The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1890-10-16
CLASS LEGISLATION.
A Confidential Republican Circular 10 .
CampaIrn Document.


Campaign Document.
A business circular lately issued hy
Foster, Stevens & Company, of Grand
Rapids, Mich, q firm which handles
more hardware, cutlery, tin, silver
plated goods and glass than any other
house in its State, is one Of the most ef-
fective anti-tariff and antitrust cam
paign documents that could be prepared.
The house was established by the late
Wilder ID. Foster, for many years Re-
publican member of Congress from
Michigan, and his interests are still
held in his family. The circular is
therefore an entirely accidental contri-
button to Democratic campaign litera-
ture from strictly Republican source.
Tho effect of the tariff-robbery
schemes of the party in power, and the
trusts which this party has fostered, is
evidenced in the confidential but half
apologize introduction of Messrs. Fos-
ter, Stevens & Co, which says:
AS important and rather radical advances In
prices OF some articles in the hardware line are
daily taking place, We wish to say few words
so you may more fully understand the situation
and not think that the iobber is overcharging
you.
Crops have been poor; potatoes are
gold and none to sell; wheat half
crop; corn all ''nubbins" by reason of
early frost and still the tendency of
prices in tho household utensil trade is
decidedly upward.
An unconscious turn is next taken at
the trusts in the hardware line:
There is now but one axe company in the
t,ene md hat S Cd fhn mo riraD
Axe & Tool Company, with headquarters at
Pittsburgh. This company has purchased out
right every axe factory in the country of eny
Importance and by thus controlling the pro
duction, have advanced prices on an average
of SO a dozen.
In this industry saws hand and cross cut
the anne forces have been at work, and to
day there are but two companies who manu-
facture hand-saws, where there were dozen
four months ago Prices in this line of goods
have been advanced from 10 to 40 per cent. In
cross-cuts it is the same. BY consolidation
of interests prices have been advanced from
to cents a foot.
SO much for the protected trusts, and
now for dutiable lead and the Repub-
lican silver bill:
Every thing made OF lead has taken decided
advance owing to recent decisions on the ad-
hitting Of Mexican ore into this country as
well as by combinations OF manufacturers.
Shot, lead pipe, pig-lead, solder, Rabbit metal,
have all advanced, and may go still higher.
The passage Of the silver bill will also affect
all articles made of or coated with silver. In
the hardware line plated knives and forks
spoons, etc, will be affected and advances made.
The evils of the silver bill were never
80 graphically set forth as in this evil
dence of its practical workings in
extorting toll for the silver kings of
Colorado from every household in the
land. 1t is clearly an utterly pernicious
and disgraceful measure of robbery and
outrage on the whole people.
Restraining Indignation and eXcus-
able wrath, let us read on:
The present tariff on sheet tin is 1 cent a
pound and the Mckinley tariff BILL which no
doubt will pass both houses of Congress, ad-
vances the duty TO 22l0 cents a pound. This
must, of course advance tin from 81 Is to s. a
box according TO the weight of said box. This
advance in sheet tin will affect all articles Of
tinware and advances will be made all along
the line.
Tin in New York has already advanced from
80 cents to 81 "a box and is growing stronger
zach day as the certainty of the passage of the
Mckinley tariff bill becomes more assured
Not box of tin is made in this country, not
withstanding which tin has declined in price
from s15 to s. IS box during the past twenty
five years.
In this way the genius for mischief oil
Mr.. Mckinley and associates is revealed
to the consumers of this tariff-ridder
land, the load taking the form Of bur
densome tax saddled on tie helpless
subjects of a coterie of ofiice-holding
politicians and business monopolists.
After referring to the glass trust
the advertisers further defend the adj
vauced prices in their new catalogue
and close with the assertion that, not
outstanding the advance in goods
there is hope that the limit is reached
since in no instance are the wholesale
firms (rusts) with which they deal pro
posing to consider any increase of wage!
TO those engaged in the labor of work
ing the raw material into goods
The circular, when read between thu
lines, as every intelligent citizen who il
posted on National legislation will reat
it. is forcible Arrangement Of the tar
if policy of the Republican party and
rebuke to every man who has voted t.
sustain that party and its policy. II
none of the legislation of the McKinle,
class is the consumer or the working
man benefited, but, on the other hand
allc!asses, except favored few who are
already wealthy, receive direct in
jury. The laborer works for tho same
pay and, as a consumer along with al
the lines of citizenship, must pay thu
increase demanded by Republican legis
lation and the protected trusts for al
the necessaries as we'll as the luxurie
of life.
This confidential Republican circula
will no doubt enter largely into the tar
if discussions of the fall campaign
We commend it to State committee
and to Democratic workers everywhere
Chicago Globe.
RANARnIS WARMING