The Irish standard., 1893-09-02
AN OPEN LETTER.
To the Citizens Of the Twin Cities.

and st. Paul nave QeclQeO ~ OnAs CAiHo
of unpre cedented depression to offer you
q PLAN and unequivocal statement OF
facts which have not been adequately
understood by majority of the people
of the two cities. The facts presented
have direct and practical bearing upon
81 beet of vital importance, demanding
the serious consideration of thoughtful
mon throughout the country, viz: What
shall be done for the army OF honest
wage earners whose profitable employ
ment has suddenly ceased? The unfore-
seen decrease of our currency circula-
ton has brought about condition which
has silenced the wheels of production IN
thousands of the most prosperous fac
tories in the land, with attendant re-
suits We could not do justice to in this
article.
The people of this important Western
commercial center have always mani
tested unbounded enthusiasm for our
manufacturing industries and enterprises,
which have made us a rival of the older
Eastern sections in many important direc-
tions. But for various reasons they have
failed to keep pace with our grow tn in
certain lines of production whose pro-
gress has not been heralded by the pub
lie press. As loyal citizens OF cities
whose growth and material development
for the past quarter century has con
stantly stirred your hearts with patriotic
pride, we ask your careful consideration
of the facts we present.
There are in the Twin Cities several
shoe factories, established for many years,
constantly employing some 5000 hands
when IN operation, and disbursing up
wards of million of dollars per year in
wages. Upon their earnings fully 10000
people depend for support, while the
large number Of travelling men, statesmen
and office assistants employed, draw sal
aries aggregating million dollars more.
This money is necessarily spent almost
wholly right at home, contributing heav-
lily to the support Of our social, educa"
tional, religious, municipal and other in
situations. Can you overestimate the
importance of such factories to the COM
munities where they are located? To
day, through no fault of either employ
ers or employees, these factories are
shut down, 5000 willing workers are idle,
and 10000 people have no means OF sup
port. And yet, even in times Of utmost
depression, like this, this trouble might
be avoided.
The factories we represent make all
grades of shoes needed for every class OF
trade. We have the best and most mod
ern machinery known The very latest
improvements are introduced as soon as
they appear. In all our later facilities
and equipments we are fully abreast OF
the oldest and largest shoe manufacture
ing cities of the East. We employ the
most skilled labor and use tbs best ma
terials to be had in all departments.
We use no shoddy Of any kind whatever,
and our goods have high reputation
for style, fitting qualities, durability and
general excellence wherever sold. We
have displaced our Eastern competitors in
thousands of cases in vast Northwest
ern and Southwestern area from Lake
Michigan to the Pacific coast, and prac-
tically control the shoe trade west of the
Mississippi.
We make all grades of shoes, both fine
and medium priced, which the people
can safely buy, but do not compete
against the cheap Eastern-made goods so
freely offered at <'cut price" sales and
dear at any figure. For ladies and misses
we make the finest French and American
kid hand-turned shoes in all styles, sizes
and widths, and all the new and stand
ard styles of goods the demand requires.
They are perfect in fit and fashion. and
will suit the most fastidious taste. For
men, we have the fine French Cordovan,
French calf, fine Kangaroo goods, ETC.,
etc.. in all the latest and popular styles
and patterns, genuine hand -sewed work,
and the. best that can be made, We also
make all the medium priced and heavier
grades of shoes for ladies, misses and
children, men and boys. including neat
J and eerviceable goods for the workshop:
the factory, the farm and general country
trade. These, we assure you, are the best
for the money that can be found, with
wearing qualities and general excellence
unsurpassed. Nothing finer ian we make.
nothing more stylish or better fitting,
nothing more durable, no better value
for the money are made anywhere in the
| world than those produced here in Min
neapolis and st. Paul. Then why not
use them in preference to any others?
In these two cities about three million
dollars are expended annually for shoes,
but small part of which are made here.
If our citizens would interest themselves
in the homemade goods, our production
might soon be doubled, and put another
1 s-40 oSr of