The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-12-31
ARE THEY TIN PLATE L1ARsp


1t was claimed, by Mckinley and his
supporters of the stump and the press
that the tin plate industry was an
established fact in this country The
Nc hlnley badge was a tin plate badge
and the tin cup and the tin horn we're
used to rally the tin bucket brigades to
the Mckinley standard, The tin plate
mills were reported from every direc-
tlon and no amount of reasoning, or
exposure could shake the faith of
Mckinley protectionists in "the infant
industry" Now that the din of the
tin hornS and the rattle of the tin cups
has died away and the subject has
ceased to afford potent pointer in
newspaper discussion it Is of interest
to take a survey of the situation from
the purely business standpoint, as laid
before us by the lin Plate Consumers
Association. This association has a
membership representing 250 of the
large tin plate consuming concerns of
the United States, with all shades of
political opinion represented. In a cir
cular just issued the association throws
much light on this much veXed subject.
The circular says:
"Our position is not one of antagon-
plate INDUSTRY in America. Repre-.
senting among our members both po-
litical parties, we claim for ourselves
as large share of patriotism and de-
sire tor the material and industrial
prosperity of our country as those who,
from ignorance or for polital ends, are
claiming that the increased Mckinley
duty on tin plates has resulted in the
ilh nf a RI aEn l,al,
has been accomplished without harm
to the various industries in which we
are individually engaged.
Our position enables us to be the
best judges on this subject, as the
article, which is a raw material to us,
is the subject of the experiment that is
being made. We claim right to give
this experiment the closest watching
and to inform the public and congress
from time to time of the effect it has
on our business, and of the results
achieved. This can better be done as
an organized body of tin plate consum-
ers tnan as individuals, and explains
our organization and we desire to have
associated with us all consumers of tin
plate in order that our body may be
thoroughly representative and be en-
authority.
If the industry can be transferred to
our country within reasonable time
and without damage to our business
and the hundreds of thousands of
American workmen employed in our
factories, giving us as cheap raw mate
rial as we obtained before the increased
tax was levied on it, we realize we will
bn thp CTAntaGf onI
fore, nal urally most anxious for its sue
cess. Oar desire is, If possible, to trans.
fer the question from one of politics to
one OF business. 1t is a matter of bust.
ness that since the Mckinley bill was
PASSED we have had to pay over $4,000
60 more for the tin plates we use in our
factories and workshops and that the
present duty will add every year over
Sl5,0OO,0O0 to the cost of cur raw ma
terial
1t is matter of business and not of
politics that up to the preseLt moment
not one sheet OF coke tin, which con-
stitutes over half our entire require
ments, has yet been put on the market
by the American manufacturers, and
that the present output of all kinds
does not constitute per cent of the en-
eiAS SOAAouhhPbAOll VI buO Illl plhlt III
America. Again, it is a matter of bus
iness that the small lots produced have
only been obtainable at prices consjd-
eraOly above what the same quality can
be imported at, even under the increase
Of duty. We consider and all will
agree with us, that the whole question
is most serious ONE to our interests,
and the interest of the entire country,
and open to the closest scrutiny and
careful business watchfulness."
In connection with the above the
secretary of the organization makes
the assertion that the duty imposed by
the Mckinley bill on foreign tin plate
has raised the price of ordinary fruit
and beef cans cents apiece, and that
"all comes out Of the pockets of the con.
sumers Of canned goods, who are labor
Ing people largely"
1t is plain that the tin plate consum-
ers do not accept MGKinley's view that
the foreigner pays the tariff tax.
II will also be seen by the above
that the American tin plate factories,
so widely advertised, do not exist.
1t will also be seen that tie tin plate
business is both fraud and a rob-