Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1890 — POST ELECTION PRICES. [ARTICLE]

POST ELECTION PRICES.

We have been waiting .with some interest to gee Low the FreeTrade press, when the logic of events had demonstrated to. the p -«>ple the. enormity ,of the deception practiced upon them, would get out of the "awkward position into which it has been placed by Its wholesale lying about advancing priueS; 1 . _t We knew that at least a tacit confession of dishonesty meet come, but we were not prepared for the open confession which appeared in the New York World of November 17, that its ante-elec-tion ahhbnncenLentß of advancing prices were for the most part products of the imagination. This paper, which above all others insisted {fiat prices were “jamping” in response to the McKinley bill, now that the election is over and the votes of its readers counted for Free-Trade, has the audacity to inform them that while “in the ■clothing trade wholesalers and retailers report business booming,” yet the tariff Las not advanced prices, although woolens are especially protected in the new bill. The article in question furnishes so strong an argum mt for Protection, in addition to demonstrating .the World's dishonesty, that we quote from it at some length: Business is reported very good among the clothiers in this clty r . The wholesalers are very well satisfied with what they are doing, and the retailers say the sales during the last two months have been about 25 per cent, greater than during the same months last year. They say, also, they they anticipate a cold winter, and in consequence expect a good trade. There is no good reason why the purchaser of ready-made clothing should shudder on account of the new Tariff bill. Although the duties are raised from 40 cents to cents per pound and from 35 per cent, to 60 per cent, advalorcm, it will not, according to the Clothier and Furnisher, have any appreciable effect on the price of clothing, as no ready I made clothing is imported. The increased weight on woolens and the various trimmings that enter into the manufacture will eventually have the effect of increasing the price from 10 to 15 per cent, on garments made of imported materials; but this will hardly ensue before another year passes, as stocks are already purchased several months in advance. It is probable that by that time other causes will have operated to counteract this increase; so that in tins particular branch no noticeable advance will take place, unless clothing is affected" by the general rise in prices. Besides,"domestic manufacturers are largely supplying the woolens now used in this country.

Here we have the post election announcement. First, that sales this year q,re 25 per cent, greater than for the same time last year; second, that purchasers need not shudder on account of the Tariff bill, since the tariff liasnot and will not increase prices of ready made clothing; third, that this is due to the fact that ready made clothing has been so effectively protected as to give the American manufacturer a complete monopoly of the domestic market; fourth, that the tariff will affect chiefly goods made of imported materials; fifth, that even thiß increase will not appear for a year yet: sixth, that before that tyear is up other causes will probably have intervened so that there really will be no rise at all; and seventh that another cause of low prices is the facilities of American mills to supply the demand. When the World gets to talking about neckties, it warms up to its subj ect and eloquently pleadk for protection thus: Dealers report this a more than usually prosperous neckweav season. It has been estimated by manufacturers that at least one-half of the people of the United Slates, or 30,000,000 we"r neckties of some kind. If each pevson wears three ties or scarfs a year, 90,000,000 ties will be required to supply the demand. These ties are made by women at a cost of 50 cents to $1.50 per dozen. Labor, however, is but a small part of the morey entering into the cost Ten million boxes are necessary, at a cost of 10 cents each. One yard of cotton flannel enters into the composition of each dozen scarfs, and 10 cents a dozen is paid for labels and bands to the printer. If this industry is fully protected the American workmen will receive for wages $7,500,000; boxmakers, $1,000,000; domes-

tic manufacturers of linings, <fec., §750,000: total, §10,000,000. If 90,000.000 ties are Worn in this country and $10,000,000 are paid the work-; men the cost of each tie will be if cents. The truth will occasionally creep into the news colums of the World to contradict its free-trade editorial ravings. * - ,