The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-08-15
Ole 9'atelLigettar.
wHEELINo. AUGUsr IS. IsOL.


In recent issue oil the 4iDeFtcdn MAT
ufacturr was printed an article copied
from the London Fair Trade, which is
very significant, since 1t gives from an
English standpoint the effect OF the
Mckinley ACT ON the tin plate industry
in Great Britain and bears testimony to
the practical working of the law in
America during the few weeks IL has
been in operation, as well as the pros
poets for the future.
After reviewing tho causes which led
to the Mckinley act, and the abnormal
export trade in tin plate from Wales
the nine months Immediately following
its passage and preceding the time fixed
for the law to go into effect, Fair Trade
proceeds to picture in the most graphic
manner the situation at present-how
England has been startled within a
month past by the fact that from 10000
to $4,000 men are locked out-and says:
"Thc men have been prepared for the
catastrophe, both by anticipation and
actual legal notices, and therefore for a
month the pinch may not be SO severe.
Butt in the uncertainty for the future
lies the chief factor OF the situation"
On this point the English journal in
its comments pays high compliment
to the business sagacity of the Ameri-
can congress when it says; at is we'll
understood that the legislation OF the
United States, on this head, is to a
great extent tentative. 1t is even pro-
yided by the Mckinley act that il, after
certain trial period, it is found that
the new home industry is incapable of
producing the major part of the internal
consumption, the tariff is to be remit
ted-a proviso which proves more than
anything else the business-like foresight
with which the act was framed"
The question which is now uppermost
is, as Fair Trade suggests, not whether
tin plate can be produced tfor readers
Of the INrELLIGENcRR know that 1t can
bey but how far the United States can
produce for ITSELF Our English con-
temporary frankly refers to the fact
that time was when it was freely and
confidently stated that atmospheric
conditions in America would interfere
not only with the production Of tin
plates, but of iron and steel, and ad-
mits that as to the latter such belief has
been entirely falsilied. "In iron and
STEEL" it says, "the United States has
not only succeeded beyond tho widest
hopes, but has taken the lead, which
England has probably lost forever. It
is therefore ut least probable that the
making Of tin plates may be equally
possible; and that it is very much a
question Of skilled labor and prices"
We have already witnessed how the
American manufacturers are preparing
to meet the question of skilled labor.
As to the matter Of prices past expert
cnce shows that American products,
with adequate protection, are capable
Of maintaining the home market, and it
is only by cheapened methods of pro-
duction and the reduction of wages on
the other side that Europe can be able
tobeat us in our own field, With half
n chance the American tin plato indus
try may be made to supply the Ameri-
can demand. At any rate, we believe it
has come to stay and will take its place
us one OF the great American industries
due to the wisdom OF the great party
of Protection.