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Show IIOPKKATK Alild MKVT', j The free trade pnpers resort to des- i perate arguments in their attacks upon the tariff, nud it seems to make no difference dif-ference to them how contradictory their utterances may be. An illustration illustra-tion is furnished by a recent article in the St. Paul (ilobo in which a point is sought to be made against the protective protect-ive system in connection with the plate glass industry. The paper says: Immen.-e plants ar belnir establish! d. at J I'-at i:.0 Hkl',1 Ml M'oi kmeu are wantod to up. r- a! tiicm. ;uid tlie.v are not to he Iiad In this roiiniry. They are only to be oli- taned by liupori Inn them from the similar ., Wirxs in Fi in e and other parts of Kur.x. ' v The lab. r i-ouir i t lin-s ands ui the way and appeals urn Ih-Iuk Hindu to the treasury lie pa tmont to suspend tlie law in their favor. It Is ass lined fiat the government Is operated to liilulcat j an t los'er such scheme, and the appliances nui -t all ho ma le to suh-erve their liit.'it'Rts. In tills rse, for instance, it is immaterial im-material If the consumers of the Rlas do have to j av two or three pr.es for it. as long us it f i s eis an .u.ltis'nal Infaui. 11 this were intended as an argument ngainst some feature of tho contract labor law il might have some weight, but us a drive at the tariir it is exceedingly exceed-ingly weak. The building of immense plants is certainly a good thing for this country, and the fact demonstrates the wisdom of the provisions of ihe new tariff law. It does not follow that con sinners will have to pay two or three prices for glass. The history of the giass industry in tho United States has furnished a striking illustration of the effect of homo production on prices. As the business has increased in this country ju ices have steadily fallen, until un-til ordinary plate glass costs only about une-quartcr what it did when we were compelled to rely upon foreign nianu- j factmers. There is no reason w hy ! we should not make our own supply uf ail the tinergrades, am) when these new plantsshall have been lirmly established we will be able to buy tiio glass at tig- j tires much lower than now rule. i There never has been any objection j to the immigration of skilled laborers eueh as aro needed by these glass manufacturers man-ufacturers and it is unfortunate that a law intended to correct the evils of the contract labor system should stand in the way. Hut if there is absolute need for skilled workmen from abroad they will lind their way here, and tho works will not sull'er from lack of help. The law referred to may prevent the rushing rush-ing iu of men whoso places could be supplied with a little caro from among our own workers; and if this result fihould follow it will be an added bene-lit. bene-lit. However, each foreign workman who comes will be of the class that become be-come good American citiens. lie will become a useful factor iu the general prosperity of tho country. The net result re-sult of his work will be added to our national wealth ami the country will bo directly benefited by his being hero. |