The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-10-17
THE TIy-PLATE CONSPIRACY.

II Is beginning to be understood that
the bluff of the tin-plate manufacturers
in demanding a reduction OF the wages of
their employees is, in fact, a political
scheme. The Niedringhaus firm. which led
off in this movement. threatened in 1892
to close its mills in case the democrats car
ried the country. as did other manufac-
turers. and indeed some Of them did shut
down during the election for the purpose
of soaring voters. This year the Niedring-
haus plant shut down two weeks or so
before the others. and ostensibly for re-
pairs. It was not until several days after
the closing dswn that the workmen were
informed by the proprietors that a cut
would be made in their wages. 1t is not
pretended that there has been any de-
cline in the prices Of their goods. but still
It is claimed that the cut Of wages is due
to the tariff. The St. Louis Republic
quotes one of the Niedrlnghaus workmen
as saying:
l think that the closing down of the
mills at this time is for political effect It
appears very much though the tin-plate
manufacturers are willing to c.Ose down
their mills and take the bread and butter
out Of the mouths Of their employees, WIKI
the single purpose Of assisting the repub-
lican party in the present campaign. The
tin-p.ate workers and members Of the
Amalgamated Association were all aware
that under the agreement Of the assOcia-
ton with the manufacturers a new sched-
ne of wages was about due. However
they did not anticipate that they would
be asked to accept % per cent. and 80 per
cent. reductions. They cannot see the
necessity Of it now that il has been done,
even under the new tariff law, which is
the a'lec7i cause. as we now understand
II. But when the mills first closed down
the employees were given no intelligence
as 10 WHY. and il was the general belief
that tla closing was only for repairs.
Wits some expected a slight reduction all
Were surprised when informed that it
would average from % 10 80 per cent. It
is unjust. and 7 do not believe the men
viii ACCEPT it,
The NieGrlnghaus firm was one that ad-
vocated the tax on tin, not because 1t de-
sired to make tin-plate but because it
owned ths patents for granite ironware,
and had a monopoly Of the trade It
desired to advance the price Of tin in
order 10 make that article a less formid-
abe rival TO granite irOnware- 1t now
has It's patent article generally introduced,
but its patents expired about a year ago,
and it met with competition in the manu-
facture. which caused a reduction in the
price of it. But after the first reduction
no further reductions were made, and the
price lists Of the new companies are identi-
cal with those Of the old one. II other
words. there is either a trust or a COM
blne in the granite irorware business. The
Nledringhaus firm operates its tin-plate
separately from its granite ironware plant.
and Mr.. Thomas Niedringhaus admits that
the tariff has no effect on granite iron
ware. It has certainly not yet had any
on tin-plate, as anyone may see by con-
sultng the market reports, and the pre-
tense that It has is only a cover for the
real reason for this unjustifiable proposal
TO cut wages.