Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-03
FINE TESTIMONIAL.
The Germania Newspaper Oh the
Operation of the Mckinley
Bill.
Nice Example Of the Stimulating
Effect Of the Robber
Tariff.
Catholic Medals and Kindred Ar
ticles to be Made at Home
Hereafter.

blClSS W OO 1s1dIlO c1J Aloh1O
Hereafter.
The Germania newspaper IF Milwaukee,
which saw Fit to oppose the republican
ticket last fall. prints an editorial in re-
gard to the practical effect of the new tar
FL law touching some articles that are
extensively used by the Catholic churches
in this country. 4 translation of TIE edi-
torial is given below, and stronger en-
dorsement of the Mckinley bill could
hardly be writer; and even the firm to
whom the Germania refers = Benziger
Bros. democrats, have kindly done the
country splendid service, in showing
how the ''robber" is stimulating their
business. The article, to which special
attention is called, is as follows:
"a very interesting commentary to the
tariff question, or Mckinley bill, if you
please, is furnished by the world-knowr
firm Of Benziger Bros, in New York,
Chicago and Cincinnati. This firm deals
in sundry articles for Catholics and the
Catholic church, and it is by far the most
important of its kind in the country. We
have before Us printed circular issued by
this firm, in which prices ara quoted for
its goods, medals and book marks, etc, Ia
particular. At the head of the circular
Benziger Bros. say:
"'1he duty on gold and silver medals
having been advanced so per cent. free OF
duty heretofore, it is impossible to import
them in the future and sell them at the
old prices. We have therefore begun the
manufacture of medals in our New York
factory for chalices, etc., and having made
!. I. L, y4r
prepared to make trem now at the old
price. Medals with the immaculate con-
ception on one side and Sacred Heart of
Jesus and Mary on reverse. Here follows
list of prices with designs OF the med
ais. e
traders, to say to this splendid testimonial
of the Mckinley tariff? Political campaign
tin" is certainly not the issue here. For,
being good Catholics, Benziger Bros. are
presumably full-hedged democrats, and it
may be taken for granted that they do not
dream of being DESTROYS Of furnishing
campaign documents to the protectlonlsts.
Nevertheless, it remains fact that a
better proof and argument In favor OF the
protection tariff can not very well be ad,
duced.
NV hosoever is acquainted with the stu
pendous extent of the Catholic church IN
this country can form an idea of the extent
of the trade in medals and kindred artl-
Giles. The demand for them is enormous,
and as long as not subject to any duty they
were imported from other countries. Vast
amounts of money were thus drawn from
cur country. The importer and the brok-
er, of course, derived an adequate profit
from this source, but no benefit accrued to
even a single (American) laborer."
The new tariff has imposed duty of SO
per cent. on these goods, and, if one were
to Judge by the assertions of The free
traders, the price of the medals, etc, was
raised fully one-half by the infamous tariff
of the bad Mckinley bill. A medal, for in
stance, which formerly one could hny from
BtDziger Bros. for dollar, under the new
tariff would cost dollar and half. 1t
would cost the same if the duty on it
should be genuine democr attic (revenue)
duty; that is to say if by reason of there
being such duty imposed on It, the
article could not be manufactured in this
country 1t is tue, if such medals were
not manufactured here they would cost
dollar and half while their former price
was only one dollar. In their circular
Benziger Bros. state expressly that in con.
sequence of the Mckinley bill they find
themselves unable to import the medals at
the former price.
But from this it by no means allows that
the ''poor people" are now compelled TO
pay more for the medals. Great mer
chants like Benziger Bros. are also good at
Egures CheeIfully they went to work,
had the dies for the medals made here,
and now they manufacture iii their own
American factories those articles which
they formerly imported from Europe.
And through their circular they inform
their customers that they will continue to
sell at the old price the goods which they
now themselves manufacture In this coun-
try. In other words, those who formerly
when there was no duty on the medals,
bought one of them for dollar can do tn
same to-day, Notwithstanding the fact that
the bad Mckinley tariff has placed duty
of so cents on the medal. The poor PEG
pie" therefore have not been damaged {
cents worth by the Mckinley bill.
But what has been gained by the coun
try? Need we explain it? In the first
place, the money which formerly flowed te
Europe now remains In our own country
That undoubtedly is great gain: And i
must not be supposed that this money
which is thus kept in America, remains
lying idle in some American safe, but II
the form of well earned wages, it finds 1T
way into the pocket of many hundreds o
honest workmen who are being employee
in the factories of Benziger Bros, and h
did not have such employment before thu
passage of the Mckinley bill. Thes'
workmen again must pay their taxes
the money earned by them accordlngl,
flows into the channels which keep aiv
American commerce, American industry
and American agriculture. The who'll
United States thus profit from it. And tn
facts are established by the circular of thi
one firm apply also to hur3reds of othel
articles, which. by reason OF the prote1tlv
tariff, are manufactured in this country b.
well paid workmen. And the TN, abou
which so many silly things have beer
said, fails within the scope of this argu
ment also.