Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-03
AMID MUCH MYSTERY
Are the Operations of Those English
Syndicates Performed,
BUT THEY WILL GET THERE IN TINE
The Master Plasters Break Their Agree
ment, and the Men Quit.
FEDERATION WARS WITH THE KNIGHTS

Extended inquiry among the tableware
manufacturers yesterday failed to elicit any
confirmation of the reported sale of houses
in that branch to a syndicate. Some ten
offices were visited, but at none was found
anyone bold enough to say that the big deal
had been consummated. Owners did not
deny that the agents of one or more syndi-
Gates were, or had been, busy among them.
But an absolute denial was given in each
case to the report that any bona fde sale of
local factories had taken place.
The position of the English syndicate with
regard to the purchase of American plants
was outlined yesterday by a manufacturer:
"There is not any doubt" said he, Gas
The DISPATCH has already pointed out
that agents are circulating among factory
owners with a view to buying on behalf of
foreign capitalists. There is great deal of
English money right here in Pittsburg for
investment under proper conditions. 1t is
immaterial to the Englishmen whether they
secure factories in blocks or singly. What
they are after are investments which will
weld them a better return for their money
than they can obtain at home. This is the
general situation with regard to English
money for American plants.
SIGNIFICANT ASPECT.
'tBut regarding the glass houses, he con-
tinued, ''there is a sIgnifcan aspect
attached to any efforts on the part of En-
glishmen to secure a large number of
factories. 1t means simply that they mean
to obtain control of the glass trade of the
country-if they can-to prevent American
trade from swamping them in their own
markets. 1t is a fact that England is losing
her foothold on the American market, year
by year. Window glass men can more
than hold their own with her; what she
sends here of tableware doesn't signify, and
that is of inferior quality; in the chimney
branch she has not near the trade she had.
owing to American competition, and though
she can still send over bottles at lower
cost than they are made here, that
branch of the trade will soon
be able to beat her out of the
market Well, the deduction from all this
is that it is plausible to imagine English
men trying to obtain control of American
factories. The amount of money it would
cost them would not be a consideration be-
side the sums they have invested in the
business at home. and the ultimate advan-
tage derived from the investment. 1t is
easy to see that, once having control of,
say, the tableware branch, they would at
once take steps to raise prices. They would
cease production, work off stocks, and then
put up the American to meet the English
price. Thus they would be securing fair
investment both at home and abroad.
WANTS NO COMPETITION.
81 know several factories whose owners
have done nothing in the way of preparation
for the next fire-now close at hand-in ex-
pectation of selling out to Englishmen.
These negotiations do not materialize, be- |
cause the Englishman wants to secure him |
self from competition. He makes a condi- |
ton that the owner shall remain as manager, |
under salary for five years, or perhaps less
and attempts to bind him, under honor, not |
10 again engage in the same business You
,ee that where he wants to buy a block of
so as to control the trade, there
would be no use in the Englishman buying
unless he was secured from further competi-
ion"
1t may be taken as certain that the
English capitalists will not relinquish their
'forts to buy factories which may help
hem to recover some of their lost trade, and
t would not surprise manufacturers if they
succeeded in effecting their
purpose.