New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-25
PEARL BUTTON INDUSTRY.
GROWING FACTORIES IN NEWARK.
THE MKINLEY LAW HAS DOUBLED WAGES i

active canvass i'm behalf OF Harrison and Reid and
they find much encouragement In the attitude OF manu-
facturers the subject of Protection, as there IS
a general feeling among the latter class that the
Mckinley act has been decided benefit, not only TO
! the manufacturers but to employees as well. When
! the Republicans desire a striking Illustration OF the
benefits OF a protective tanf in building mp an IN
duSry they point 20 the pesrlbutto7 trade, when
under the effects OF the Mckinley law has increased
from n small and unmportant industry, which had
hard struggle for existence to a large and fourshinS
business engaging the efforts of than score
OF firms with large capital and valuable machinery,
and giving employment 10 several thousand persons
Three years ago there 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 then they often had a haru
time keep their tactone running, in consequence
of the fact that the duty pearl buttons was only
! o5 per cent ad valorem Under the Mckinley law
duty Of = IL cents line mpOsed, in addition TO
! the % per cent duty. Under this law there Is n
chance for American manufacturers 10 show what they
can do, and the pearl button makers OF Newark are
taking advantage of the benefits afforded them under
the Mckinley bill to the fullest extent and, although
this IS now usually dull season in this trade, every
nm in this line OF business Is running its factory
on full time and to Its utmost capacity.
reporter, Who made tour OF the Newark pearl
button factories the other day. unable to find
more than one manufacturer who not heartily in
favor Of the Mckinley bill, and he frankly admitted
that he Free Trader, and he also admitted that
a protective tarif was an excellent thing for the work
ineman, and had stimulated trade, but he declared
that it was not good thing for the manufacturer, as
it caused much competition and kept the price OF
manufactured goods down too low. He said
IF you won't publish my namc, will talk TO you
but don't want my name published. as don't care
TO get into a controversy this matter. ! not
I'm favor OF the Mckinley bill. because | Free
Trader, and then too. don't think il has been good
| thing for the manufacturers. 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 bn,
ness for At the same time are Obliged TO pay
our hands higher wages than did before the Nc
Kinley bill passed, as there IS now moro demand
for labor. At the same time We selling our manu-
facturcd goods at a much lower ratio than We did
before the bill became a Law. for the reason TINT
large number Of new factories that have sprung up
under It's operation have caused Il competition that
has compelled us 10 lower prices to such an ex
tent that with the present high tariff shutting
out foreign competition, buttons are sold cheaper to-
day than they were before. The effect OF the
Republican protective tariff has been greatly 10 In
crease the wages OF the woringman. and also 10 pre-
the concentration OF the trade In the hands Of
few manufacturers, IT three years ago. when
five or six firms controlled the whole trade In this city,
and | regard the competition as Tinous, snail
support Cleveland and Stevenson
one OF the most enthusiastic advocates OF ne
benefits OF the Mckinley bill to the pearl button in
dustry IS Thomas A. Webb who is Of the pioneers
in tlat trade. Mr. Webb started In business In tho
Nassau Works, Newark q few years ago, and since
the passage OF the Mckinley bill his business has in
creased to such extent that he has been compelled
to make arrangements for the erection OF building
100 feet long. feet vide and three stories high
! in which to carry on his factory.
| "My business said Mr.. Webb. "bcgan with eight
employees. To-day employ over 100. When my
| new factory IS completed shall have between $50
and 300 hands at work. Ny orders now amount 10
between $50, 900 and $4,000 year Before tho
| passage OF the Mckinley bin l was forced 10 be
content with $500 The reason for this improve
mont is that there large factories in Bohemia
which used to supply market through the Job
bers and middlcnen Of Ncwlork The bohemian
workmcn employed at starvation wnges, such as
no American operative could exist upon, and con
sequcnty the manufacturers In that country como
mike up the goods there ship them 10 this country
pay the duty upon them and stu underscll their
| American competitors. To-day all thi, IS changed.
| Many OF the bohemian shops stand Idle while tho
American factories Going large trade which is
constantly increasing There is no Industry IN the
country which has prospered rapidly as tho pearl
button business has under the Mckinley BILL
A member Of the Newark Pearl Novelty COMPANY
whose factory IS at No. 272 Market st.. sad he would
inGorse all that Mr. Webb had said and added that an
Inspection Of the books Of the company would show
that the Mckinley bill benefits everybody connected
with the industry"
Mr. GrcisSing, OF the firm OF GrCissng & Knorles.
Of Elmst., said "The Mckinley bin is the best
thing In the world for tho pearl goods industry both
ior the employers and the employed. Before the
passage Of that law nearly ~ the pearl buttons
made abrOai. To-day nearly three thorsand persons
are employed In this trnde In Newark alone and
the indications that The number will BE- constant
" Increasing. There twenty-five factories to-
day in this city where before the passage Of tho
Mckinley bin there only five. and often those
five DID work all the time Now all the pearl goods
factories runpns full time and the operatives
are making good wages. Under the old tariff pearl
buttons came In under duty Of % rrr cent. The
McKinlcy bill imposes a duty OF 2 IL cents a line
in addition % tho - per cent duty"
The reporter suggested TO Mr. Grslssinz that the
general public dd not understand what a line
meant and Mr.. Gielssing continued:
al will explain this 10 you. A line Is oncforicth
Of inch. Here Is card containing twcnty-onr
shirt buttons. This IS what call twenty two line
button. Before the passage Of tbs Mckinley bill there
only nn al vnlocm duty OF 25 per cent on these
| goods Under the wretchcd system Of wages paid in
Austria and bohemia Il possible TO manufacture
these buttons in csc countries. ship them to America,
pay the duty on and undcrscll manufacturers,
who compelled 10 pay their operatives living
wages. Now. however, under the Mckinley BIZ these
paup"r-maie foreign good, are shut II The market,
FOR tn duiy them is too high 10 make 1t profitable
| to bring them here. Before the Mckinley bill was
passed these buttons thnt have showed Won ccnd be
Imported and sold To- iobbcIs II cents Now
the line duty Is rs and 20 cents. In Austria
Bohemia thee goods often made IN qarrctS
cellars, the whole family wording on them ana each
person resolving only fcw cents day Here
operatives work in pleasant we'll lighted, well vcnti-
lated rooms and receive wages varying from 80 10
$2f u week and another thing to be borne In mind Is
that make better buttons here than are made
abroad. our operatives neatly dressed and have
comfortable hOmcs.r
4 member Of the firm OF Whafon Brothers said
" Before the Mckinley bill was passed the average
wages Of pearl button makers were Ss 30 or SO
| To day they are SIS and S24. Buttons are cheaper
now than they before the McKlncr bill was
passed The only complaint have to make /. that