Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-05-07

large.
The speaker next referred to the
large purchase OF English BeSSemer rails
bv the New York Central and Hudson
River Railroad Company at a price
largely in excess Oi current rates here.
Having been appealed To ior iniorma-
ton, he had not hesitated 10 dcnounce
as false and slanderouS the allegation
that the utmost endurance OF American
steel rails is but five years, and that they
are commonly inferior 10 the rails made
in England. He alluded TO the subject
here as the whole trade has a common
interest in maintaining the well de-
served reputation earned by the
American manufacturers OF BcSSe-
mer rails; and also for the reason
that this assault upon them may be
regarded as 4 part OF scheme To break
down the protcctivepoliCy of the cOun-
try, which, to-day, is the sole guarantee
of the continued existence OF the great
and growing industry which has placed
within the reach of American consumers
better and cheaper iron and steel than
they ever before enjoyed. Ii duties
were removed, and the home production
crushed out, how long would 1t be be-
fore our foreign competitors would com
pei our roads to pay dearly for their
rails? The answer may be inferred from
the history of the past ten years, which
is familiar to all.
The speaker, in continuing, said:
"When the cost OF living is taken into
account, the condition OF our workmen,
at current wages, is in the main COM
Portable, and Il rapid improvement can
not be expected. While the demand
for most products is increasing, prices
remain almost at the lowest point, and
there is still large productive capacity
of machinery and works unemployed.
He said, from personal observation
abroad, he was convinced that the sui
ferng from industrial stagnation has
been generally greater elsewhere than
here, and in England it still continues
with unabated intensity. Successive re-
ductiOns in wages have been enforced
upon English working men, and
strenuous efforts are now being
made by manufacturers To so far cheap
en- their products as to recover the
ground they have partially lost IN the
markets of the world. This condition ol
things is perpetual threat against the
industries of all other nations, and cS-
peCialy our own, and We must continue
to practice the hard but salutary lesson
taught by adversely Manufacturers
must be content with small profits;
workingmen must still practice thrift
and economy. He cOntrastcd the differ
cnce between American wOrkingmen
socially and mentally, with working
men abroad, and this would account lOr
the blind animOsity which those abroad
sometimes display in iruitlcss contests
with his employer. Such was not the
case in this country, where all are work
ers. All efforts TO organize and array
men OF any occupation against their en-
plOyers, against society, or against the
, laws of the land, are grave mis-
takes, and can never be permanently
successful. Thcv may for Il briei
time accomplish So much OF their in
furious purposes as to do away with that
mutual respect and confidence which
should exist between employer and en-
ployed, and which would insure fair
dealing and justice on both sides, with
the interchange OF personal kindness
which always grows up where men
meet each other without prejudice.
The Iron and Steel Association has
nothing to do with the regulations OF
prices or wages, vet it itcXcrciscs whole
some influence by placing within the
reach of non workers accurate statls-
ties of their trades at home and abroad,
from which they may form an intelll-
gent Judgment upon all matters affect
ing their employment and its rewards.
Ignorance causes most OF the troubles
which arise in business and society.
Manufacturers will find it TO their in
terest TO provide night schools, libraries,
lectures and other educational advan-
tages for the youths growing up about
their works, and the publications OF
this Association may be distributed
among them with great benefit
At the conclusion of his address,
the chairman stated that Mr.. JOS.
Wharton, of Philadelphia, had prepared
an important paper, but was absent.
The paper was lengthy document on
the subject Of protection.
Mr.. Joseph ID. Weeks read 4 paper
entitled, How Protection Protects,
and Some of the Benefits of a Judicious
Tariff System, prepared by 4. Il. Stone,
of Cleveland.
Mr.. Shinn moved the appointment OF
a committee of nine TO prepare bust
ness for the convention. The motion
was adopted.
After appointing a committee on
resolutions the convention adjourned
until 2:30 Pm.
Afternoon Session
In the afternoon session the follow
ing resolutions were adopted:
The manufacturers Of iron and steel
and miners Of iron ore OF the United
States in general convention assembled,
express the conviction that the causes
| Of distress which during more than five
years past has prevailed in all the walks
| Of manufacturing industry, and has
| been especially grievOus in the iron and
steel trade, have spent their force; that
the prolonged and apparently hopeless
! depression of business is passed, and
| that there are signs Of the return Of
! healthful activity through which the
/ country will again become prosperous.
While all manufacturing countries
have been alike sufferers, the condition
in this country has been more tolerabIe,
mainly because OF the policy OF protec'
ton, which has preserved the home
market for the products OF native indus,
try. 1t is largely owing TO this policy
that our country is the first TO recover
| from the blow which prostrated all in
dustrial nations, and begins 10 have con
fidence in the future, while free trade in
England is still paralyzed and despon-
dent. The policy Of protection has
given to the United States an
iron and steel industry which
ranks second in the world. In this
art OF arts our country has developed
within a comparatively few years, a
proficiency which has cost other COun.
| tries centuries 10 attain, and IT has
made inventions and improvements
which are an honor to its artisans and
a beneiaction to the world. The iron
| and steel industry Of the United states
can no longer be reprDdcheI as local Or
/ sectional. for under the moderate pro
| lection it has received during the past