Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-09-06
FORMALLY ACCEPTED.
Confined from First Page.

recently issued, strongly corroborates, as
to that State, the facts found by the Senate
Committee. His extended inquiry shows
that in the year Immediately following the
passage of the tariff act of 1890 the aggre-
gate sum paid in wages in that State was
81. 27f, CPS in excess and the aggregate pro-
duction S31, 315, 100 in excess of the proceed
ing year.
In view Of this showing of an increase in
wages. of reduction in the cost OF artl-
cleS of common necessity, and OF marked
advance in the prices of agricultural pro-
ducts II is plain that this tariff law has
not, imposed burdens, but has conferred
benefits upon the farmer and the working
man.
SOME SPECIAL EFFECTS
of the act should be noticed. 1t was
courageous attempt 10 rid our people OF
long maintained foreign monopoly IN the
production OF tin plate, pearl buttons, SILK
plush, linens, lace, etc.
Once or twice in our history the produc-
ton of tin plate has been attempted, ana
the price obtained by the Welsh makers
would have enabled our makers 10
produce it at q profit. But the
Welsh makers at once cut prlces 10
point that drove the American beginners
complishea, again made their own prices.
A correspondent Of the Industrial World,
the official organ OF the Welsh tin plate
workers. published at Swansea. IN the Is
sue of June 10, 1892, advises new trial OF
these methods. He says: "Do no be de-
ceived The victory Of the Republicans at
the polls means the retention OF the NC
Kiniey bill and means the rapidly accruing
loss Of the so per cent OF the export
American trade. Had there been no Dem
ocratic victory in 1890, the spread OF the
tin plate manufacture IN the United states
would have been both rapid and bona tide.
1t is not vet too late to do something to re-
duce the price OF plates. Put them down
to lis per box Of 100, Il by 20 full weight
basis Let the workmen take half pay for
q few months and turn out more, then let
the masters forego profits for the same
time.n
And again that paper says: at is clearly
the interest of both proprietors ana work
ingmen to produce tin plates, tariff or no
tariff, at price that will drive all compe-
tition from the field" But in spite OF the
doubts raised by the elections OF 1872 and
Of the Vaccinations of foreign producers 10
maintain their monopoly, tin plate industry
has been established in the United States,
and the alliance between the welsh pro- |
ducers and the Democraticparty1 Tor It's de-
struction will not succeed.
The official returns 10
TIE TREASURY DEPARTMENT
of the production of tin and terDe plates IN !
the United States during the last fiscal |
year, show a total production or l3,2i2,o3O |
pounds and comparison or the nrst quar- |
ter. SOC, 922 pounds. with the last, o,OOJ,JUO |
pounds during the last quarter were made |
from American block plates, the remain |
der from foreign plates. Mr.. Aver, the |
Treasury agent in charge, estimates as |
the result Of careful inquiry, that the pro !
duction Of the current year will be lOO,- |
OOO, 900 pounds, and that by the end OF the !
year our production will be at the rate OF |
200, 600, 900 pounds per annum.
Another industry that has been practlc-
allv created by the Mckinley bill is the |
making of pearl buttons. Few articles
coming to us from abroad were so distinct
" the product Of starvation wages.
But, without unduly extending this let
ter, cannot follow in detail the Influences
of the tariff law of 1890. II has transplant
ed several important industries and estab- |
lished them here and has revived |
or enlarged all others. The act |
gives to the miners protection |
against foreign silver-bearing lead ores, the |
Introduction of which thrcatend tue great |
mining industries of the Rocky Mountain |
States The House Of Representatives at |
its last session passed bills placing these |
ores and wool upon the free list. The |
people of the West will know how de-
structive to their prosperity these meas |
ures would be.
THIS TARIFF LAW
has given employment to many thousands
Of American men and women and will each
wear give employment to increasing thou
sands. It's rep5 al would throw thousands
out of employment and give work TO others
only at reduced wages. The appeals OF
the free traders to the worHngmen are
largely addressed to his prejudices or to
his passions, and not infreQuently are pro-
nouncedly cornmunistic. The new Demo
cratic leadership RACES at the employer
and seeks to communicate his rage
10 the employee. : greatly regret
that all employers Of labor are not just and
cOnslderate, and that capital sometimes
takes too large a share Of the profits. But
| do not see that these evils viii be amel-
lorated by tariff policy, the first neces-
sarv effect of which is severe wage cut.
and the second q large oiminuition of the
aggregate amount Of work TO be done In
this country. If the injustice Of his
employer tempts the workman 70 strike
back. he should be very sure that
his blow does not fall upon his own head OF
upon his wife and children. Tue workmen
in our great industries are as body re-
markably intelligent and are lovers OF home
and country They may be reused by IN
Justice, or what seems 10 them 10 be such.
or be led for the moment by others into
acts Of passion, but they will settle the
tariff contest in the calm light OF their nre-
sides and with sole reference TO the
PROSPERITY OF THE COUNTRY
of which they are citizens and OF the homes
they have founded for their wives and
children. No intelligent advocate Of pro
tective tariff claims that il is able, OF itself
TO maintain uniform rate of wages with
out regard to fluctuations in the supply OF
and demand for the products Of labOr-but
il is confidently claimed that protective
duties strongly tend 10 hold up wages, and
are the only barrier against reduction TO
the European scale
The Southern States have had liberal
participation in the benefits OF the tar1
law, and, though their representatives nave
generally opposed the protection policy, l
rejoice that their sugar, rice coal, ores,
iron. fruits. cotton cloths, and other pro-
ducts. have not been left TO the fate which
the votes of their representatives would
have brought upon them.
In the construction Of the Nicaragua
Canal in the new trade with South and
Central America, in the establishment OF
American Steamship lines, these states
have also had special interests and all
these interests VIII not always consent 70
be without representation at " washington.
The placing OF sugar upon the free llst
has saved to the consumer in duties IN
fifteen months, after paying the oountles
DrOvided for. So .U0O,0 600. This relief has
| been substantially felt in every household,