Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-07-04
The Tin-pIate Liar.


During the campaign of 1892 the Dem
0cratic papers make it a part Of their
business to cry down the effort to make
American tin under the protection of the
Mckinley law. The tin-plate liar did
good deal of work in that campaign
which called forth expressions of deep
gratitude from foreign manufacturers.
After making the campaign against
American tin, the tin-plate liar passed
out of notice for awhile, but he is on deck
again. and the following from the Phila-
delphia Press will show his tactics in the
coming campaign:
"A recent number of the Ironmonger's
Chronicle, an English trade journal, con-
tains an interview with David Charles
Dawes, United States consul at Swansea,
South Wales, the seat of tin-plate manu-
featuring When asked as to the truth
OF the statements concerning the eStab-
1shment of tin-plate works IN this country
Mr. Davies is reported as making the
following reply: All fake, sir; all fake!
There is one, believe, in Indiana, which
has been since closed. The one
III Missouri was supposed to be a huge
AFFAIR, but IN consequence OF q bet the
great industry was subjected 60 an in
quiry which showed that all the people
employed were boy and q girl, who
were engaged III dipping black plate inn
ported from Wales. The cause of the
failure to make tin plates in America Is
not the cost of labor They can turn out
the plates as cheaply, but they can't make
them as good. After forty-eight hours
use cor SO they begin to get rusty
There rs no better authority on the
subject IN this country than the Metal
Worker, a journal devoted to roofing,
plumbing and heating industries. The
current number of that journal reviews
the Gn-plate industry and says: The tin
Plate trade is in a very singular condl-
tioh- From the importers standpoint it
Is exceedingly dull, with no immediate
prospects Of improvement. On the other
hand, domestic manufacturers report an
active demand for every pound they are
able TO produce, whether of bright or
roofing plates. Both agree, however, in
reporting prices stationary and with ap-
lEslrenty no tendency to advance. An
other feature has also developed which
should receive consideration, as it is hav
ing an influence on the course of trade.
The quality of American tin plates is
generally SO good that consumers prefer
them, saSk fog them, and take imported
plates with reluctance if they cannot get
aaMnestic- A short time since. before 1t
was seen that there might be shortage.
q large Western jobbing house decided to
hSHGlle only American plates.
Here is very plain proof that this Da-
vieS. the ecpsature sent abroad by Grover
cleveland TO misrepresent his country,
rs sn Essz7n terms a liar. If he had taken
,7pbe pains to look up the official figures OF
Sfhn Ntraor,,ry department he would have
Found that from July 1. 1891, TO Decem-
Der 81 1872 theSe n weTe m@ Of tim in f and
terne plate. of which more than 10 per
fTgsf w1yrB frem American black plate.
IF Mr. Davies had informed himself on
This oueefiegn he would not have written
himself down such an egregious donkey
aud T;aIgafler. But how do the people OF
chg qoayntry like the fact that an ac-
credited official of the Cleveland admins
fy-stfon is engaged in viiifylng the indus
tries of the country he is paid to look
after
In connection with the tin-plate ques
zion it is said that scandal IS in sight
eEoWu In Washington Just as the sugar
eS,Fga43FiYc was prepared in the interest Of
abe Sugar trust. so the tn-plate schedule
Of the Democratic tariff bill was preparei
I'D the Interest Of the W eIsh manufactur
egs An unnaturaliZed Englishmdn
named Trench. is said to have been thu
e.Faief manager in this country OF the for
sA5xyn ffn-DIate interests. 1t is asserted tina
tae British and Welsh manufacturers hat
information as TO the provision OF tn
t72y5Tf k,ilI rs to tin plate before it wa
known IL this country. 1t is stated tina
a letter can be produced, dated in Eng
Ify1d Nav 21 in which i: is stated tina
the British and Welsh 1n-pate work
Eaarp started up in anticipation of the &C
ton OF the Senate on tin plate. This wa
several DAYS before the action of til
trainers of the tariff bill was known i
Washington Work was begun in the til
plate districts in England based upon til
action Of the finance committee, tw
weeks before that committee had mad
public its decision. Trench. in New Yorl
and the large importers are said to haV
sent orders abroad for thousands of bOXt
of tin plate based upon this advance il
formation The reduction of l cent
round In the duty means Il profit to thOS
who could have advance information
over 81 q box.