Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-23
A WELSH OPINION.


Of the extensive South Wales Tin Plate
works. Llanelly, and the Cwmhwrla Tin
Plate works, Swansea. and Is chairman
Of the Welsh Tin Plate Makers associar
ton. He ought to know something
about the business Of tin plate manufac-
ture. FROM the nature of things he can
hardly be accused Of that degree Of SYM
pathy with the Mckinley tariff which
would cause him to turn ''tin plato liar"
In the interests Of American tin plate
manufacturer. What docs he say about
the new American industry which Amer
lean Cobdenites pronounce absolutely
mythical. both as to It's present existence
and future prospects?
The South Wales Daily News Of March
"a published MIR. Rogers views for the
instruction Of it's readers, important
among whom arc those dependent on
South Wales tin plate making. First
comes q letter Of his to ono Mr.. T.
Phillips, secretary Of the Tin Plate
Workers association of Llanelly. A
few choice extracts we present for the
edification Of the American tin plato har.
Mr.. Rogers says:
II write. not IS chairman Of the asso-
citation. but rs one who wishes to mini
mize so far as possible the distress and
privation which / fear must come to
those employed in the finishing depart
pents Of the tin plate trade, owing to
the determination Of the governments
and manufacturers Of various countries
that they will no longer be dependent
upon this country for their supply Of tin
plates" -
And he adds:
II will not enter into details at the
present moment, but simply point out
how the pig iron, steel rail, machinery
and other trades have left this country
90 far as supplying the requirements Of
those countries which now consume
most Of our tin plates. and there 10 no
reason why tin plate should not follow
the same natural law"
Mr.. Rogers agrees to dot with Tho
American Economist - to the posdbili-
ties Of Yankee improvement in process
OF manufacture. mo one," he goes on,
shaving knowledge Of machinery and
Of the timing Of black plates and the
ingenuity of our American cousins can
seriously doubt that shortly the work
will be done automatically without
either tinman or washman." He evil
IDENTIFY had never heard OF the great
American tin plate liar or he would
have known that there are those In this
country who not only doubt this, but
proclaim from the housetops tho utter
inability Of our people TO do any such
thing.
Recognizing the importance Of the
letter" says The Daily News, "our re-
porter interviewed Mr.. Rogers 1t the
Offices of the South Wales works" One
Of the first questions asked was whether
Mr.. Rogers thought it would be wise OK
unwise on the part of the men to refuse
10 work black plates which would be ex-
ported to and coated with tin in other
countries.
MIR. Rogers replied:
II think IL would Be . most unwise
step, as there IL now no doubt ut all that
black plate win he largely coated not
only In America, but in some European
countries az well. II we refuse 10 make
the black plate it will be made else
where. and that would mean that not
only would the tinmen and washmen Be
thrown ont Of work, but also the men
employed In the steel works. the mills
and the finishing department.
at has been said. Mr.. Rogers, that
the tin plate industry would be ~ firm
iy established in the United States .
few years hence a. the iron and steel
industry
THAT Is 30: and il Is not very lsng
seo that I remember Mr. Menelaus, Of
the Dowlsie Iron works. saying that
America would never make iron and
steel sufficient 10 meet Der require
menfs. That was the general opinion
At the time among the iron and steel
makers. but today we 80 the Amer
icans making practically the whole that
they require
What wouId Mr. Rogers say. - won
der, II he knew that among eli the free
traders IN America and they all. With
cut single exception. compaacentsy -
snsue that What shey don't know about
Industrial development sni pheromsns
= MT worth knowing not cue Of them
can remembers anysasinS about The con-
dstion which Mr. Rogers easily r~cslls
on sh~ consr~xy. sAey hold thss ell eur
Industries, especially Iroa end stesi. we're
sss~hisshesi and devsiap~s n snsrrevc-
iutsoo~rs tssaa>. that rrus~etsoa -
u&.kk,r&r "a a. ~<ak A