Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-10-25
CHIT BIRDS FpUTTER. I"

i mean League, ana the AktureSS OF Mr.
/ Philip Allen OH that occasion, Is the
best evidence that the shots then fir
ed took effect. The TRIBUNE in
briefly referring to this meeting and
Mr.. Aliens remarks last week, did
not pretend to quote from him, but
merely to give his leading thought,
that the difficulties under which our
local manufacturing establishments
have been laboring of late, in COM
mon with other industries Of the
country, were largely chargeable to
the success of the democratic party
in 1892, and the ineapacity of that
party since demonstrated.
Mr.. Allen said, in substance, that
he belieped that, but for the change
from republican to democratic con-
troll of national affairs and govern
mental policy, the pulp and paper
mills would now be in successful OPP
GRAFTON. For this belief there is good
| ground. Prior to the election of
Cleveland and democratic congress,
paper such as that the Mineral Point
mills are prepared to manufacture
was selling readily at A. cents per
pound. AT that price these mills
could produce paper and realize Il
good margin of profit, even though
they We're unsuccessful in making
the pulp and had to ship that mate
rial in from other pulp mills. But
speedily following the democratic
party's success, in harmony with the
general stagnation of business, the
paper market became demoralized,
and the price dropped to 31a cents
or point where these mills could not
be operated without loss. There is a
general belief that if Harrison and a
republican congress, instead of Cleve-
land and democratic congress, had
been elected in 1892, the widespread
and disastrous depression of business
would have been avoided; that the
demand for paper would have con-
tinued, and commanded price at
which these mills could have pro-
duced it, and with the experience
acquired in running, might by this
time be prepared to withstand any
probable competition.
That pulp and paper mills at other
places have been able, through more
favored conditions and immense cap
| ital, to withstand the strain of the
times and continue in operation, is no
refutation of the assertion that but
for the bane of democracy the mills of
| Mineral Point might also be running.
1t only shows that the great estab-
lishments on the Fox river, by reduc-
| ing wages and otherwise economic
ing, and accepting less profits or even
no profits for the time being, can
stand the squeeze, which crushed the
| life out of our smaller concern before
it was fairly on its feet.
The Democrat is right when it says,
+" In it (the pulp mill enterprise) we
hayea direct application of the so
called doctrine Of protection" Reck-
oning upon continued national pros
perity as enjoyed under so-called pro-
tection the people of Mineral Point
as a whole, tincluding the editors Of
the Democrat,) and enterprising citi-
zens Individually, put their money
into this business. Could they have
| foreseen success of the democratic
party, and consequent national dis
aster, unsettling all values, and dam
ming the channels of trade In which
the product Of the Mineral Point
Linen and Fiber company was ex-
pected to float, they would not have
so invested their capital.
1t is due Mr.. Allen to say that he
referred to the zinc furnace and
wooden mills only in a general way.
What was said in these columns rel
ative to the zinc works and mining,
he is in no wise responsible for. Fur
ther on that line 1t is pertinent TO re-
mark that whatever the cause, the
cruel facts Of reduced wages at the
furnace, and the great decline in
price of ore, confront us. 1t may be
that the establishment of the new
zinc works at Waukegan, and the
sharp competition thereof, would
have brought the industry to its pres
ent condition, independent Of the
election results or congressional ac-
tion. But, may it not be fairly be-
lieyed that with the general pros
perity Of the country continued as 1t
was before the fatal " ides of Novem-
ber,n 1892, with the then large and
growing demand for zinc oxide and
other products of the country, the
supposed harmful effects Of the new
furnaces would have been material
ly lessened?
THE Platteville News i.gs the races
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