The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-22
GETS HIS STOMACH FULL.
A. R. Meyer Didn't Bargain for the
DingleY Bill
From the Kansas city Times.)

When A R. Meyer lent his assistance.
financially and otherwise, to the Sound
Money league last fall, and raised up his
voice to exhort his employees to vote for
Mckinley and protection" it is probable
that Mr.. Meyer did not anticipate that
the Mckinley administration would deal
out a sort of left-handed prosperity to
the Consolidated Smelling and Refining
company of Argentine, and other places.
of which Mr.. Meyer happens to be presi-
dent and principal owner
But the advent of Mckinley was the
signal for Dingley to stroll athwart the
horizon and acquire an ephemeral fame
as the author of the Dingley bill. And
this Dingley bill proposes to tax lead ores
from Mexico, and as Mr.. Meyers plant
smelts large quantities of Mexican ores
every year, and Mr.. Meyer is himself in.
terested in Mexican Mines Mr.. Meyer is
justly indignant.
Mr.. Meyer doesn't like this chicken that
has come home to roost, as chickens have
a very foolish habit of doing, and last
night Mr. Meyer fell back on some of
these same employees, who were warned
last fall that the election of Bryan would
mean the suspension of business at the
shelters, and asked them to adopt reso~
buttons protesting against this outrage
Gus tariff. And, of course, these employees,
though many of them have been out OF
work since the Mckinley ship Prosperity
sailed into harbor, approved the resolu-
tions.
When Mr. Meyer learned that the Ding
ley bill contained a clause taxing foreign
lead ores. he hastily requested Mayor
Marston of Argentine to call a mass
meeting. The mayor complied and last
night several hundred people. the major
ity of them ex-workers at the smelter,
gathered to hear what Mr.. Meyer might
have to say Mr.. Meyer was bold enough
to declare that he was not sorry he
worked for the Republican party last fall,
but he did think his party showed very
little sense in attempting to pass such a
measure as the Dingley bill. Among 9TH
things he said:
"Our congress and senate has given
foreign smelters a great chance to kill
American smelters by an unwise tariff.
Are to subscribe to party control, to
be downtrodden for the sake of a few
mine-owners in Idaho and Montana % Mr..
Meyer said that rather than to have that
be the case he would denounce every po-
litical party.
Why" said he, I'VE can not expect to
prosper if a tax is placed on an article
because a certain corporation demands
it."
Mr.. Meyer denounced every congress
and senate from 1890 to the present time.
He also told the crowd that the company
wanted to re-employ all of the old men.
but unless the proper legislation could
be secured it would be impossible.
When Mr.. Meyer finished his talk, May
or Marstan, chairman of the meeting.
appointed William McGeorge, Council
man Charles Green. and W. A. Yeam-
shaw committee on resolutions. While
the committee was al work on the reso~
lutions, Purchasing Agent Finney of the
smelling company was called on for
talk, but he refused. Congressman NJ. S.
Peters made a short address. He said he
was not there for Mr.. Meyer or the
smelter, but if it was to benefit the peo-
pie he would use his power against the
bill. He also said he would explain the
situation to the two Kansas senator's.
and he was confident they would do all
in their power to defeat the measure.
The committee on resolutions was then
called upon to report and these resolu-
lions were unanimously adopted:
1.-THE citizens of Argentine have thor
oughly and carefully investigated the
question of the effect of the tariff on lead
in ore and the operations of the large in
dustry in our city, and are convinced that
the admission of lead in ore will result in
the larger operation of the smelling
works and give more employment to our
people in the smelling works and bring
more general prosperity to our city ana
it's business interests; therefore. be it
Resolved, That the citizens of Argen-
tine, here assembled, request the senator's
and representatives of our state to refuse
to vote for any tariff bill which does not
provide for the admission of lead ores
upon a basis which will admit and insure
the larger operation of American smelt-
ing works as against further encroach-
ment of smelter operators in Mexico and
British Columbia, and that the duties
shall not exceed 1 cent per pound on lead
contained in the ore, and that the duty
on refined lead and lead bullior shall be
not less than cents per pound of lead;
also, that a copy of these resolutions be
sent to our senators and representatives