The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-30
A PLAIN PROPOSITION.

We pass over the journalistic unfair
ness and offensive personalities OF the
Helena Journal in its discussion OF the
tariff question with THE INpEPENDENrto
answer that part of its shutting reply
to our charge that American manufac-
turers put a higher price on their wares
to homo purchasers than to foreign
buyers. Tho Journal OF yesterday says:
The INDEPENDENT published what pur-
ported to be the difference between tho
prices Of American manufactures in foreign
countries and this. Commenting on these
figures, the Journal stated that free traders
had made similar allegations heretofore,
but Tint an official investigation had dsvol-
opsd the fact that comparisons had dlshon-
estly been made between the retail prices
in America and tho rates to agents abroad.
This fact remains undenied, but The INDE-
PENDENT declares in the foregoing excerpt
that it has personally made comparisons
between the Wholesale local price and the
foreign retail price. If SO, why is 1t SO shy
about giving the sources Of its authority?
Having personally examined the retail
prices that prevail in the old world it
should not hesitate to state where it OBJ
tanned them so the general public may
weigh the evidence for what it is worth, and
study the relation of specific sales to the
phas aSAA
Now as the journal very we'll knows
The INDEPENDENT fairly and squarely
disposed of its misstatements on Satur-
day last. We quote again our exact Ian
guage on that date, as follows:
In every case where we quoted the price
Of an American article to foreigners the re-
tail price for a single article WAS given,
while the comparison was made with the
lowest domestic price for large wholesale
lots at the factories. In giving the price
for plows, for example, we stated the am
cunt the foreign farme had to pay for one
ploW and compared ii with the price the
American dealer in plows had to pay in
large lots at the factory. 1t is folly for the
Journal to attempt to meet these facts by
bare denial or impudent falsehood. TIL
PRICE LISTS FROM WHICH WE QUOTED, ARE ON
FILE, ACCESSIBLE TO THE JOURNAL, OR no ANY
ONE ELsE WHO DOUBTS THE RUTH. The PRICES
QUOTED TO AMERICAN AND FOREIGN CONSUMERS
ARE CERTIFIED AS CORRECT OVER THE SIGMA
TUREs OF THE PROTECTED FIRMS HARGIN
THEM.
It seems to us that that is about as
plain a statement as any fair-minded
person could ask. Is it necessary for us
to repeat that the data to which we
have referred is in possession of The
INDEPENDENT, and that our statements
are based on the figures contained in the
circulars issued by the manufacturers
themselves over their own signatures?
Now The INDEPENDENT does not pro-
pose to let the Journal longer evade a
square test. Here is a plain proposition.
HE INDEPENDENT proposes to place in
the hands of a committee of three
persons, one of whom shall be named
by the Journal, one by The INDE-
PENDENT, and a third to be selected
by the other two, a certified check for
$1,000, the Journal to do the same. The
INDEPENDENT will submit to such com
mittee the proofs Of it's statement that
in scores of instances American manu-
facturers charge American wholesale
buyers higher prices for their goods
than they charge the foreign buyer at
retail. and if the committee finds that
we have not established our case it may
pay over to any charity the Journal may
designate The INDEPENDENTS check
for $1,000. On the contrary. if the com
mittee is satisfied that we have proved
our statement, the Journals check for
$1,000 shall be given to such charity as
The INDEPENDENT may designate. Now
put up or back down.