The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-06-25
Que Sailg Atsns.
Pig Iron Convention.

The National Association Of Pig Iron
Manufacturers met yesterday nc Cleve-
land. The resolutions adopted were of
special interest The lust PRESUMPTION is
that they represent the prevailing senti-
ment Of the iron producers of the country,
and that Of itself entities them TO conside
ration.
The final resolution is by far the most
important of all 1t is not of very great
moment what any one set Of men thiak
about the financial problem, but the iron
men control the iron business, as a matter
OF course, and the following resolution,
having the sanction Of the National Asso-
citation, justly excites alarm:
Resolved That It Is the sense of this meeting that
ne present condition Of the iron ore trade 10 this
eSua.sy Il u desirable that the production Of metal
should be curtalled far possible, until more
favorable market Is established, and that copy Of
citation.
If the price Of domestic iron were less
than the cost, plus Il reasonable per cent.
for the money invested, this resolu-
ton would be all well enough, but
such is not the case. 1t is notorious that
the iron interest is eminently thrifty at the
present time. Existing prices are exorbi-
tant The excuse has been that the supply
was unequal TO the demand Any attempt
TO curtai the production would be an out
rage, and in the end very bad policy. We
warn the iron men of the country against
pursuing the policy of the Cleveland Con
yention. II they do, they will forfeit all
claim to protection by Congress from for
eign competition. Let the iron men of the
United States curtail production as far a.
possible for the purpose Of keeping up the
price Of pig metal as high as possible, and
Congress would be justified at its very
next session in taking of entirely the tariff
on iron. The object of the duty is 10 slim
ulate production, and secure permanently
a reasonable market for iron If the tariff
should be perverted and used 10 defeat
that object, then abolish it. We warn the
iron interest Of the land that TO walk in the
path pointed out at Cleveland would
turn their best friends against them
and prove suicidal Chicago journal, 2OfA
IL is encouraging 10 the friends of un-
trammeled trade TO see such a bigoted
protective tariff advocate as the Chicago
Journal speak out in meeting against the
wicked schemes Of the pig iron pirates.
The iron rings, the copper rings, the wool
en- and cotton rings, the eastern coal rings.
the railroad rings, and the Credit Mobilier
rings. control the legislation of this coun-
try Copper is found in great abundance
and purity in this country, and the pro
duoing copper mines are controlled BY a
ring A few years ago they got Congress
TO put high duty on copper. They then
exported from this country nearly all the
copper IN market and sold il for about the
cost Of freight TO Europe. They had thus
produced a scarcity at home, and they
then put up the price 10 the high protec
tive or prohibitory tariff standard and
Kept the production down to the actual
necessities Of the country, thus compelling
the people 10 pay them, instead of the
government the amount of the duty in
addition to the cost of foreign copper.
The government got no revenue and the
people were made 10 pay two prices for the
benefit Of the copper ring. And this is
exactly what the pig iron pirates are doing
They have the boldness to declare that
they will eurtail the production in order To
make a scarcity Of iron so that they can
get the benefit Of the protection swindle.
The Journal rebels against this-protect.
i've paper as lis The people ought To be
able, in this one case, 10 see how the pro
tective tariff swindle works.