New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-20
THE TINPLATE INDUSTRY.
COLONEL A. l.. CONGER DESCRIBES IT'S
CONDITION.
IN TWO YEARS THE UNITED STATES WILL PRO
DUCE ENOUGH TO SUPPLY HOME COysUMP-
TIoN-TRUTHs FOR wORKINGMEN
TO CON; IDER.

TO CONSIDER.
London, Oct 10-Colonel A. t. Conger of
Akron, Ohio. who has been instrumental in es-
tlbshng the manufacture of tinplatc in America,
being President of the American Tinplate Com
pany, whose mills are in Indiana, has been spend
ing some time in Wales visiting the various man
niactOries and looking up the tinplatc industry.
To an Associated Press reporter, who asked his
views concerning the political situation and the
manufacture of tnplate in America, Colonel Con-
ger said
Il bad splendid opportunity while in Wales
10 look into the manufacture Of tinpatc and
tinpate business ! was kindly received and well
treated by the different manufacturers l visited,
and must say that they are as bright, energetic,
intelligent business men as l nave ever met, and
am sorry that we must become competitors
for a portion of their present business. But am
more than convinced that inside of two wears
America will be manufacturing all the tinpate
need for our consumption, giving employment to
more than $4,000 American laboringmcn. and fur
pishing tinplate to the American consumer at less
than the average market price for the last five
years. In brief the general situation in the tin
plate business may be summed up as follows En-
gland and Wales have about 100 concerns or
plants engaged in the manufacture of tinplate.
These plants operate over 500 mills. and these
600 boxes year OF this amount America
consumes 100000 boxes and the remainder goes
to the different markets Of the world.
There We're about $4,000 tons of pig tin pro-
duced last wear. OF this, Cornwall England
produced $1,000 tons, Australia 5000, Bartara
lSaxonyl 1900, and tie Straits md South Sea
Islands the rest, $4,000 tons. If America did
not produce a single ton of pig tin she would
not be pla ,ed at disadvantage in the manufact-
nrc of tinplate, for can produce the black
plates IS chcapy as England or Wales and get
tin from the Straits at good advantage as
our own competitors We are fully abreast with
England and Wales to-day in the manufacture
of sheet-iron and steel In the manufacture of
tinpate 90 per cent is iron or steel. and only
per cent tin. So tie pig tin does not enter
LARGELY into the cost. 1t is chiefly question of
workmanship and wages. The metal workmen
in England and Wales are paid the highest wages
of the workmen in any country this side OF the
Atlantic, and yet | find we pay our metal WORK
men, and especially those engaged in the manu-
fscture of tinplatc. about double the wages they
are getting.
ayes England and Wales have been manu-
featuring the tinpates for the markets Oh 'he
world. but the time has come when America wiVh
her great advantages great resources ana ''e
plsh Of her business men Will manufacture an
the tinplate we need for our own consuihpuoh'
within two wears from now America will be
turning out her 5000, 900 boxes OF tinpate a
year. I found that some of the smartest manu-
facturers in the business in Wales are ALREADY
preparing to remove their plants TO America
This is a good thing for both Wales and America
II will relieve The capacity for over production
here and give America the experienced men IN the
business which we need. Again, quite NUMBER
of the plants and many of the mills IN "ara
are now lying idle because the mills that are now
running in America are supplying portion OF tAe
American demand. We shall turn out 1oo,ooo
tons Of tinplate in America during the next twelve
months, and, of course, that Will lessen 'he pro-
duction abroad that much except as new mar
kets are opened up for the Welsh product
But supposing, now, Cleveland should he
elected President and the Democrats should re-
move the duty on tinplate by repeating the
tariff laws Well. that question is simply one OF
wages for American workmen. The repeal OF
the duty or<'inplate would not stop Its manu-
facture in America This is mistaken idea which
prevails in Wales, where they also believe that
the election Of Mr. Cleveland implies the I'M
mediate reduction repeal of the Mckinley tarill.
They overlook entirely that we have Repnol-
can Senate that will act as safeguard for years
to come in any contingency
AS 70 the political situation, ] feel sure that
clean and able Administration The leading issues
in tbe present campaign are Protection, Reel
procity and honest money. The Republican party
rave 10 the country our present tariff laws. which
have made America the greatest and most power
full nation upon either continent 1t gave to tle
country through her greatest statesman, Mr..
Blaine. the policy Of reciprocity establishing
mutual reciprocal trade with other nations of the
earth 1t gave the country out present currency
laws which are the best since the formation
of our Government, and the best In
the world. The successful maintenance OF these
principles in America will bring the greatest good
TO the greatest number of our people, and why?
Because the American workingmen receive higher
wages than the workingmen any other country
in tho world and this because Of our policy OF
Protection Through the policy of reciprocity
We obtain now and valuable trade with other
nations without breaking down the tariff laws.
We believe in paying our workingmen ana trans
acting our business in National money. with the
Government al the back Of it,. Use Democratic
party arc pledged in their platform 10 o'er'"r'
existino lays based on these principles. ana
vba, do they offer in return? Free Trade ana
wildcat money. | do not believe our people VIII
vote for this change. Whenever thc Ai'eric"'
worlllnrnen are ready and Wiling 10 "oo'P'
tho ssno ,y.oos for the same work that are now
being PAID In Eh@lahu' LAM -. ,bor
lwho are our principal competitors IN iau'l' r r"o
they will vote the Democratic ticket anu ioi ''0
Trade.
why, just take the tinplate industry as 81.
examnle Last wear we sent $23,0O0,0OO out Oh
our country Ia buy tinpate. Now the lhdusiS
comes knocking at doors. offering enipioA iHnV
for ovor 40 oo0 of orr wOrkingmen at double the
wages that are paid in the same industry ABROAD,
keeping over $4,000 900 of our own none Inn, a.
homo and the entire Democratic press OF uie O"'N
trv is onnosinc the establishing OF the lndustit.
Ten ears AGO we were importing all our wnluo ,T
and plate glass Now are making nearly e'on am'
in America for our own consumption; glVle eiii s
ploymert 10 Thousands and tens of thousands o.
American iaborng men. and paying them 90 90, per "r
cent higher wages than the same INDUSTRY pave o VI