The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-06-24
IRON AND GOAL INTERESTS.
Hee1isE iu this city OF IrOD MRnufae-
turers and Coal OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
and EesOIE TONS.

A meeting of Iron Manufacturers and
CosI Operators was held Tuesday, June 20,
1865, ct the Office of the Cleveland Rolling
Mill.
Mr.. J. F. Card was called to preside, and
C. A. Clark appointed Secretary.
Mr.. A, B. Ssono stated that the object of
the meeting was to hold a conference in re
gard TO the protection of tho Iron and Coal
interest of this country. That Captain E.
B. Ward, President Of the American Iron
and Steel Association, would state the OBJ
jccts and operations Of their Association.
Captain Ward addressed the meeting sub
slantislly as follows:
Gentlemen :-Iappear before you for the
purpose of inviting your co operation and
assistance in the publishing and distrlbu-
tion of information among the people of the
Northwest on the subject of free trade and
import duties on manufactures.
Many Of you undoubtedly suppose that
the tariff on imports is now ample for pro-
lection as well as for revenue, aud that any
effort on your part for its increase is there
fore unnecessary. You may appreciate
your mistske when you learn than nine
tenths of all the Blast Furnaces are idle
that most of the Rolling Mills are working
on half time or are idle that the Machine
Shops are getting destitute OF orders that
there was nearly 500, O00, 600 worth Of iron
and steel currency vslue) imported from
Europe last year; that the coin in the
banks of the United States hat
been reduced from $1O2, OOO, 900 to less thar
S25, O0O, 900 now available for a resumption
Of specie payment; that the banks outside
of Boston, Mass, have Sl3, 0O0, 600 of circu-
lation, with less than 100000 Of coin; tina
the United States haye exported over 5000,
600, O00 of coin during the past two years
that our imports laTgolyexCeed our exports
in value and that the balance arc paid il
coin or United States Bonds that Europe
now holds $500, 600, 900 Of National, Stat'
and Rail ROsd securities, requiring more
than all the California products to pay thu
interest that a strong organization is nov
forming in Europe to destroy tho tariff W
| now have, and tnat the cumulative take
on home manufactures is so great, as t
leave too small q margin between the pric,
Of lsbor aud capital in Europe to enabl
the American manufacturer to compel
successfully with the foreign manufacturer
| These and other reasons render it e~ssentia
10 your interests, that prompt and etiicien
action be taken TO meet impending fusncia
evils, and save your government as well a
yourselves from future bankruptcy
| No remedy can DO at all ef
fectual but high import duties
thereby checking the purchase of foreig
commodities to tho value of our exports OK
elusive of specie. Any policy short Of thi
will end in disaster; and it is impOrtan
that Congress should be brought to under
o. I a. -.Ns--A - H.. A.1naH --1akT,nh1
moment. In order to stimulate the view
Of Congress on this question, it is propose
to publish and distribute among the voter
Of this country 1000, 900 papers on the i'm
portance of q sufficient tarih'Over the HON
taxation, 20 enable the manufacturers
America to supply this country with th
greater proportion of its merchandise, in
stead Of buying it 10 Europe. Our Cans
dian trade is particularly Injurious TO Amel
lean interests under the Reciprocity Treaty
Our trade with France is hampered wit
restrictions discriminating against Amer
cnn ships and interest, which no natio
possessing any self respect or power shoul
sU5mi. TO an hour without rotaliatory rC
strictions.
These are o few ofthe reasons why Amer
leans should organize and Gct in defense
thoir W interests. However humiliatin
il may ba to you, to be obliged TO appeal
an American Congress to protect America
interests against the mercenaries who ad
vocste free trade in the United States an
practice high protection in Europe, it muI
DO douo, IS I seer no other hope for our Ia
tional debt or the nations prosperity.
CAPTAIN Ward was followed by D.
Rhodes, NJ. C. Younglove, D. W. Cross,
Pope and others, when, on motion of N
James Mason, the following resolution WI
adopted:
RcsoIred, That q committee, consisting
Messrs. A. B.. Stone, VIM. Bingham, d.
Rhodes, Fayetto Brown, NJ. c. YOuDglov
S. j.. Mather, VIM. B. Castle, j. Pope an
s. M. Carpenter, be appointed, whose du'
it shall be to report a plan for the organic
tioa Of an association for the State of Obi
tho object of which shall be TO procu
funds 10 disseminate smOpg tho people
U1tO, T"uTOrnn1tIOn on TIC euDJoct OF q pr
tcctive tariff, and to aid in securing prop
legislation tho same to DO auxiliary 10 Il
American Iron and Steel Association.
;iTho meeting then adjourned sine die.