The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-03-06
MR.. PEARSON REPLIES
TO A MYTHICAL MANUFACTURER.
The Logic of Solid Neutrality-suspicious..
tons and Ignorance E1possd-ThS Reg.
Istsrs UnfairnosS-Frse Raw Ma.
tsrials not DsslrHbls-As to BOraz.

expressed in an interview with me, pub
lished by you in your Saturdays issue, on
the effect the Mills Tariff bill would have
on our industry, should it become law,
and they do 1t through an interview, as
the Regiaer putu It, with prominent
East Liverpool manufacturer who was in
the city Saturday night"
Before answering this prominent East
Liverpool manufacturer" I will say the
Rsg.ltr'S reporter interviewed me on Fri.
day afternoon over the telephone while l
was at the pottery, and several gentlemen
heard all my remarks in answer to his In
terrogation:
"Mr. Pearson, what do you think Of the
Mills Tariff bill?"
at Is fraud and humbug. What do
you people mean in your editorial by say;
Ing, mot an industry will be disturbed,
and why do you say the present tariff ie
IS per cent when 1t Is 55 per cent? Ol
course 1t was typographical error"
To which he answered, SIT was just Rs
we received 1t. How will 1t affect your
Industry"
at will close every pottery in the Ohio
Valley until the workmen accept % per
cent less wages. It Is an outrage and l
am opposed to any reduction In wages,
and II l thought for g moment 1t would
pass would sell all my pottery stock ct
sacrifice"
/ aak the public to compare this state
ment with what the RegiJter printed as
| my interview In Saturdays edition. Why
does not the Register give the name OF the
prominent East Liverpool manufacturer,
| Tor / am cure II prominent his name
would add weight to his words, Whereag
an Anonymous writer's words are always
looked upon with suspicion; and my. first
feeling was not to notice the article, as
the author was afraid to attix his name
thereto. The first part OF said interview
Ia the prandeat argument in favor Of pro-
lection that can be given, and the one our
industry prides itself upon, and Y gives
me great pleasure to endorse 1t, although
l glory in what he appears 10 deplore::
He says: 1.-THE increase in the tariff OF
1888 brought about reduction In the
selling price OF the goods; that is, dig
counts Increased from 80 to 90 per cent,
80 that the jobbers land Of course, as q
natural result, the consumers) bought for
forty ($40) dollars under the new ad-
yanCed tariff what they, under the old
and lower tariff, paid fifty $500 for" l
truly thank the Register for this admission
(which was not expeCted) OF the sound
ness OF the protective doctrine, which Ia
60 well illustrated in our business; and l
congratulate the public, the consumers Of
our wares, on the fact that they have not
suffered from any combination or grasp
ing monopoly"
With the iron.clad oath to which he
refers have: nothing to do. II belongs to
East Liverpool and not to Wheeling, and
Is altogether irrelevant.
The Hon. William Mckinley was re-
elected to Congress at the last election by
the following vote in East Liverpool
township:
Mckinley 1oS
McEinisyS Plurality In $50
Clearly showing his great popularity
and the high esteem in which he ia held
by the citizens Of that prosperous and
growing district.
The "Prominent East Liverpool Manu-.
iacturer" says decorated ware cuts NO
figure in the question. This exposes his
entire Ignorance Of the whole pottery
question and forces me to the conclusion
that this "Prominent East Liverpool
Manufacturer" ia a myth. His remarks
in reference to the duty on clay also force
the same conclusion.
Previous to the Tariff Of 1883 the duty
on all kinds Of clay (potters) was FIVE 1851
dollars per ton. The bill OF 1888 imposed
three 1887 per ton on china clay and one
dollar and fifty cents on unwsshed or
unwrought clay, q reduction OF two dol
lara on china clay and three dollars and
ftty cents on unWrought clay. How this
change "a reduction) could force the
American potters to uee inferior clay
(unless the foreign was tho inferior) and
thereby make inferior goods, iS beyond my
comprehension. His remarks are vile
slander upon American potters and their
products, and as an humble member OF
the United States Potters' Association, l
fling the lie in his teeth, and shame upon
him for decrying q product Of which all
American citiEsns, be they alien or native
born, have reason to be proud. do OBJ.
know 1t can be imported under the pres
ent tariff to the detriment oil the clay
miners OF this country; and II any OF my
readers doubt this statement, II they will
call upon me at tho Wheeling Pottery,
will take pleasure in demonstrating to
them the facts. The highest priced clay
in the market is OF American production,
and who will say that is not the best evi:
dence Of It's quality7 He says wages are
not 120 per cent higher in this country
lin our business) than in England. !
made statement before the Tariff Com.
mission and gave full data, showing 1907
per cent advance, and until now It has
gone unohallenged by either English man.
utacturers or their agents, and venture |
to say they would have denied II long ago |
II they could. can prove We pay l20 per |
cent more wages in this country than
they do in the stafordshire potteries,
England, to produce like amount Of
goods.
The following Is the tariff under the
present law and the proposed Mills bill
rs It affects our industry:
Present Nils
TariH Bill.
7. CT. T. ct.
Decorated ware gilded and enAmSled. GO 20
Decorated ware printed under Rlases". 90 IS
Decorated ware lultre band and spng- 60 IS
white ErAnite % 20
Other eArthenWAre "."...a.."......"...". IS IS
The Mills bill proposes TO renew the
tariff on packages, but not on inland
lreights, shippiDg charges, dock dues and
numerous other items Of expense, such as
The tariff previous to 1888 did, and the
'ariff on packages alone will not amount
70 Ave per cent,
I have taken these figures frcm the New
York World Of Friday 90 far 40 they ap.
ply to the Mills bill, and previous to read.
ms that paper on Saturday was not
ware oil the proposed tariff on packsRes;
md leave 1t to an intelligent public Il |
hsee changes would not affect any In.
lustry.
The ReoiIsr Of Friday In ia editorial