Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-28
tNoTHeR nav INDUSTRY HERE.


ANOTHER NEW INDUSTRY HERE
HsnFy Lister SON Remove Their Plush
FACTORY TO the Cnited states.
A fresh illustration OF how the new
tariff Is stimulating the material great
ness of the United States is the recent
removal 10 this country Of the large es-
tsblishment OF Henry Lister & Son. ot
Huddersfeld, England, manufacturers
Of silk and mohair pushes. Perhaps no
plush manufacturers are more widely
known in the mercantile world than the
hnn Of Henry Lister & Son, who are
now erecting magnificent new factory
at jamestown, " Y. In their fac
tory in England they employed about
1900 hands, but expect TO do business on
a much larger scale in this country.
Prior 10 the passage of the Mckinley
tariff Lister z Son marketed nearly
81 600, 600 worth, or % per cent. of their
annual output, in this country, bat the
effect OF the new tariff was To deprive
them OF their entire American trade. In
an interview in the Buffalo Commercial
relative TO the effects of the late tariff
upon their business Mr.. ii. X. Lister
said
When the Mckinley bill became law
our business was paralyzed: orders were
Cancelled from here (and 90 per cent. Of
our trade was with America); the value
OF all our stock went down and down
until the stuff was hardly worth any
IL. L.. II 4 r.
eighty cents per pound, dropped TO six
teen cents within twelve months, and
the manufactured articles declined IN
proportion, and tussah silk products were
large factor in our business. The re-
suit of this depreciation was loss 10
our concern exceeding half a million
dollars, with worse prospects at the be-
ginning of the second year than when
the act was passed. We continued bust
ness, though at loss, hoping that the
bill would be repealed and that we could
again get control of the American mar
ket. The showing of the second balance
sheet was 50 much worse than that Of
the first that father and / at once de-
cided 10 try America"
manufactured here as we'll as elsewhere.
Of the American market he says:
"Our experience is that il is the great
est and best market in the world, and is
continually improving. The population
is not only immense, but the per capita
consumption is greater than in any other
country, which is accounted for by tie
fact that the American working and
middle classes are more prosperous than
anywhere else and buy more freely,
while in England, am sorry to say. the
buying capacity of the masses is seriously
decreasing"
For the kind Of labor employed in his
business, Mr.. Lister says, he will be
obliged to pay from so to 100 per cent.
more in this country than he paid in
England. The weekly earnings of warp
dressers in their Huddersfeld factory
were 80 shillings or So per week, while
in this country they viii have TO pay
$3.50 for the same work. Unskilled
laborers they paid in England less than
s. per week, but here they will be
obliged to pay from Sc to 50 per week.
In their English factory they paid loom
fxers SO per week, but will have to pay
S12 and $l5 for the same work in their
jamestown factory.
Mr.. Lister further says that a labor
ing man can live as cheaply in this coun-
try as in England Meat, eggs, butter,
cheese, -four. fruit and vegetables are
cheaper here. The only things dearer
are house rent and the finer grades of
clothing
OF the comfortable condition Of our
working classes he said:
when / came here and saw the COM
Portable quarters occupied by your work
people, could not help thinking that
man leaving the conditions existing on
the other side and acquiring those here
must feel this country TO be heaven
When asked 70 account for the fact that
so many foreigners vote for free trade
when they come to this country, Mr..
Lister answered.:
Il cannot, unless upon the theory that
they do not understand what they are
doing. Free trade in this country, or a
material reduction of the present tariff.
Is as sure TO reduce the rates Of wages
as the sun Is 10 rise tomorrow"
Laboring men. here are few cold,
glittering facts upon which it would be
well for YOU to ponder between now and
next November. Here you see your
country enriched by the building of
new industry-whichi is but one instance
among hundreds-brought here, as you
are informed by one OF its proprietors.
by the the influence Of the new tariff
He has also described the wTetched con
ditions Of labor in England, and assures
you that 10 lower che tariff sis as sure
TO reduce wages as the sun is to rise to-
morrow"
Free Traders VIII Take Notice.
L l.. Z -