Iron County register., 1890-10-09
GLASS LEGISLATION.
a Confidential Republican Circular AZ .
,irrI,

| a Confidential Republican Circular az .
| 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 9th er
house in is 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 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 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. Eos
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 IA few words
so you 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 ''nubbins' 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 hardw line:
There is but one axe company in the
United States, and that is called the American
Axe s 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-
duction, have advanced prices on an average
of S2 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-saw where there were Il 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 foot
SO much for the protected trusts, and
now for dutiab BILE lead and the Repub-
lican silver bill:
Every thing made of lead has taken decided
advance, owing to recent decisions on the ad-
mitting CT Mexican ore into this country
we'll as by combinations of manufacturers.
Shot. lead pipe, iglead, solder, babbit 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
so 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 disgracefu1 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 2210 cents pound. This
must, of course. advance tin from 81 .25 to S3
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 Fl box and is growing stronger
each 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 SIS to s.. IS box during the past twenty
five years.
In this way the genius for mischief of
Mr.. Mckinley and associates is revealed
to the consumers of this tariff-ridden
land, the load taking the form of a bur-
densome tax saddled on the helpless
subjects of a 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 consider 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 read
it. is forcible arraignment of the tar
iff policy of the Republican party and
rebuke to every man who has voted to
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 a favored few who are
already wealthy, receive a 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 as 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 commit ttees
and to Democratic workers everywhere.
Chicago Globe.