The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-10-16
CLASS LEGISLATION.
A Confidential Republican Circular - .
Campaign Document.

n NOnhuGutsaA 1bEpUU1sC0O NbTCutUr - -
Campaign Document.
A business circular lately issued by
Foster. Stevens & Company. of Grand
Rapids, Mich, 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-tariH and antitrust CAM
paign documents that could be prepared.
The house was established by the late
Wilder D. 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.
The effect of the tarif-robbery
schemes Of the party in power. and the
trusts which this party has fostered, is
evidenced in the confidential but half
apologetic introduction Of Messrs. Fos-
ter. Stevens 4 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 sou may more fully understand the situation
and not think that the jobber Is overcharging
you.
Crops have been poor; potatoes are
gold and none to sell; wheat . half
crop; corn all .'nnbbins" by reason OF
early frost and still the tendency of
prices in the 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
United States. and that is called the American
Axe & Tool Company, with headquarters at
Pittsburgh. This company has purchased out
right every axe factory In the country Of any
Importance, and by thus controlling the pro-
ducfion, have advanced prices on m average
Of i2 dozen.
In this industry (saws hand and cross cut)
the anne forces have been At work, and to
Gay there are but two companies who manu-
fac;ure 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 II Is the same. By . consolidation
4 to cents . 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-
| mit,ing Of Mexican ore into this country, rs
well as by combinations Of manufacturers
Shot. lead pipe. pig lead, solder, babbit metal
have all advanced, and may 60 still higher.
The passage Of the silver bill viii 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
SO graphically set forth as in this evil
dence OF its practical workings in
extorting toll for n" silver kings Of
Colorado from every household in the
land It is clearly an utterly pernicious
and disgraceful measure OF robbery and
outrage on the whole people.
Restraining Indignation and cxcus-
able wrath, let us read on:
The present tariff on sheet tin is cent .
pound and the Mckinley tarif bill, which no
doubt will pass both houses Of Congress. ad-
yances the duty to 22-i0 cents . pound This
must. OF course advance tin from &.5 to q q
box. according to the weight Of said box This
advance in sheet tin will affect all articles Of
iinware aud advances will be made all along
the Hac.
| Tin in New York has already advanced from
so cents to 81 box and is growing stronger
each day as the certainty Of the passage Of the
| Mckinley tariff bill becomes more assured.
| Not q box Of tin IL made In this country, not
withstanding which tin has declined In price
from SIS to sis5 . tox during the past twenty.
| five years.
In this way tho genius for mischief OF
| Mr.. Mckinley and associates is revealed
to the consumers Of this tariff-ridden
land, the load taking the form Of . bur
densome tax saddled on the helpless
subjects of q coterie Of office-holding
| politicians and business monOpolists.
After referring to the glass trust
| the advertisers further defend the ad-
| vanced prices in their new catalogue
and close with the assertion that, not
withstanding the advance in goods,
there is hope that the limit is reached.
, since in no instance are the Wholesale
firms (trusts) with which they deal pro-
| posing to oconsider any increase Of wages
to those engaged in the labor Of work.
ing the raw material into goods.
The circular. when read between the
| lines, as every intelligent citizen who is
posted on National legislation will .ead
| 1t, is q forcible arraignment Of the tar
| iff policy Of the Republican party and .
/ ICuuhc w CSCAy man WIZ uOo vOVCO "
sustain that party and its policy. In
none of the legislation Of the Mckinley
class is the consumer or the working
| man benefited. but, on the other hand.
| all classes, except . favored few who are
already wealthy, receive . direct in
| jury. The laborer works for the same
pay and, as consumer along with all
the lines Of citizenship, must pay the
increase demanded by Republican legis-
lation and the protected trusts for all
the necessaries as we'll rs the luxuries
| Of life.
This confidential Republican circular
will no doubt enter largely into the tar.
iff discussions Of the fall campaign.
| We commend it to State committees
and to Democratic workers everywhere.
Chicago Globe.