Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-05-28
TIE TIN-PL4rE FlRnE.
How II is Being Played by the Repub-
lean Politicians at Utica, ~,

HOW 10 Is Being Piayed by the Hepub-
lean Politicians ut Utica, N. Y.
UTICA, May 2o,-This city has been the
scene of an American tin-plate" side
show that is worth considering, for the
reason that it nicely illustrates the methods
employed by the Republicans to persuade
the people that the manufacture of tin
plate is booming industry in this coun-
try. Nearly two months ago the firm of
Charles Nlillar 4 Son, hardware dealers,
received two boxes of roofing plate from
the Pittsburg Eleetroplating Company,
situated at Apollo, near Pittsburg Henry
w. Millar, the senior member of this firm,
invited merchants in Utica and surround
ing towns to inspect the plate. The in
spection was, of course, satisfactory.
Thereupon the local Republican organ
devoted large share of its space to crow
ing over the tin-plate features of the
Mckinley hill. According to its account
there were unlimited supplies of this
article TO be had at prices lower than the
cost of importation. The tin plate was
exhibited in the show windows of the
firm, and much free advertising was the
result.
The next step in the local movement to
boom american tin-plate" was visit
from P, IL. Laufman, president of the
Apollo Electroplating Company. He was
interviewed by the Utica Herald, and fur
nished a glowing account of what his
mills were doing and of the reasonable
prices and superiine quality of his pro-
duct. But his speech betrayed the fact
that he came to Utica for political rather
than business purposes. In the course of
his statement to the reporter he said
1.-THE Democrats made a drive against
the tin-plate clause in the Mckinley bill,
and made their fight on that. am CON
WINGED it was British gold that caused most
of the opposition The English were fight
ing for that industry, and said we couldn't
make tin-plate. ] made several speeches
in favor of protection in the last presiden-
tial campaign, and if am alive and well
will speak in the next
This was the language of Mckinley
spellbinder, and not of u business man
seeking legitimate opportunities to extend
his trade. In showing the cloven foot of
the rabid partisan, Mr.. Laufman gave his
whole scheme away.
1t was doubtless on the occasion of
Laufman's visit that the next act in the
local tin-plate comedy was arranged 1t
was soon after announced that Charles
Miller Il Son had ordered car load of tin
plate similar to that on exhibition, andthe
Republican organs of Utica and Rome
made boastful references to the circum-
stance. The firm itself sent ont printed
circulars of which the following lisa copy
AMERICAN TIN-PLATE.
We are greatly pleased to he able TO an
nounce 10 our customers that we shall shortly
receive our first carload OF
AMERICAN RooFISG PLATE.
We are ready now to enter orders, to be
hllod on the arrival of the goods, at the follow
ing prices
lC a0x2sasl550 per box 1ix20 do.as7.TH per box
IN slxsSa Trooper box 1ix90 dJ.a $50 per box
The plate Is of excellent quality, hand
dipped, warranted fully equal II not superior
TO the best redipped old style Of foreign plates,
The manufacturers guarantee each sheet to be
perfect and not 10 cgnk in working, md will
give two sheets for each ono found otherwise.
CHARLES MlLLAR a. son. Utica, N. Y.
1t is learned that the carload of Apollo
plate was nominally ordered two weeks
ago, but negotiations for il were probably
completed in the course Of Mr.. Laufman's
visit in April. At this date there are no
signs Of the carload or any portion there
of. II any orders have been sent in, they
remain untitled. When President Lauf-
man was in Utica prating about British
gold he made the boast that his com
pany employed $50 hands and turned out
lbs boxes of tin-plate per day. Ii is very
strange, in the face of this claim, that the
Millar order or some part of ii has not
been filled in d whole fortnight. When
questioned regarding its invoice, all the
firm can say Isl 1T will be along soon.
Henry W. Millar is an ardent Republi-
can, and has undoubtedly borrowed much
of his enthusiasm for american tin
plate from Spellbinder Laufman ordi-
narily delay of two weeks in the receipt
of an advertised invoice of goods would
disgust wholesale buyers and their patrons
alike, but as the political object il to be
accomplished in this case, nothing has
been said about the remarkable delay.
The fact that Laufman is selfconfessed
Pennsylvania politician, that another Re-
publican is his Utica agent, and that the
Republican organs hereabout are cracking
their voices in praise of both manufacturer
and agent, goes far to justify the suspicion
that the whole scheme is worked for purtl-
san purposes. If the year were 1888 in
stead of 1891 there would never be such a
ridiculous advertisement as that OF the
carload that never came.
In attaining their object the local
boomers display no little cunning. When
they wish to discuss the quoted prices Of
the Apollo plate they compare it with the
M, +. and other tirst-class brands Of i'm
ported terne plates but when 1t comes to
test of quality they compare il with the
inferior foreign grades.
The Utica incident proves that the
american tin-plate' card is to be played
for all it is worth during the next Is
months. Republican manufacturers like
l.aufuan will make the production Of ex.
hihition tin-plate incidental to campaign
ing for their party, and the mails viii be
Hooded with circulars like that printed
above The people will be expected to
pay the freight" in the shape 0f tiI.plate
duties that are more than doubled
------a--
SHIFT TENG EINCE.