The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-06-12
the quality being more pure than Cor.

the quality being more pure than Cor.
nish tin. 5sas
The English government reports
show tho entire export during 1880 as
4s0,G?3 tons Of so.called tinpla,es OF
which the United States took $50, COZ
tons, valued at S93,O0O0O0. Ninty.
seven per cent OF the commerce Is iron
or steel and II entered the United States
at one cent per pound duty (which Is to
protect the iron industry but II this
sheet iron had not been coated with
tin, It would not be imported at all.
Tho $50 tin plate mills in England
offered employment directly and indi.
rectly 10 about 10000 people tinciud.
Ing those working in the mines). Now,
suppose the $4,000 tons imported by
this country were manufactured here,
at tho ratio given tho industry In the
United States would directly and indi.
rectly contribute TO the support Of over
10000 people.
Diverting somewhat from the subject
directly under discussion We desire to
call attention to an appalling fact in con-
nection with the production OF the Tin
orc which Is used in the plate mills o!
England. Mr.. James Wilson, OF the
Horncy Peak Tin Mining Company Of
South Dakota, writing from London,
England, gives the following startling
information: ...
| / do not believe that there Is any correct
| knowledge IN the minds OF any committee or
GOrernnicdt officials. who have 10 deaf with the
| iHfiU question: or even the minds OF those who
have appeared at Washington advocating pro.
tectlon 10 tn plates and tlu. What Is now sent
you should be distributed brOadcnEt through
tue press which Is favorable To tariff measures.
Y Is appalling to thl9k that there is neatly
| iOOOU Cinnamon and MalHys who live on rice
and rats, working under less than 10000 Euro
pcans who diract their labor, tho product Of
which army Of slaves Is first brought 10 England
and then tiaushipped 10 the United states, near
~ l2,OtO tons Of which enter tho United States
ports duty free, and an additional 1000 tons
covers the G,oUO tons OF iron ana steel plates
sent 10 the United States In 1852 with only one
cent per pound duiy-a lower rate OF tarlll than
would have been imposed upon the sheets II
they were not coated with lin.
The official figures quoted and Mr..
Wilson'S letters establish the fact that
this country, in buying English pig tin
and tin plates, is supporting nearly iOO..
900 coolie laborers in China, who are
under the ban OF the laws OF the United
States, and the further fact that with Q
protective tariff our tin and tin plate.
would be mined and manufactured here
by American workmen, paid American
wages. In other words, 100000 Ameri
can miners and mechanics would b.
given employment, and the millions O.
money now being sent 10 Europe woult
, be apent in our own markets.
| There can be but little doubt that thes,
} things would come 10 pass, us they hay,
in other industries. After the discover,
y OF the great copper mines in the LAX,
Superior region, the owners could no
operate them pvotilably and pay til,
American rate OF wages. They asked 10
protective duty on copper. This stim
ulated the business, ami employment ha
been given to thousands OF Americans
So rich were the mines that, notwith
staudingthe owners have made enorm
Gus profits, the price OF copper has beer
cheapened, and America controls til,
copper market OF the world.
In 1850 all the steel rails used in th,
United States were imported from Eng
land and the price paid here for rail-
was over 500 per ton in gold. Her,
again the protective tariff came to thu
rescue. When it passed Congress thous
ands Of iron mines were opened ant
many manufactures were startec
throughout the country, many thous
ands OF American laborers were givel
employment, and the result is tina
under the home competition tho pric,
OF steel rails has been reduced 10 S2S 81
per ton.
What was true OF the copper and iron
and steel industries will be true OF the
tin.platc industry. The history OF the
two former has proved that the pro.
tective tariff has not only created indus.
tries, but by fostering home competition
has greatly reduced the price Of the
product to the consumer. What, then,
becomes OF the cry OF our Free Trade
friends that the consumer is the victim
OF the Protective tariff, and that he
pays the taxi
But it is not alone the miner, the
manufacturer, the mechanic and the
common laborer that this Protection is
designed to benefit. The thousands in
cluded in these classes who are given
employment by the establishment OF
these industries arc consumers OF the
products OF the farm, and arc patrons
OF the merchant, so that every citizen,
no matter what his calling, is directly
interested in the Protective features Of
the Mckinley bill which is go much
attacked by our Free Trade friends.
| A "IIottomlcs.v IIr