The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-10-16
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER IS.
The Tarifr and =" Politics. {"

The Massachusetts democratic platform
SAYS:
We give our hearty support to the petition of
the present republican governor OF this state
and other leading iron and steel manufacturers
of both political parties addressed TO the New
England members of congress, asking for free
coal and iron ore and lower duties upon pig
iron, and we commend their efforts to save this
important industry, threatened with extinction
in our section of the country through failure
10 adapt tariff duties TO the changed conditions
of the iron market.
Gov. AMEs of Massachusetts is shovel
manufacturer. His establishment turns
out more shovels than any other concern
in the country, or, perhaps, in the world.
The governor is, of course, republican.
He insists that he is also protectionist.
Yet ne has joined with a large number OF
other New England manufacturers in a
free trade movement. He has signed
petition asking congress to put iron ore
and coal on the free list. He explains that
this movement is outside of politics, and
that the New England manufacturers have
engaged in it because if they do not Sc
cure relief they feel that their industries
will be doomed for the sake of the pros
peritv OF Pennsylvania, or at least can but
prolong a miserable existence, fed by
scrap iron only"
Gov. AMEs adds:
Many large iron establishments became ex-
tinct because they were unable, with the high
duty on iron and coal (which shut out the raw
material from the British provinees) to CON-
pete with the Pennsylvania manufacturers.
The old Colony works at Squawbetty lin Rayn-
ham, close by Taunton) where there formerly
were a shovel shop. a rolling mill and nail
factory, each doing a large and prosperous
business, have been forced to close altogether.
At Fall River there was till recently, an I'M
nense iron establishment, making rails, rolled
iron, sheet-iron and like products. The busi-
ness has been discontinued, the machinery torn
out, and the buildings will be used for cotton
factory. A large iron establishment at Som
erset has been driven out OF existence. The
large works at East Weymouth no longer
exist. The same is true OF manufactures at
Dighton, MiddlebOro and Portland. Form
erly they were prosperous and employed
many men. To-day their business is
snnihilated and their workmen are scattered.
The great works of Bridgewater, which pro-
duced shafts for steamboats, and gunboats, and
which also did large rail business have closed
their doors. At East Bridgewater fortunate
fire destroyed the works, and the owners could
not be induced to rebuild, because the FIRE gave
them an easy escape from losing business. At
produced large number of shovels. To-day
the Ames mandatory is the only shovel works
in New England. and even here the business is
not as large as formerly. The stove industry OF
New England is having a hard time. The
Kinsley machine company at Canton, owned
by the AMESEs, is said to be probably the only
iron establishment in the state which is making
any money, and its prosperity Is due TO the fact
that it is engaged upon specialties. And even
this prosperity is possible only because 1t does
- 4 H. A
these closed establishments, and many others,
have been driven out of business by the i'm
possibility of getting cheap raw material owing
TO the tariff.
Gov. AMEs declares that, in view OF
these facts, the question with the New
England manufacturers is mot one of
politics, but of life or death"
The question, however, is bound TO be-
come one of politics. In fact, it is already
a question of politics in its strictest sense,
and the Massachusetts, democrats are JUS
titled in so treating it. Gov. AMEs belongs
to party which stands pledged not to
surrender "any part of our protective sys-
tenn" A very important part of our pro-
tective system is that which imposes pro-
tective taxes on coal, iron and other raw
materials-the very taxes which Coy.
AMEs and the other New England manu-
facturers are demanding shall be abolished.
But the producers of iron and coal have
something to say about it. They allowed
the fat to be fried out of them by the re-
publican campaign managers last year
with the understanding that they were to
be protected. They will insist upon the
fulfllment of this contract. They would
not allow the movement for the relief OF
the New England manufacturers to be
kept "out of politics." even if they had
the power to do so. The only way in
which these gentlemen can get the free
raw materials which, they say, are mat
ter of life and death to them, is through
the election of democratic congress,
pledged to equal taxation for all, and spe-
cial privileges TO none"