Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-05-25
Democratic Northwest.
PEARLBUTTON TRUST
1T HAS REDUCED WAGES AND CLOSED
FACTORIES.

Yet 1t VIII Send q Lobby to Congress Ask
ing Aid to Continue the Robbery of the
People-weakness of the DIanufacturers'
'ImpregnabIe Position" Exposed.
Undoubtedly the two greatest protect
ed industries that claim Mckinley as a
foster parent are the tin plate and pearl
button industries. Both are noted for
their modest statements and conserva-
tive prophecies of what they are going to
accomplish. A page of The Dry Goods
Economist of April 81 is devoted to the
pearl button infant. The objects of the
Pearl Button trust, formed last Novem-
ber, are discussed. One of the important
duties Of the trust, or association" as
they call it, is to supply statistics and
advice to congress showing the wonder
full effects of protection to this industry
On this subject The Economist says:
"It is no secret that the present tariff
on pearl buttons was made one Of the
special points of attack during the last
electoral campaign Much was written
and said about the matter, and it will he
generally admitted by the trade that the
tariff is vulnerable in many points and
has certainly failed to afford that meas
ure of protection to the industry which
was expected. 1t is open to many OBJ
jections both from its friends and oppo.
nents. The time for the consideration
of new scale Of duties is approaching,
and it is the part of every one in the
pearl button business to give the matter
his most serious attention. The present
rate is not likely to be retained, because
it is not founded on any Ineligible cal
culation and is simply arbitrary. The
principles laid down by this paper in
proposing readjustment of the tariff
generally are that sufficient protection
should be allowed to cover the differ
ence between the cost of labor and man.
ufacturing plant in this country and
others. This is an impregnable position
for the manufacturers of pearl buttons
to take. To further this object it is de-
sirable that full data regarding the cost
of labor and plant, referred to already,
should be furnished, showing the figures
for this country and all over Europe.
Time and trouble must be taken to do
this, and it is the duty of the members
of the industry, individually and col
lectively, to see that this is done and
done quickly"
We concede that the pearl button tar
iff needs revising, but differ from The
Economist as to what will constitute an
''impregnable position for the manufac-
turers." In fact, we think the next tar
iff bill will follow somewhat the route
laid out by the Chicago platform, which
says nothing about difference of cost of
labor. In this case the pearl button men
would not only have wasted time in Civ
ing attention to the procurement of sta
tistics and data which should be given
to the upbuilding Of their new industry,
but would have placed themselves at
disadvantage because of the fact that
they have formed trust.
1t is highly probable that the present
congress will keep its weather eye peeled
and will be very shy when approached
by tariff protected trusts. 1t will be re-
membered that the trust congress of 1890
has been twice elected to stay at home
two lessons not likely to be forgotten by
the victors.
Congress knows and large body of
the American people know that the 150
per cent protection given by Mckinley
to the pearl button manufacturers was
secured by trickery-by adding to the ad
valorem duty of % per cent an apparently
Insignificant specific duty of 2! cents per
line. 1t is generally. known that the
prices of pearl buttons have increased
greatly since 1890. Yet in spite of this
fact or because of it the trust is not only
discussing the ''evils of overproduction,
but has closed factories and reduced
wages to limit production and increase
profts-to send an impregnable lobby to
Washington. The Economist says:
"There are nearly 200 pearl button
manufacturers in the United States at
the present time. They are not all in
active operation and it is well for the
prosperity of the industry that some are
working with less than half their com
plement of hands, and others have adopt
ed the plan of closing for some days each
week. Were it not for this moderation
of production it is certain that the prices
would be still more demoralized than
they now are, and profits would dwindle
to the vanishing point.
internal competition among produc.