New-York tribune., 1892-10-19

PROTECTION AND PROGRESS
TALKS WITH CUTLERY MANUFACTURERS.
WHAT THE M'KINLEY ACT HAS DONE FOR
THEIR TRADE AND THEIR EMPLOYEES.

THEIR TRADE AND THEIR EMPLOYEES.
The manufacturers Of edged tools and fine
cutlery In Newark, n. j. enthusiastic supporters
Of the Republican policy of Protection and the
Mckinley act. as they say 1t has done much to
build up their business and that the Mckinley ACT
Is rapidly driving out OF the market all foreign
made goods. and replacing them with American
goods Of superior quality
One Of the results Of the Mckinley act Is to Do
been In the establishment In Newark OF the ex-
tensive works Of the Electric Cutlery Company at
Fourth and Dickerson-sts. This has erected
large and substantial buildings filled them with
expensive machinery. and is turning ont a grade Of
fine cutlery, such and penknives, which
are superior in workmanship and finish to anything
that is manufactured abroad, and at the same time
will compare favoraby In price with foreign n-made
goods. C. b. Fuller, the treasurer OF the company,
is an enthusiastic advocate OF the Republican policy
Of Protection. He said to a Tribune reporter
"Our present works are very largely the result
Of the Mckinley and the protection it affords to
American cutlery. We started In a small way three
years ago the making of razors. razorstraps and
pocketknives. We had only hah dozen men at
work then but after the passage Of the Mckinley
act began to increase our business, and in 1851
began the erection Of our present factory. We
now have two large brick buildings, as you see.
The main structure is shaped. and Is three
stories high. 1t covers half the block bounded by
Dckerson and Fourth SITS. Adjoining this Is the
forge building also OF brick, and 5Ox30 feet in
dimensions. We will double this In a short time
as our business is rapidly increasing We would
never have put up these large factory buildings and
spent all the money have, II 1t were not for the
Stimulation OF our trade by the operations OF the
Mckinley act.
"we employ two hundred hands, all Of whom are
skilled workmen, and making good wages. Our
hands get 100 per cent more than the same class
OF mechanics do in Germany, and the wages which
we pav are largely in excess OF those paid In
England and France. Heretofore the bulk Of the
cutlery such as make has come from
Germany and England, but. as result of the
Mckinley act there has been great increase IN
the manufacture OF cutlery I'm the United States
and a corresponding decrease OF the manufacture OF
of cutlery from abroad The Americans are to-day
making the highest and best grade OF cutlery on
the market. The cutlery factories OF the United
States can surpass anything that can be produced
in the factories OF England. France or Germany
We use the American steel for a large portion OF
our goods and find that the quality OF this steel IS
constantly growing better. There are some goods
for which still English steel, but the bulk
OF our cutlery Is made from American steel. Our
brass IL American made, so Is our Geman silver
and so are the bulk Of our coverings, and the
quality OF the American goods which we use Is
improving all the tlme.'
psned be In the Electric Cutlery Company's works
while The Tribune reporter waiting to see Mr.
Fuller engaged in conversation with the reporter and
said
al am a Republican because am a Protectonist, and
because have for myself the effects OF Free Trade
and low wages. have lately returned from Europe,
where had excellent opportunities OF seeing for myself
what Free Trade and low tariff are doing for the work
people OF those countries. six dollars week IS very
fair average OF wages for operatives in the cutlery
trade In England and Of them get as low as 81.
In Germany wages still lower. The WORKING
people OF this country have idea how the working
people Of England France and Germany i've II they
DID, they wonld hesitate long time before they voted
10 place in power party that Is in favor Of reducing
the tariff for reduction Of the tariff lower wages.
Fright here want to make point. and want
you 10 put It plainly and strongly. have heard until
am sick OF the silly statement that the cost OF living
Is cheaper In European countries than II is here Tint
Is not true Meat IS much higher the other side the
water than II Is with Many of the working people
In European countries have 10 do without meat 90 per
cent OF the time. and live black bread cheese and
beer II IS true that rents little lower, but gro
ceres and provisions are much higher than they are
here. Meat for instance Is 100 per cent dearer In
Germany than II Is In this country. In England II Is
not qune so high but still It Is dearer than 1t IS in the
United States. In France II is also dearer.
"The working people In European countries do not
driven all OF makeshfts to exc out living Some
OF the results low wages paid 20 the operatives In
France simply horrible. When wns In Bouogne,
France ono Saturday night, saw hundreds Of young
girls on the streets who evidently leading life
OF shame learned that they compelled 10 work
six days in the week in factories for so cents OF our
money and absolutely driven by their necessities
to sell themselves In order make enough 10 eke out
their existence God forbid that We should ever see
our American girls reduced to such horrible state OF
degradation
My father manufactures woolen blankets in Penn
sylvania. Ills hands receive wages averaging SIS
week. II the tariff woollcn goods were taken of,
he could not pay his hands more than Sl2 and make
a fair profit his goods. know what am talking
about when | say that II tho duty on cutlery were
lowered the American manufacturers in order to com
pete with those OF England France and Germany would
be compelled TO cut down wages to terrible extent.
and the suffering among the working people would be
umply horrible. Tariff reform IS the champion humbug
~ the age and II you had seen. have, the practical
workings Of low tariff you would be ready TO Jump on
the Democratic party with both feet
one OF the oldest houses In America engaged in the
manufacture OF taors shears and scissors Of all kinds
Is the firm OF r. IIelnsch's sons on Brucest, New
ark. II established In 1S25. and Is day known
not only all over the United States. but throughout
the world for the superiority OF Its Rochus
Helnlsch the head OF the firm, Is enthusiastic Re
publican and ardent supporter of the Mckinley
Act He said to Tribune reporter:
am heartily In favor OF protection for II 1t We're
not for the duty Imported goods. this country would
be flooded with cheap and Inferior grades OF shears
and scissors made In England and Germany. These
goods are OF a character that the American manu-
actrcrS could not afford TO compete with them and
pay the wages that they now do They look as well
AS the American goods, but are nothing like dur
able and reliable Wages here are fully 100 per cent
higher than they in Germany. Protection In past
years has built up our rade TO such an extent that We