Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-06-25
CONCERN ABROAD.
How the British Papers are Stirred
up Over the Developing Tin
Plate Industry Here.
Welshmen Manufacturers AdviS
ed to Choke off Mills in the
United States.
Vain Hope Cherished That the
Mckinley Bill Will Be
Repealed.

If the talk about American tin plates is
nc more than talk, as the festive mug
wump would have US believe, why does
the Welsh tin-pIate maker create such
hub-bub on the other side? Why do
British trade and daily papers devote
columns to discussing the prospects OF
American tin plates? The very fact that
the question receives so much attention
from resident and foreign enemies OF
American industry should be pretty good
evidence to the careful observer, even If
he had no other proof. that our emancipa-
| ton from the arrogant rule and merclless
extortion of the Welsh tin-plate barons is
at hand.
Through ali the Historically abusive de-
malls of the mugwump, and the pretend
ed unconcern of his foreign master, we get
an occasional side glimpse OF the true
sentiment of Wales on the question of tin
/ plates.
The never varying note to be observed
| running all through the chorus Of British
comment is that American tin plate on q
! large scale is a certainty unless the Welsh
makers reduce their prices to a point
never hitherto reached. The London
Ironmonger says:
''What they (the Welsh makers) should
aim at is not the maintenance of prices by
artificial and inefficient means, but to so
cheaper the cost Of production as to bid
defiance to the whole world under any con-
ceivabIe conditions. The Americans,
when they go into the business fully,
will do so on new lines, and particularly
will use mechanical and improved appG-
ances in every process. The Welshmen
must do the same if they really mean to
retain command of the industry. There is
no alterna tive. If they stand still and
rely upon the old fashioned way of doing
things, they will be standing high and
dry, whereas if they will move ON and use
their quick wits and undoubted energy all
, that other nations may do will not suffice
, to sap their supremacy.
, We hereby serve notice that when the
/ cost of production is thus cheapened by
} competition of American makers using
machinery and improved appliances IL
every process, we shall insist upon the
/ American Cobdenite's giving due credit tt
l call the muewump's attention more par
f ticularlv to the Ironmonger's confident as
Y sertion that American tin-plate maker
r are now so situated under the McKinle.
law that they can "stand" the Welshmel
a high and dry unless the latter emplo,
s more economical processes of manufacture
;, This idea, above all others perhaps, tn
+ mugwump delights to ridicule.
Another significant utterance come
through communication in the Liyerpoo
+ Daily Post, which says:
d mo mole would be so blind as not t
e discern the gravity of the danger whicl
C lies in the direction of doing anything a
n all except promptly and theoretically i
e the way of quick reduction of makers
r prices. Here is the proposition placed be
J, fore you for consideration by Mr.. McKin
$ lev. He says: 1--WE want to keep til
$ Welsh tin plates out of America, an
'e make them in America. Therefore W
y raise the price about 5 cents per box
s. which will make the duty collected o.
/ plates about s15,OOO,OO0, or 100000
y sterling in ALL We (America) are conten
to pay this duty for few years while W
IL develop our new tin plate industry"
% Now, this is what you have to face
10 YOU the makers of South Wales. Do 20
! II shirk the awkward position? 1t looks a
= if you did, as if you wished to hide tn
-. uclv thing. E Sc why are you so FOOLS
y as to add to these S15,000,000? 70
70 ought to try and reduce the SIS, 000,O0I
~ and in so doing effect two things:
'(a) To keep up the consumption.
"(b) To render American competitlo
TO difficult.
lie America has artifcialIy increased Il
tv price of tin plate; you must at once redut
D. it in every possible way. Every move
III this direction increases your prospect
es saving the trade aud choking off natlv
I'd mills for year or two, when the MckI
- ley bill may be repealed. Every mo7
d. such as the closing of mills for month
Y other unnatural and perfectly lnetfectu
be dodge would bring swift relrlbutlon
OF the makers
OF That you cannot as body OF make
os see all this as we see it almost paralyz
ye one With amazement. That you do nc
It. instead of talking of stopping tor mont
at one. cali the workmen together ard e
g. plain to them the crisis you have to face
d, couple of months, and so arrange
e. YOUR common salvation by reducing t
be wages and foregoing profits, is equal
ed amazing"
We ask the mugwump again to no
.c- how beautifully his ewn course of oppo:
y, ton and viliifcation harmonizes with t
tn scheme of this foreigner. The We'll
ay manufacturer is to reduce wages and fol
IS 90 profits in order to choke off the dew
er opment of the tin-plate industry in Anne
wv lea till such time as the Mckinley law W
re be repealed. After that, his profits WI
X of course, be restored. The mugwum
re- for his part, lies awake O lights thinkil
of schemes to discourage the production
ut American tin plates and works with a wi
ire and consuming enthusiasm for the repe
7ss of the law which is robbing his ali
an master of his profits, 1t is ours to s
IN that their efforts come to naught.