The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-12-02

Lccpins Down wages are concerned.
Many a tne larger manufacturers, how
ever. have been il favor OF n mnch
stronger organization. capable OF regu-
lating production and Of sustaining hiel
prices and profits. 4 few months ago
I ,ur az the largest firms agreed 70 COM
Inn. under the name cf the United
$. ates Cntlcry company. with capital
w 81 800 600. Their prospectus saiai
,srhe business Of these companies IMAM
featuring - per cent. Of All the pocEet
cutlery made here) has steadily lncreased
year hy year. and the net profits OF THESE
companies for period 81 over three
wears are largely in excess OF the sum
necessary 10 have paid per cent. eivl-
dends upon 100000 preferred stock.
II Il also claimed that the new company
could pay dividends OF per cent on
$500. 900 and Is per cent. on the other
$500. 900.
According TO the testimony given In
1890 before the ways and means com
lnittee the combined investment OF these
four companies was only 100000. The
manufacturers then put on long races
and tried TO make the committee believe
that the pocket cutlery industry was
about To expire under a 80 per cent
duty. II now appears that they were
then making largely in excess OF 10
per cent. upon their actual capital
$500 .OO0l. ana that they are now In
shape 10 make 40 per cent. on this same
amount. They add in their prospectus
that prices upon cutlery have never
vat reached those which could have been
asked by the increased rate Of tariff.
That their claims are not eHtravagant Is
evident from the announcement IN Inc
uouse Furnishing Goods Weekly or
Ang A. 1892. that 1.-The Southington
Cutlery company. Of Southington, Conn.,,
has declared quarterly dividend of ;
rer cent" Ii is clear that the increased
duty was obtained under false pre-
lenses. If not by actual fraud And
these are the class of men who reap the
benefits OF Mckinleyism.
Notice nov how these spoils are d.
vi1ad between the manufacturers ana
their employees. The Republican press
points with pride 10 three companies
rae Canastota Knife company, the New
York Knife company and the Thomaston
Knife company. employing altogether
about 200 hands-that have advanced
wages about 10 per cent. 1t IL true that
since 1890 abont three-fourths OF the
EMPLOYEES IN these factories have OBJ
tanned advances that will average be.
tween : and 10 per cent. These advances
have been secured only because the EN-
plovees were organized and strnck OF
threatened 70 strike for higher wages
Strikes are now on IN three other fac
tories. But suppose that all of these
200 employees have had their wages al
: vanced 10 per cent. and that they earl
: an average Of 5000 each year THE nc
: tnal average is much less). Their tota
7 benefit from the new tariff (admittint
, that il made the advance possible) would
: thus be less than 1900. The yearl,
: product Of all the factories is worth fron
II 800. 900 to s., 600, 900. The 30 per cent
advance in prices then increases tn
Q proti.s OF the manufacturers about $500,
4 600. That il. the manufacturers hav
9 retained 95 per cent. OF the spoils an
!, rrudgingly yielded up 8 per cent. to tn
wage earners.
Q The American user OF pocketknive
I has taken $500. 900 out of one pocket an
! made ii present TO these foreigners 10
y the privilege Of carrying an America
Z knife" in another pocket. and this !
n addition to q similar amount bestowe
= upon the same foreigners under the
y per cent. duty prior to 1890. II this |
e the best that Mckinley can do for as
10 is time we were finding 1t out. II wi
is be money in our pockets some day.