Editorial: Is Winslow’s Tannery Shut Down Due To Tariffs?-This Day In Norwood History-September 5, 1891

Since our interview with Mr. George S. Winslow with reference to the Globe’s article regarding the shut down at Winslow’s tannery, much interest has been expressed, and in fact the tannery has been one of the topics of discussion through the town.

Mr. Winslow attributed the present depression in the leather business to the McKinley tariff. Now we have every respect for his opinion and consider him a most estimable gentleman, and one that has done as much for the benefit of our town as any man living. While we regret that there is a depression in any business that affects the welfare of our people, we claim at the same time the right to differ with Mr Winslow as to the causes, etc.

Now lot not the point of this business bo lost sight of No amount of personal abuse or misrepresentation can alter the facts. For the past twelve or fifteen years, at least, the business of this tannery has been done mostly in lime and pickled skins, the business has been prosperous and has been looked up to as one of the leading industries of the place. Whether on account of the epidemic of two years ago, or because some other concern bought up all the skins, or from other causes there is a scarcely in this line of skins, and for the past few months goat skins with wool on have been imported. To bring these in free would mean free wool. The new tariff raised the duty on wool. But if this has increased the cost of the skins the market reports do not show it Owing to the enormous increase in the production of wool abroad it has been lower this summer in foreign markets than before. Wool skins have fallen one hundred ninety, and therefore the duty has not increased the cost to our tanners one cent, or if it has, they can sell the wool taken from the skins for enough more to make up for it, for owing to increased protection, wool at several cents a pound higher in the American market than it is in the foreign markets.

What a sham and pretense it is, therefore, to claim that a tannery must be shut down because of an increased duty, when the imported material costs no more than before, and the home market for every part of it is improved by protection.

Tho politicians try to make the workingmen believe that they are liable to lose employment because of a tariff which protects farmers. In ti few weeks the same men will be trying to convince farmers that, their industry cannot be carried on because the wages of labor in protected manufacturers are so high that farmers cannot pay an equal price, therefore they must vote against protection so as to get cheaper labor.

If free raw materials are essential to the prosperity of manufacturing, perhaps some of these politicians will explain how it is that the leather industry, which has free hides, is less prosperous than the other leading industries of Massachusetts and that the wages of labor have increased in all the leading industries of this Suite which do not have free materials, as shown by the latest report of the Massachusetts Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The long and short of the whole business is that the tariff has nothing to do with the present shut down of one of our local Industries, and that it has everything to do with the great increase in every line of production and employment now going on throughout the country as never before.

It is the great law of supply and demand that regulates prices. Mr Winslow would have us believe that the reason he paid $17.00 more for sumac this year than last is on account of the increased duty. Now, then, what are the facts? If you add the whole increase in the duty, to the price of sumac, it would add but $2.21 per ton to the selling price.

This kind of political talk has no weight, and while all this Is going on, extensive repairs are being made upon the buildings and machinery. We have too much respect for the ability and good judgment of Messrs. Winslow Bros, to believe that they will allow their winks to remain long idle even to serve a political end.