Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-09-10
ITS ACTUAL EEEECTS.


Work OF the Mckinley Tariff Bill Among
Certain German acknowledgements In
the Exports of Knitted Goods to This
Country-Wages Made by the weAvers.
For the purpose of studying the actual
effects of the Mckinley bill, as far as
such effects could show themselves
within the comparatively short time
since the law became operative, an As
ISOLATED Press correspondent recently
visited some of the most important in
dustrial centers Of Germany, such as
Leipsic, Chemnitz, Plauen, Greis, Nu-
remberg and Frankfort From other
important points he has received re-
ports Of men thoroughly familiar with
the affairs of the different districts.
They all agree that the measure has
had paralyzing effect upon certain in
dustries, while others equally high
taxed have not suffered at all. How
far this is due to extraneous causes in
dependent of the bill shall try to ex-
plain.
OF all the industrial centers in Ger
many, perhaps in Europe, Chemnitz, a
thriving manufacturing city of SaxonY,
and the district surrounding it, have
suffered the most. The principal in
dustry OF Chemnitz is the manufacture
of knitted goods, and especially of
hosiery. There are $50 manufactures
of hosiery in the city. Numerous dye
works, commission houses, brokers,
| spinners, etc. are interested in this
trade.
Many skilled workmen employed in
the household industry" depend upon
it for living. The Mckinley bill came
and trade languished. The exports
which in 1SS0-9O had amounted to SILL
S95, $50, diminished to IS, 454, O23, in 1890
81, falling off of nearly $1,000, 900.
Without the heavy exports of the first
quarter of this period July to Sep
TENDER so, 1900, the decrease would have
been still greater. Many Chemnitz
manufacturers say that the present
dizziness is only a consequence of last
| years overproduction. But if the tariff
is not reduced they fear that in the
| future they can't manufacture at
| profit, and that factories springing up
in America will deprive them complete
| ly of trade. One of the largest manu-
| facturers, who asked that his name be
withheld because he feared the wrath
of his townsmen, said he had sent
number of his best young men to Amer
lea for the purpose of initiating them
into American business ways, as he
thought seriously of putting up a fac
tory somewhere IL the United States
The business here is done in a pecu-
liar way. The goods, before reaching
the buyer, pass through many hands.
Throughout a large district of many
square miles are scattered the dwellings
of the single weavers, the household
industry people. These receive the
yarn from a factor, weave complete
stockings and gloves, and return them
manufacturer. The manufacturer
fashions them and then turns them
over to the dyer. After dyeing they
are glazed, " stamped, packed in boxes,
and turned over to the agent, who in
his turn sends them them to a commits
sion house in the United States, or sells
them direct to the American buyers
visiting the German markets.
All these people complain terribly,
but it is the household industry people,
the poor, who suffer. The Associated
Press correspondent visited many of
these homes while in Chemnitz. For
several miles along the road leading
west from Chemnitz one house joined
another, one village merged into anOth-
err In every house one could see one,
two, or three looms. At some men
were busy, and many others were COW
cred with white cloth, the sign OF en-
forced idleness. In one house visited
man was making silk gloves of very
fine workmanship His machine, an
upright loom, was handsomely inlaid
with different woods, and he seemed
very proud of it. He said he was earn
ing at present nine marks (S2.75) per
week. He had wife and child. The
rooms were scrupulously clean and the
man had an intelligent and independ-
ent bearing. He thought of going to
America if he could get his loom admit
ted duty free. All the man visited were
intelligent, self-respecting, and indus
trious. Their earnings at present aver
age S1.5O to - a week. One of them, a
man with Il wife and children, was
dShCu INV 4AC l4-ALAeL-Sh ~ ES1 eiAOAA6s
well we don't" ne replied, with
a sad smile. Most of US had
something laid by from better
days. We used that up. Almost every
body has his little house and bit of
farming land We have mortgaged
that We still have looms left, which
are worth $3.50 to $500, but if we should
mortgage those the end would be near.
Things can not last much longer this
way"
These people live almost entirely on
potatoes and rye bread. At the present
high prices of food staples in Germany
they get scarcely enough of these. 1t is
understood that there is some move
ment on foot to induce these people to
emigrate to America and establish their
industry there. But on the other hand /
the opponents of protection claim that |
factories can not be established there to |
compete with European prices, and that !
these people, once in America, would |
leave their household industry" and |
rush into the existing factories and |
mills, thus competing with those al
ready employed. This is a question to |
be settled in the United States