Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-03-17
BEWARE or THIS TIN PLATE MAN

He Represents Three-headed Monster.
Some Other Trusts.
The advocates Of the repeal of the Nc
Kinley increase of duty on tin plates
need to keep their organization intact
for further battle. John Jarrett was
some time since ordered home from his
post as consul to Birmingham, England,
to the rescue Of a cause in which Crone-
myer and Neidringhaus have proved
themselves inefficient as leaders. John
Jarrett is a noted Pittsburg politician,
wirepuller and, report says, an effective
lobbyist. In times past Jarrett Las
been able, by the liberal use of funds
state, to defeat Democratic congressman
for election by invading their districts
in person and carrying the war to the
homes of the voters. Hurd of Ohio and
Morrison of Illinois both know what
Jarrettism means in politics.
Jarrett has lately been made the Sec
rotary of three distinct trusts-viz., the
Galvanized Iron trust, the Sheet Steel
trust and the Tin Plate Manufacturers
trust. These trusts are backed by the
same men and are only made specific
on paper in order to mislead the COM
munity and to hoodwink congress. If it
were shown that the Tin Plate trust was
but an evolution Of the Sheet Steel trust,
and that the increased duty was secured
for the purpose Of protecting the Gal
vanized Iron trust and Sheet Steel trust
against a competing article, the case
would be vulnerable from every point;
hence it is pretended that the Tin Plate
Manufacturing association is a new and
separate industry struggling for a foot
hold through legislative recognition.
The boast has been frequently made
by some of the agents Of the protected
interests that it costs less to win legis1a-
ton than elections. Judging from the
complaints Of the Republican managers
in the late canvass, the Pittsburg people
are proceeding on this hypothesis, and
Jarrett will not lack the funds with
which to work powerful lobby when
the emergency calls for action.
1t must not be supposed that the Sheet
Steel trust, which, by increasing the duty
on tin plates 1 2-10 cents, was thereby
enabled to maintain an advance on gal
vanized iron Of 1 cent per pound or more,
will abandon the rich harvest without a
struggle.
The 70 sheet iron and sheet steel mills
Of the country turn out some 10000
tons of products yearly. The enforced
advance in the price of tin plate, COM
peting article incident to the Mckinley
increase of duty, enables these concerns
to maintain a price from 1 cent to II
cents higher on their output than they
could otherwise do. This means net
addition to their profits yearly of over
100000. Does any one believe that
less than one-fourth of this enormous
sum will be ventured in trying to cir
cumvent the repeal of the duty on plates?
"Forewarned is forearmed," and the
vigilance which has driven the advocates
Of the increased duty on tin plate into
silence in debate and on the stump will
certainly win in spite of the added argu-
ment of corrupting fund. But watch
fulness will be required, and the import
of the verdict at the polls on last No
vember must be kept before the people,
Thus Will our lawmakers be forced to
boldness in dealing with the great ques-
tion.-American Industries.