Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-07-31

GRAPE ISLAND, W. VA, July 30, 1888
To TIE Editor Of he Register:
SIR Not having seen the Intelligence
If the 9th inst, until long after it was is
sued, take the earliest opportunity oil
noticing its criticism Of my article on Tar
i'll Reform. The Iatelligeaeer charges that
I am politician, which is news to Inc and
my friends. 1t is the first time | was ever
accused of it. 1.-THE Belmont" does not
[ need not object to the EnteHigeneer's in
yestigation Of my private business. Dur
ing the five years mentioned, made 30.
60 100 per cent. per annum on the money
had invested in the Belmont Nail Co
The stock has been increased or wstered,
by whichever name the HteIigeneer may
plense to call it, 255 per cent. Why does
not the InteIiigeReer with its honest po-
ties inform its readers about the great
strike OF over a year, compelling the CON-
pany to make nailsrs out of their feeders, OF
the building Of the blast furnace, rebuilding
the nail department, Of the lsrge sum in
vested in the steel plant, largely increas-
ing the value of the property in better
ments and declaring a stock dividend
during the time it has not been paying
cash dividends. Is this honest politics."
Why does it not tell us something about
the earnings of other mills which have not
heen in difficulties? During the aforesaid
FIVE years received in the aggregate over
$50 per cent on the Investment. My
stock representing two and one-half
times tho amount invested cannot
he bought for 80 cents on the
dollar whether the Mills bill passes or
not. There are mills in the country To
manufacture in six or seven months all the
yearly consumption OF nails, consequently
the competition has been 30 great that
nails have not for years sold for more than
their actual value, but We do not know
how soon q nail trust may be found to
remedy the evils of strikes and over-pro'
auctions, giving their workmen employ
ment only half the time, and the con-
sumner footing the bill of the man
ufacturer's loss of time. At the
close of the Iateiligeneer's criticism,
find an assertion which feel tempted to
characterize with strong expression,
but l will simply refer to that
part of my tariff article, which 'eads: The
writer is in favor of tariff for protection
tirst, but would ieslOusly guard the inter
ests of the consumer by seeing that the
protection liz only sufficient TO give the
manufacturer fair profit" This is my
position, and the Intelligeneer has no right
TO quest on it. cannot afford to lower
myself by replying to the personal abuse
of ''Ohio Co. Republican Stakeholder, "
whose Republican argument is incomplete
only in the omission of the bloody shirt,
but will say to the Lntelligeneer, who ap-
pears perfectly in accordance with that
gentleman, that ! believe the Ohio
River Railroad, in its construction,
paid over % per cent. more
wages per day than farmers were paying ut
the same time. Americans a. q rule are
pre- JUDGED against work on the construc-
tion of railroads, at least they are in this
section. / will further say, il the Intelh-
geaerr will send down reporter, or any
other respectable person, to interview my
workmen, Twill pay his travelling expenses,
and entertain him during his stay, and
only ask that he faithfully report the re-
suit of his investigation in that paper for
the benefit of ''Ohio County Republican
Stakeholder"
If the IateMgeneer has the st. Marys
Oracle among its exchanges, in which my
article on tariff first appeared, it will prob
ably have frequent opportunities of tear
ing its hair and rendiDg its garments.
ROBT. H. BROWSE