system of advances and we are to have another 25-cent increase In September, with another of the same amount by January, making an advance of $1 a ton within six months.” As pool arbitrator for roads engaged in the coal syndicate Mr. Hobart has

had full opportunities to inform himself intimately concerning the operation of the “regular system” through which these unnatural profits are extorted. When he takes the field he will not be able to find a topic in whicli the public is more interested, nor will he find any other way in - which he can do his party greater service than by convincing the public that his own connection with trusts, pools and monopolies has not rendered him unfit for the Vice Presidency. And when he does take the stump Mr. Hobart ought to tell as soon as possible to what extent he thinks the Anti-

Trust law should be enforced against all who violate it, more especially against those who out of the proceeds of the violation contribute to his campaign fund.—New York‘World. Should Vote Against McKinley. At least 200,000 voters are riding bicycles which cost from 20 to 30 per cent, more than they ought to, on account of the tariff on foreign bicycles and on the various materials which go to make up the finished wheel. This does not mean that bicycles can be made cheaper abroad than in this country. On the contrary, they can be made here at a lower cost and of a better quality than in any other part of the world. But the duty prevents foreign manufacturers sending their wheels here, and taking advantage of this restriction on competition the bicycle trusts keeps prices far above the real value of

the machines. This is shown by the fact that during the past few years American bicycles have been largely exported to Europe, Africa and Australia, where they are sold cheaper than in this country In free competition with European wheels. The bicycle manufacturers are not wholly to blame for the higher prices which they charge American purchasers. Their raw materials—steel filings, wire spokes, cranks, handle bars, and all other parts •f the finished wheel are heavily taxed. These taxes have to be shifted to the consumer and therefore the price is higher than if raw material were free. If McKinley is elected the duties on bicycles and all their component parts, will be greatly increased, if the Republican threat of higher tariff taxes is carried out. This will make bicycles cost more. All wheelmen who want high-class machines at low prices should vote against McKinley and dearer bicycles. Traveling Under False Colors. On behalf of the friends of McKinley

and those who wish to return to the workjflgs of the iniquitous McKinley law, ii is claimed that what the country needs is mere revenue. It may be of interest to this class of politicians to remember that the McKinley law was entitled: “An act to reduce the revenues, and equalize the duties on imports and for other purposes.”—Grand Rapids Democrat. Decide on a Wise Policy. The wisest thing that the Republican candidates have so far agreed to i* that they will make no speaking campaign. Hobart cannot make a speech, and it

would be impossible for McKinley to answer some of the questions that would be thrust at him without hurt, ing.—Peoria Herald. Small Shot. True to his name, Garret A. Hobart wants to preside over the upper house. A man who stampedes a national convention may also stampede the people next November. It was “from California to Maine” this time. Burke of the California delegation is the man who placed Sewall’s name before the convention. Candidate Hobart rises to remark that protection and not finance is the leading political issue this year. Hanna must have told him. McKinley’s pastor preached Sunday from the Bible text “make your election sure.” He failed, however, to give the Republican nominee pointers on how to cinch the game. Mark Hanna says he is “entirely satisfied and pleased with the work of the Chicago convention.” Dave Hill and Bill Whitney ought to fall into line now and make the matter unanimous. It is probably unnecessary to call the attention of the Republican party individually and collectively to the fact that four of its United States Senators have everlastingly drifted from their moorings. If every man votes for McKinley whose wages were raised during the existence of the McKinley act, and everyone votes against him whose wages were lowered, he will not carry a single one of the manufacturing States. McKinley says he has not promised a place to any applicant for office, nor wil he do so until after the election. By that time, perhaps, somebody else may have in charge the dispensation of alms at the administration pie counter. There is a significant contrast between the action of Senator Teller, who has severed his relation with his party because he could not agree with its position on the silver question, and with that of Mr. McKinley, who accepted the nomination for the Presidency on a platform which he sought to defeat.