Show WHAT PROTECTION IS DOING I And nov comes the announcement of the closing of the Bloorcsburg Pa Ironworks Iron-works which have been in operation for forty years The reason for the shut downs down-s not high wages of employees but dull trade There is no sale for the goods the home market being overstocked and our protective laws deny foreign markets to manufacturers We pass laws for the protection and building up of home enterprises enter-prises and boast when the wheels of industry in-dustry are put in motion but when there comes a glut of production and the mills are forced to stop running we call it dull times We blind our eyes to the fact that the mills in those countries which arc not crippled in their intercourse with the worlds markets run along without stopping and persist in our own stupid policy We tax our ore and coal and make iron at fancy prices for home consumption con-sumption and when the home market is satisfied the furnace fires are put out and the mills are closed because there is no place where we can go for trade Our own workingmen must po without employment and sometimes suffer for the necessaries of life while the pauper laborers of the old world work along and get their pay All the South American countries Mexico and Australia are buying iron in large quantities quan-tities but they cannot purchase here because their markets arc closed to us and oar manufacturers have been protected so highly that they must close their mills and shut up their mines until there shall come a local demand for their products The time may come when statesmen and industrial economists will run this ctuntry and make laws for the nation but it is evident that such are not in charge now or the great iron works of America would not be jdle while those of Europe are running on full time and arc unable to keep up with their orders |