Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1891-06-28
Tlx rl4lrE AND BANANAS.

Democratic newspapers do not COG
tS.d, as is asserted By aIrccst< q
high taxes, that tin plate cannot lie
made in the United States % the
contrary, Democrats know and state
on every occasion woenisis pertinent,
that tin plate can be made in America
and p.at the American market eau be
supplied with a nerican tar plzte-
Americans eau do soything that
anybody else can do. We can raise
bananas right here in St Louis ard
supply the market with them and
give employment tn u; least u hun
dred thousand wOrkraen IN doing II;
and, what Is more, we can do il at u
profit. There IS Do question about If
at all. II hes been done Ey wealthy
tuen like Dir. NicdringbauE, who G'd
il for amdsetneat in an experimental
way, Us SIR. NicjrinShaas is DOW
making tin plate. They made no
money out OF it, nor is Mr.. Niedring-
haus making money out OF tin plate
but Ne stake The Republics reiuta-
ton that money can be made out Of
raising banuuas and producing tin
plate in 81. Louis, II the directions
are followed.
the first requisite for the banana
experiment would be 10 forbid anyone
from eating any but St Louis banapas-
II Sir. Niedringhaus and bis RepubL-
can friends will touch that button we
will do the res: To build up a big
banana industry IN 81. Louis.
Right around ST Louis there are at
least one hundred thousand acres OF
land that can be put under glass anu
heated ny steam TO a temperature OF
eighty five degrees the year round.
This will give employment to more
men ut the start thaa will aver he en-
ployed in the tin-plate industry. Then
thousands Of others would be en-
ployed at good wages in keeping up
the fires, tending the Thermometers
picking and marketing the fruit. II
no one were allowed TO buy any but
St Louis bananas, we could find a
ready market for the entire ST. Louis
product at fifty cents apiece. And it
would he very profitable 10 ~everybod!
engaged in the industry.
The only objections 70 this plan are,
first that it would he grossly Oppres-
Eive and destructive Of liberty; and
Eecond that it would increase the
price OF bananas and decrease the
consumption,
Both these objections apply to tin
plato with as much force as To bananas.
We goI banaUas cheap now, because
about ali they cost, except freight ami
handlers profits, is 10 have one Of the
cheap South Americans, who wear
nothing mnch except "A shirt, and not
always that-one OF tho cheap South
Americans, va say, with whom Mr..
Blaine is willing 10 let New England
have free trade climb the tree and
pull them or for us. So We get them
six for q nickel, after freight and
handlers fees are paid.
But the trouble is that Mr.. Med
ringhaus is not making any money
out Of il. II is too small a business
for a man OF his largo ideas. As long
rs Americans arc free in tho matter Of
bananas, he is too great Il man to
have anything TO do with a siy-for-a.
nickel business. He agrees with Mr..
Harrison that cheap bananas make
cheap men.
We were getting cheap tin plate
when We wero free in the matter OF
tin plate. 1t was made in Wales,
where the tin is and the chenp Welsh,
men are. Now when the law forbids
ua u buy except from Niedringhnuri
when VI aro fined two dollars and
: :cnty cents on every hundred pounds
Of foreign tin VIC Use, Mr. Nicdring.
haus will consent to bring the tin
from Wales and the cheap Welshmcn
I" mott it and dip the plates in It. il
no can't do il aud do it. ut II profit il
il ~ only because he and his party
have not yet taken enough freedom
from tho rest Of us 10 mako it profit.
able. Put tho tariff fines on tho use
81 foreign bnnanas0 or foreign tin plate
high enough md st. Louis can pro
luce bananas and tin plate at an OK
Orbiinnt profit. But il would 10 far
cheaper 10 buy Mr.. Nicdringhaus of
tlIan TO have him go into either tin
plato or bananas under this plan Of
"~fostsring infant industries ."--[St.
Louis Republic.