The advocate., 1892-01-20

Gxe combine, which can thus charge big prices.
The axe factories, other than ourselves, not In
the combine, are all small concerns, and alto
gether do not make half IS many axes rs the
Kelly Axe Manufacturing Co. They are far
away in the east and only sell axes In local
way, and cut no figure In the case. AS evidence
Of this they were never asked to join the COM
bIne. We, however, have the largest factory in
the business, and II we Joined the combine, there
would be nothing In the way to prevent 1t charg'
ing the farmers In this country millions Of dol
lars more for axes than they would otherwise do
II there Is free competition 10 the business. But
tCe pledge OUyseIues to consumers TO keep out Of
all trusts and combinations, and thereby secure
a continuation Of free competition IN the manu-
fdcturc of Gres.
In pleOglng ourselves thus, and in assuming
all the risks that are involved, In thus opposing
powerful combination Of competitors, we are
undoubtedly furthering the interests Of the
Farmers Alliance In the United States. There
fore, we beg that your convention will adopt q
| resolution approving our position and recon-
mend to the farmers Of the United States that,
lDasmuch as q combination Of axe maDufactur.
erS has been formed to raise the prices of axes,
and lnasmuch as we have remained out of this
combination, that you recommend to the farm
ers Of the United States to use our axes.
Yours respectfully,
KELLY AXE MFG Co.
The Farmers Alliance convention, at Eliza
bethtOwn, Ky, ON the 1lth inst. adopted resO-
luton as above.
This is a very patriotic as well as
pathetic document. It reads very
nicely, and if it's representations were
all correct and its professions sincere,
the company might reasonably hope
for a good amount of sympathy from
the people. But we have some other
documents which we desire to be read
in connection with the above which
will throw light upon the scene Of a
different color.
In March, 1891, Mr.. Kelly prepared
aud sent to the trade the following
list Of axe manufacturers not in the
combine, together with TIE capacity
Of each.
Capacity
DOz
1. Flndlay Rolling Mil Co., Findlay o.. 10 600
D King Axe Co., Cleveland, O.......... 100
g. j w. Passm"re g. Co., Salem, 0....... 1000
4 IT, w Ritt Il Go, LtOnia, 0............ 1OOO0
5. Ten Evck Tool Co., CatsIauguS, N. Y. l2 600
q Carter & Co. s 'r0ntND Pa a,......... 600
Z. j. w. White & Co. Hnnesdale, Pa. 800
g. j. l.. White Axe CO., Buffalo. N. Y,.... 1,OO0
O. ClaVVllo Axe Co., ClayVille, N Y...... 10 ono
TO- A. j. Peek b Co., COhoes, N. Y......... 80 600
II. Dunn Edge Tool Co, Oakland. Me-. 5000
I2 M. NJ PiiIsbury, NanannOck, N Y.... a2.rO0
10. u. g. RlxfHrd, Easi Hlghga'e, VIZ. 80 0
IA. Sherman g. Co., Belfast, Me. ........,. 1000
10. Emery, Waterhouse & Co., Portland,
IS Collins Axe Co oi0svis. Conn iSccc
II, North Wayne Tool Co, HalIOwell, Me-. 600
ls. Kelly Axe Mfg Co., Louisville, KY. 6OOOO
Total capacity Of axe manufacturers out
side OF combination. n...."..""......l6 10000
On February 10, 1891, he sent to
these outside manufacturers the fol-
lowing circular:
COPY
NEw YORK, February 10, 1891.
GENTLEMEN:-YOu are doubtless aware Of
the many rumors during the last few months
concerning the impending low prices Of axes for
the ensuing season. That good grounds exist
for anticipating decline can be verified by at
tempting to make sale or booking an order for
fall delivery.
During the last three months have gone to
considerable expense and trouble to investigate
the situation, and find that unless something
ls done by the outside axe manufacturers, axes
are lab Q, in my judgment, to be sold as low as
$500 per dozen.