The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-09-13
CARNEGIE TO THE REscUE


old stalwart republican, Andrew Carne-
gle, is opposed to tariff reform. But Mr..
Carnegie has been so closely identified
with the protection policy of the repub-
lican party. with its campaign funds,
with its statesmen, with its efforts to in
crease wages, with it's endeavor to re-
duce the price of manufactured goods
by competition, with it's labor Of giving
the farmer a home market, that we
could hardly expect him to support
democratic measure Of any kind, and
market price in this country of steel
rails and steel beams. It would be nee
essary to pick the steel beam out of
Mr.. Carnegie's eye before he could see
his brother at all. let alone picking
mote out of his brothers eye. Hence
we expect very little of this comrade OF
Mr.. Blaine and we do not get any more
than we expect.
Mr.. Carnegie's thoughts naturally
turn first to the poor worhngman.
YES" he says, ct am aware Of the
great reductions that have been taking
place in salaries and labor in Pittsburg.
1t is sad. but true. There is nothing
else for manufacturers and men to do
than share the loss in this emergency.
The question is not how much the manu-
facturer can make, but how little must
he lose. 1t is the same with labor" 1t
is almost appalling how emergencies"
come along and make Mr.. Carnegie re-
duce the wages of his men. There was
one Of them before the Mckinley bill
was passed, and again after that benef-
icent law was in force another ''emer-
gency' came chasing up, and down went
the wages again. And now that the Nc
Kinley law is about to be wiped out, an
other emergency strikes Mr.. Carnegie
amidships and he must cut wages again.
1t would seem that what his employees
need is not a tariff law, but law for
the prevention of emergencies. Certain
ly workingmen must understand now
that so far as Mr.. Carnegie is concerned
the tariff has nothing to do with wages.
Mr. Carnegie further proceeds to tell
how the steel and iron industry is spe-
cially a sufferer. Says he: Take the
manufacturer of steel rails. The amount
required for renewals of old lines is an
nually becoming less, as these lines are
mr. pff all laid Will
rail trade must depend more and more
upon new lines and extensions of other
lines. But these have altogether ceased.
1t is just so with most of other
You are forgetful, Mr.. Carnegie. 1t was
only a few months ago that competitive
bids were made for furnishing steel rails
for a railroad in India, and your firm
made the lowest bid and received the
contract. Protected against competition
here, you agreed to lay down steel rails
in India cheaper than any British.
French or German manufacturer could.
You are not confined to the railroads of
this country. Further than that, you
know that your most profitable work
for several years past has been the
manufacture of steel beams and Orders,
and you know that the use of these is con-
stantly increasing. There is some slack
ening in the building industries just now,
but you suffer from it as little as any
one. And again, you have had a very
profitable contract of furnishing steel
armor for government vessels. and that
is an industry that does not stop on &C
count of financial stringency. Cheer up,
old fellow. you and Mr.. Frick will pull
through this emergency without seri-
Gus damage.
By the way, let us call your attention
to the encouraging remarks of your
neighbor. Mr.. George A Macbeth. who
employees $500 men at Pittsburg and
elsewhere in the manufacture of lamp
chimneys. and who says that the claim
that this business depression is due to
a fear of the results of tariff reform is
''the greatest piece of nonsense ever
conceived" He says as to your indus
try:
The great trouble is that twenty-five
years of tariff decentralization have Gull
tivated a socialistic and paternal idea of
government. If there is any uncertainty
among iron men 1t is the result of their
own doing. They have built a structure
of shreds and patches and expect it to
stand
During all these years they have bent
their energies to seeing how high prices
they could get instead Of working out
the problem of cheap production. The
tariff is bound to come down to a
worlds basis. and a few of the shrewd-
est already read it in the signs of the
times. One of the greatest and wealth.
lest iron and steel manufacturers him
self told me some time ago that he fore
saw it and then began to prepare for
such a condition. Recently he said he
was now ready to produce against the
world. no matter how low the tariff
might drop.
Like as not 1t was your wicked part
ner. Frick. who said this. Better wait
till you see him before you talk any
more
SAMPLE TARIFF HEARING.
The absurdity of the tariff hearings
was illustrated on Tuesday by Mr..