New-York tribune., 1886-01-14
POTTERS IN CONFERENCE.
OPPOSING REVISION OF THE TARIFF.
THE BENEFITS OF PRoTECTIoN--ENJoYING DIN
NEKIN THE EVENING.


NERIN THE EVENING.
The United States POtters' Association met
again yesterday morning at the Metropolitan Hotel
Besides those mentioned yesterday there present
during the day George Scott, Cncinnat; Griffin Smith
Co., Phenixville, Penn. Homer Laughn, Goodwin
Brothers, Knowles, Taylor & Knowles, John wyllie &
Son and Vodrey Brother. OF East Liverpool. Ohio The
Ohio delegation was detained by the storm OF Sunday
and arrived on Tuesday evening In all, sixty three OF
the most prominent pottery firms in the United states
represented.
Charles y Cook, OF Trenton the retiring president OF
the association, on formally opening The present session
spoke OF the the pottery trade In the DemO-
cratic platform OF 1884 menace which has been O.
peated In the recent messages Of President Cleveland
and Secretary Manning. The composition too OF tine
Ways and Means Committee in the House Of Representa-
lives was notice served upon potters OF America
that the tariff mast be revised and revision with such
COMMITTEES, meant horizontal reduction a" every time
The only safe policy he thought. resist all efforts
at tariff revision at present though OF the
changes might DC to the advantage OF the pottery
ufacturers
Tue history OF the pottery business in this country
he said is peculiar 1t sprang into existence in
lS62-63 with the temporary premium gold. which.
with the 40 per cent ar gave 1t adequate protection
against foreign cheap labor We then paid and still
paying wages 100 per cent higher than those in any
foreign country, Int during the last twenty years the
price OF pottery here reduced than 80 per
cent II we cond have suncient protection to give
the entire American market. it would stimulate the
development OF the pottery industry increase the
home production OF machinery and materials, that it
would be safe to predict continued reduction in price
The consumers of pottery should not therefore, wish TO
have their representatives in Congress cripple in
dustry by reducing the tarin Ne are now making all
the different kinds of crOckery needed in this country
artistic thin china and decorated wares fancy tiles
sanitary and plumbers wares all as good in quality as
any made In foreign countries Manufacturers abroad
are now copying shapes and designs and we are ap
parenty approaching the highest development IN this
truly great art industry"
The secretary James H. Goodwin reported the sales Of
the last year about as large usual The imports OF the
grades OF pottery though slightly greater hs
year than last had fallen oil from 1897 per cent in 1850
to g. 21 1850 The value OF the Lf orts Of the finer
wares porcelain parian. bisqne. etc, only
$3.965,472 against Si,35s,s21 in 1854. There had
been remarkable increase during the year in the
ufacure OF decorated and the prospects for 1885,
il the tariff agitation abandoned, seemed the
whole very favorable
After discussion OF the report the associat ion
elected officers FOR 1886 Tie following unani-
mousy chosen President, II. s. Knowles. East Liver
pool. Ohio: first vice pesident, Thomas Maddox
TrentOn; second vice president f. VI. Pearson. Wheel
ng. W. Va secretary, Alfred Day. Steuhenville Ohio;
treasurer, John Noses Trenton. Mr.. Knowles. on TAX
ing CHAIR spoke OF the great progress the pottery
trade had made within his experience.
In quality. style aud finish" he said. goods
surpassed by those OF any country result have
been able to attain only under a favorable an law.
Any attempt to revise the nrrSent Law VIII force nS In
the nions OF competition 10 reus the wages
lover vscs LEAD ireyitaby 10 poorer work The threat
Ways and Means Committee strikes thus not only
at the capital Invested iu OF the most pfOmSiD.
American industries but also at the thousands work
men who engaged in the actual manufacture OF
pottery and the preparation OF raw materials IRA
The afternoon session was called at ! o'clock. rhe
Committee Statistics, Of which Mr.. Maddox was
chairman male it, annual report The number Of rot
terry kns in operation last yearexcluSlye o te drcoiHt
ing kns 27j. rhe amount OF capital nov in
vested in pottery manufatture Is about SN;ooo.oO"
The wages paid dnriug tine year aggregated between
- 600 700 aud $5OOOOOO. Most OF the employees were
Americans. aud the development OF the decorative bust
ness bad gwen work to a large number ot women ana
girls The value "f last years product was est
total consumption OF the United tStatts The cost o'
ottery from onethrd to hall lower than IN lSGO
motion OF J. Hart Brewer, of Trenton, was agreed
to hold the next annual meeting III January heRi in
Washington. and with several votes OF THANKS the
In the evening the annual dinner took place at the
Metropolitan Hotel AT the tables were some eighty
members of the association ANA their guests. Homer
Knowles. the new president had the place OF honor
aud on Is le was ", EpeSa ., iSe
Brewer aud the remaining seats at the table were
neer Oscar Strauss. j. q. Fisher and Joseph wileits
the New York firms represented a. the banquet
were john Faly & Co. James T. Wright. L. o. T. Tree.
Oscar Georke. Kuifen 4 Tucker. II. :. Almy Co..
George +. Bass, Charles Harris & Co, and Miller d
Coates j. g. A. Fisher-was present from lhadclpha'
aud John Chandler from Baltimore. The dinner b"gan
o'clock and the last course was serve'i about H.
The two hours tilled up with pleasant chat auh
lively story telling With the coffee aud cigars Pre'ient
Knowles called the meeting To order aud made modest
speech the virtues Of the potter The sere
tary Mr. Brewer read letters % regret rom senators
Sewel Mcpherson, Adrich and sherman and from Rep
resentativcs s. !. Randall and w. W. Phelps Charles
Emory smith. OF The Phii1deiphiG Pres. Robert J..
Porter James VI. Swank and Edwin Booth were also
prevented from heing present There were no formal
toasts, hut speeches made by Rcpre-cn ,tive
Buchanan Mr.. Brewer Henry C. Meyer, Oscar strauss,
j. f. Fisher. and +. W. Rollins. OF Ihe Boston COM
mrrciGl Bulefn Judge Buchanan ana eN- Congressman
Brewer the principal speakers, amused the audience
with pe Jokes and wandered on into "reminiscences
OF the carry history OF pottery In the United states or
ventured their regulations classical scholars on
lsfratiOus from early ceramic At o'clock the