Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1895-09-20
ELI PERKINS EXPOSES,
INVESTIGATES SOME REPORTED
WAGE RESTORATIONS.

INVESTIGATES SOME KEPOKTED
WAGE RESTORATlONS.
Finds tho Published Statements Arc
Mostly Made Out of Whole Cloth
Erroneous, and Purposely Mis-
leading-Business Dull and Wages
Not Restored to Mckinley Rates.
Eli Perkins has returned from q
visit among the potters, glass men and
iron men. When asked about the
recent advance in wages he said:
found that some glass, pottery
and iron establishments which closed
down in 1892 or dropped wages 25
per cent. have started up again, but
none with tie wages of 1892. In all
the potteries wages were cut 12R per
cent. by the Wilson bill and I found
no instance where they had been res.
tored. On account of the demand for
structural iron for building purposes
many of these ron mills were at work.
In several cases where I have read in
free trade newspapers about wages
being advanced l have written notes
to the proprietors to get the truth.
The other day saw this notice sent
out by the Free Trade Reform Club:
WILSON BILL PROSPERITY.
BELIA1RE, Ohio, July 16.-The
Chelsea China Works, which have
been closed for six months, resumed
operations to-day, giving 500 people
work.
SO wrote to the Chelsea Company,
asking these questions:
1. How much have potters' wages declined
on account of the Wilson bill lowering the
tariff
2. Why did your pottery stop2
3. How much lower wages will you pay
now under the Wilson bill than under tho
Mckinley bill?
A. Has the Wilson bill benefited American
potteries or hurt them?
g. Would you have closed down at all II
the Mckinley bill had continued right
along7
This is the reply:
CHELSEA CHINA COMPANY,
New CUMBERLAND, W. Va, July %, 1895. I
Melville d. Landon, ESD:
Dear Sir-Yours Of the Goth duly received
and will endeavor to answer your ques.
tions
/. Wages OF potters have decreased 12LS
per cent. since the Wilson bill has gone into
effect.
2. The statement from Bellaire is erron.
eous. We have not been closed down for
six months. 'Tis true we have been only
working half time. but We would have been
working full time had the Wilson bill not
lowered the tariff. We were able to keep
running in part on account of the superior
line We have been manufacturing. The
trade for staples was taken completely from
us by foreign manufacturers.
3. We do not expect to make any reduction
In wages at tho present time further than has
already been made.
A. The Wilson bill has not benefited
American potters. The reports from buyers
are that they are filed up with English
goods. They say we can buy English goods
cheaper than we can American and can have
them laid down at our doors for less freight,
both in Mississippi towns and In the West.
5. Our pottery would have been in full
operation for the past six months had tho
Mckinley bill been in effect. Very truly
yours,
CHELSEA CHINA COMPANY,
DANIEL TAYLOR, General Manager
Per o. II.
When all the free trade papers pub
lished dispatch from East Liverpool,
saying wages had been advanced in the
great Knowles pottery and boom in
business was ON, wrote to that pot
terry for tho facts. Back came this
note:
TIE KNOWLES. TAYLOR &c Knowles Co.,
EAST LIVERPOOL. Ohio, U. =. A.
July 20, 1885,
Melville d. Landon. ESD;
Replying to your favor of the 25th instant
There Is no ''boom" in the crockery trade
here, and we see none in sight. The resump-
tion referred to simply means that, whereas
nearly all the potturies closed as they in
variaby do about July ], for from one to
two or three weeks, they have, as they also
invariably have done. resumed operations.
Tho American price-list has been changed
to correspond with the English list, so that
dealers may know exactly how to compare
American and English prices when 70 COM
parison is necessary.
In answer to your question, we answer
We dropped wages in nearly all departments
12i5 per cent. after the passage of the Wilson
bill. Our china works have been running
about four-ilfths during this year. Our gran
ito works have been running about half time
this year. As we understand it, about all
potteries in the United States are affected in
substantially the same way. Respectufully,
Tms KNOWLES, TAYLOR i KNOWLES Co.
al asked the glass men in Indiana,
said Mr.. Perkins, "what the Wilson
bill had done for them and they in
variably answered.:
"'It has killed glass factories out.
side of tho gas belt and wo are run.
ming with lower wages to compete with
Europe
Summed up. the business situa-
tiou." said Mr.. Perkins, lis about like
this: The Wilson bull threw millions
OF men out OF work when tho country
began to import foreign SIT u. But now
tho Wilson bill is about done with.
Tho Senate and House are Republican.
In little whilo wo will have Re.
publican President and tho old tariff
which made us prosperous for 30 years
will come. 1t will be tariff for
revenue aud incidental protection.
Tho manufacturers know it and are
discounting it. They discounted the
Wilson bill AMI dropped wages in
1899, before Cleveland came ia. aud
they will start their mills and put up
wages before tho Republican Presi.
IT..