New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-07-17
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
TIN PLATES AND REFORM.
ANOTHER FREE-TRADE PHILANTHRoPfsT EXPOSED
..AN OLD LINE pEMOCRAT" PEEFORMs NE JOB.


''AN OLD LINE DEMOCRAT" PERFORMS THE JOB
TONE Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The communication OF Mr. John Dunlap, to
The Pittsburg Post Of May %, on tho tin plate
manufacture Is unfair and misleading, especially 'no
rcpororA comments which are intended TO deceive
II Is by such dark lantern sophisrics that tho as
sassns OF the tin plate Industry hope TO throttle ths
Valuable enterprise. The opponents of American IN
Plate manufacture met this question iaiiy
and honestly.
In regard TO Mr. Dunlap, The POST states " that
for the past fifty years he has been identified with the IN
dustry In a far reaching capacity, and today MS e'-
Enlistment is one Of the most extensive OF INC hhu
In the country and further, that he Is considered
the fountain head OF knowledge and experience Win
reference TO everything relating to the tin plato In
dustry7 This deceptive form Of speech has spread the
impression throughout the country that Mr.. DUNLAP
Is a tin plate manufacturer. when The POST knows
that he IS not. His proper vocation Is purposeiy
omitted to give questionable strength 10 the one
substituted. Mr. Dunlap is importer Of tin plates,
and as such anag0nizes the manufacture here, WHICH
woud give the local sheet mills cOntro, Of the product
and distribute the wage the millions that are
now traced to the pockets Of the wealthy importer.
Mr.. bgnlap's appeal TO our philanthropy that II IS
undesirable trans fer the tin plate manufacture here
for fear that tho labor Of American women may
become deg AIDED the level OF tho Welsh women that
no witnessed meet with willing response
consideration from II would II 1t came from
a with which dividends OF these very imporfa-
lions were not identified. We listen in vain for
some suggestion that would relieve our Welsh sisters
We relieve such apprehensIons, however, By
establishing the tin plate industry here at such rate
of duty that able-bodled and boys Will be ex-
cusvey employed at 200 per cent advance in wages
| over their Welsh competitors, so that there VIII be
no necessity for the work OF women and girls
Philanthropy and selfish interests rarely or
never guided by the hand under such conditions
~ closely interviewer circumstances The duties on TIN
plato have hcraded tho people during the past
fifteen years with appeal to advance tho rates In
harmony with the sheet metal schedule The present
duty on tin and tcrne plates Is cent per pound gal
vanzed sheet iron cents per pound, sheet iron from
which tin plates arc made "a cents per pound and
common black iron cents per pound To equalize
the rates tin plates should DO assessed the same duty
rs galvanized sheet IRON Ia cents per pound They
are similar IN manufacture. Tho latter "a covered with
zinc and speler and the former with tin and terne and
vet we arc net by the old chronic cry Tin plates are
not made here Nothing in tho steel or iron line could
be made under similar circumstances. 1t Is not gen
orally known that tin and plates are o5 TO % per
cont sheet iron or steel Hence they should be treated
as sheet IRON or sheet steel product, and not as TN
product.
Mr. Dunlqp IS ANXIOUS about the exporter Of canned
goods who obtains from the Government rebate OF ~
Der cent and would meet opposition II all were r.
turned TO him. The Gamer and packer pay nothing Tor
their cans ultimately. The consumer returns the e1or-
titan price of IA o; cent per can to tho Gamer
wltbont protest or comment. In all the ramhcatonS
NJ the canning trade only So05OOO duty is paid For
This tho Gamer free tin plates, Indifferent II
s6OOOOOO aggregate on wages VIII be IosS
To tho wage-earncr annually by the destruc-
ton Of tho combined industries OF tho shee'
mills tho sheet iron roofing and siding
fr.nD
consuming more than 10000 tons Of sheet iron ana
steel. which would be displaced By free tin plates
Consumers might gain 100000, but the wage-earner
would lose sG,0OOOOO.
Sheet mill AMI wage owner, this IS the recpro
cal feast with Great Britain TO which you arc h'l'e'
Reciprocity IN trade with a vandal power, thar never
hvs except By compuslon and aotuated by cheapness
Pudders rollers and Others, do you desire to WORK lor
one-tblrd YOUR present wagosl II so, vote and WORK
for free tin plates but If you want tho aggregate OF
YOUR wages increased to s25,oooooo annually then
put forth every strength and endeavor for the integrity
OF this measure and the justice due yon In the metal
schedule, by securing 10 tin plates harmonious IT,
Iatiopshp with other sheet metal. oppose the
maxms Of Lord Drougham. uttered In lei5. mhapPT3;
tho and policy OF England by sta's ma
Was well worth while to incur loss on the eA
Of English manufacture In odsr 10 stne ,g
cradle American manufacturers inns 81 Is a. i1ays
expression OF Fneiands policy Whch sny ma S I'D
strong in your defence against the squao, OF hsr nu
and novels. and the degradation OF hsr laogI IN i~
wages. American tin plates were nane az D ellIi i
Ioechburg and Wellsvlle IN 1873, second 70 none IN
quality and finish. We might have been making mem ,ba
todav but that the barrier is 100 low 10 preNtn Ic
rartical operation Of Lord Drougham's theoros our
fres were banked, mills stopped and wages ceaseh a.
com as England took alarm at our excellent worn,
which was found dangerous competitor IN our own
market but soon As our mills were cru'hou' w
+ ,rices were advanced Our efforts, however, gave
he American people reduction from the hsh prizes
on tin plates that prevailed up 10 1872 Oa a shres
/ INNS Of tbe country produce about 100000 IONS
annually: 10000 enters consumption as snee' IrO
/ ro00n, ana siding. and $4,000 tons for gaVdhILhs
i.iruosee Tho wage earners dltrlbuflon from mes
combined industries aggregate Si,OOO,O0O rec w
mates would destroy these industries Properly pro.
iectrd tin plates would add 10000 tons OF snr1'.
iron and steel to our annual prod cuon ana increase
BE- ber Sats IN the wac Garner S25.O0O0OO annually
frou the pig 10 the finished product, not estmatIhs
the additional enormous Increase IN WOrALleh anu
wages from tho coal and ore I'm The hills .
/ 10 ada emphasis 20 Mr. DuniaP.s influence ne j.
/ unclaimed an indepcnl nt Republican. me uaierr
ened Is an Old-Lnc Democrat o. inc lahha-i scuoDA,
9dvocating featy and lOy atty ~ Amer u,gIes1S
and American industries. =; a SCDli,i
! Chairman Tariff Committee National Iron hoohhg
| Assoc aflJu
| Cfrciuraff OhfO Juue 90. 1858.