Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-09-07

The Progress of Tin Plate Up to Date.
Special Agent Aver, of the Treasury
Department, has made public another
report, and in it he brings down the
tin-plate industry to June so, 1892, and
a wonderful showing it is. During the
first quarter of the year only five per-
sons were engaged in the business, in
the second quarter eleven firms were
engaged, IN the third quarter twenty
were engaged, and at the close of the
fourth quarter twenty-six concerns were
making tin plate with a probability of
at least eight new names to be added to
the list by the c,ose of the present quar-
ter.
In the same way the product is rap
idly increasing, and the amount for the
year will not be far short of 20 900, 900
pounds. Less than 100000 pounds Of
tin and terne plates were made in the
first quarter of the last fiscal year, and
more than 100000 pounds in the last
quarter. This is q showing that should
make the tin plate liar hang his head
for shame. 1t Is grand tribute to
American patriotism and courage in
passing the bill, and to American skill
and enterprise in starting the industry
in spite of free trade threats to repeal
urer and workman a chance ard the
story of the tin plate industry will sim
ply be the oft told story of the Ameri-
can steel rail industry. the American
wire nail industry, the American silk
and ribbon industry, the American
pearl button industry, the American
plush industry and score of other in
dustries thar have been firmly estab-
Hshed by the aid of the protective tar
if.
To repeal the law establishing the
manufacture of tin plate in the United
States would be nothing short of
crime; and yet the Democratic party is
positively pledged to do this very
thing, and Democratic House has
already passed on the question. The
purpose Of that law was not to advance
the interest of any set of manufacturers,
because there were none engaged IN the
industry in the United States. In
for this necessary article to foreigners
the immense sum Of 1907, 341 ,404, ex-
elusive of freights and importers profits,
upon a total importation of 1922, $50
gross tons.
The use OF this money was unneces-
sarily lost to us, taken from the chan
nels of our own trade. 1t neither en-
ployed American labor nor added to
American capital. 1t took from us lust
so much capital capable of utilization as
it amounted to in bullion exported from
this country. And this exhaustive
drain upon our resources was not the
result Of any lack Of materials, machin-
cry or labor upon our part. The want
of proper protection to home labor
against the underpaid labor OF Europe
boz 81 49,
ent upon Great Britain and at her
mercy as to prices.
The Republican party had the cour-
age to pass the necessary legislation to
compel this industry to run in our chan
mel instead Of some other channel.
The American manufacturer has had
the courage to put his capital and his
energy into the manufacture of tin
plate. And the American artisan will
have the courage to aid other patriotic
American citizens in keeping the duty
on tin plate until We pay that $500, Co.,
600 out here at home instead of sending
it abroad.
Foreign Manufacturers Moving to This
Country.
The following communication will be
surprising reading to those who seem to
think that the tariff is fraud. 1t illus
trates how wonderfully stimulating to
American industries is the protective
system. The letter was addressed to
the New York Press:
SIR-William G. Steel, who was the
resident partner in Bradford, England, in
charge of the Worsted mill of the Philadel-
phia firm of Edward T. Steel q Co., has
moved his entire plant to the United States
because the Mckinley law made lmporta-
ton of foreign made goods Improbable.
Mr.. steel has employed the same class of
labor on the same Identical machinery in
England under free trade, and in the Unit
ed States under the Mckinley law. He Is
also familiar with the mode OF living of la
Dor under free trade and protection.
His opinion, therefore, is entitled to