Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-27
A GROWING INDUSTRY
Is the Making of Pearl Buttons in
Newark, Now 1t Is Protected.
THE TARIFF HAS DOUBLED WAGES,
4 Manufacturer Kicks Since It Lowers
Prices by Competition.
FACTS FOR FREE TRADERS TO PONDER

| of Newark are already making an activ,
canvass in behalf of Harrison and Reid
and they ind much encouragement in tn,
| attitude OF manufacturers on the subject o
protection, as there is general feeling
among the latter class that the Mckinley
act has been decided benefit, not only tt
the manufactur ers, but to employees as WELL
When the Republicans desire a striking
ILLUSTRATION of the benefits of a protective
tariff in building up an industry, they poinl
to the pearl-button trade. which, under the
effects of the Mckinley law, has increased
from a small and unimportant industry,
which had hard struggle for existence, to
large and fourishing business, engaging
the efforts of more than score of firm,
with large capital and valuable machinery,
and giving employment to several thousand
persons.
Three years ago there were only about
half dozen firms in the city of Newark
that were engaged in the manufacture of
pearl buttons or pearl goods OF any kind,
and even then they often had hard time to
keep their factories running, in consequences
of the fact that the duty On pearl buttons
was only 20 per cent du ValOTeu.
hat tho Mckinley Law Has Done.
Under the Mckinley law a duty of 21S
cents line was imposed, in addition to the
25 per cent duty. Under this law there is
a chance for American manufacturers to
show what they can do, and the pearl but
ton makers of Newark are taking advantage
of the benefits afforded them under the Nc
,nla 70 fha frl1o al
though this is now usually dull season in
this trade, every firm in this line of busi-
ness is now running its factory on full time
and to its utmost capacity.
A reporter, who made tour of the
Newark pearl button factories the other
day, was unable to find more than one
manufacturer who was not heartily in
favor of the Mckinley bill, and he frankly
admitted that he was free-trader, and he
also admitted that a protective tariff was
an excellent thing for the workingman,
and had stimulated trade, but he declared
that it was not good thing for the manu-
tacturer, as it caused too much competition
and kept the price of manufactured goods
down too low. He said:
eff you won't publish my name, I will
talk to you, but L don't want my name
published, as I don't care to get into con-
troversv over this matter. I am not in favor
of the Mckinley bill, because 1 am a free
trader, and then, too, don't think it has
been good thing for the manufacturers.
1t Makes Lower Prices and Competition.
'There have been, of course, good many
people going into the business, and this has
created such lively competition among the
manufacturers that we have to sell our
goods at very low rates, and there is little
profit in the business for us. At the same
time we are obliged to pay our hands higher
wages than we did before the Mckinley
bill was passed, as there is now more de-
mand for labor.
cat the same time we are selling our man.
ufactured goods at much lower rate than
we did before the bill became law, for the
reason that large number of new factories
that have sprung up under its operation
have caused competition that has COM
PEELED us to lower our prices to such an e1-
tent that even with the present high tariff
shutting out foreign competition, buttons
are sold cheaper to-day than they ever were
before. The effect of the Republican pro-
tective tariff has been greatly to increase
the wages of the workingman. and also to
prevent the concentration of the trade in
the hands of q few manufacturers, as it was
three years ago, when five or six firms con-
trolled the whole trade in this city, and as I
regard the competition as ruinous, shall
support Cleveland and Stevenson"
One of the most enthusiastic advocates of
the benefits of the Mckinley bill to che
pearl button industry is Thomas A. Webb,
who is one OF the pioneers in that trade.
The Story of Business Enterprise.
Mr.. Webb started in business in the
Nassau Works, Newark, few years ago,
md since the passage of the Mckinley bill
lis business has increased to such an ex-
;ent that he has been compelled to make
for the erection of a building
LOO feet long, 80 feet wide, and three stories
nigh in which to carry on his factory.
"My business" said Mr.. Webb "began
With eight employees To-day I employ
,ver 100. When my new factory is COM
lands at work. My orders now amount to
between $3.50, 900 and S17O, 900 a year. Be-
iore the passage of the Mckinley bill
vas forced to be content with $500. The
eason for this improv ement is that there
re large factories in Bohemia which used
o supply our market through the jobbers
md middlemen of New York
The Bohemian workmen were employed
It starvation wages, such as no American
operative could exist upon, and conse-
luently the manufacturers in that country
oIld make up the goods there, ship them
o this country, pay the duty upon them
nd still undersell their American compe-
itors. To-day all this 10 changed. Many
# the Bohemian shops stand idle while the |
American factories are doing a large trade
which is constantly increasing. There is no
ndustrv in the country which has prospered
o rapidly as the pearl button business has
nder the McKinly bill.''
III Connected With the Industry Benefited.
A member of the Newark Pearl Novelty |
company whose factory is at No. 272 Mar |
let street, said he would indorse all that |
1r. Webb had said, and added ''that an in
pection of the books of the company would
how that the Mckinley bill benefits every
ody connected with the industry"
Mr.. Greissing, of the firm of Greissing &
Inorles. of Elm street, said: "The Nc
linley bill is the best thing in the world
or the pearl goods industry both for the
Employers and the employed Before the
assage of that law nearly all the pearl
uttons were made abroad. To-day nearly
900 persons are employed in this trade in
'ewark alone, and the indications are that
ne number will be constantly increasing.
here are 25 factories to-day in this city,
here before the passage of the Mckinley
i'll there were only five, and often those
We did not work all the time. Now all the
earl goods factories are running on full
me and the operatives are making good
ages. Under the old tariff, pearl buttons
.me in under duty of 25 per cent. The
lcKinley bill imposes duty OF ~ cents
line in addition to the 25 per cent duty"
The reporter suggested to Mr.. Greissing
lat the general public did not understand
hat cline" meant, and Mr.. Greissing
,ntinued:
Technical Term EXP aimed.
will oynloip thiv fo ,,o,, J;pa 10 |