The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-04-03
OAKLAND WOODEN MILLS.
why they Are Running Night and Da

why iney Are Running Nlgnt anu Days
Mr.. N. w. Steele, general manager of Oak
land Wooden Mills, writes to the ADVOCATE as
follows:
"MEssRs. EDlroRs.-I hope you will find
space in your valuable paper for notice of
the following paragraph, published in the
Westminster Sentinel of March 81:
"A gentleman of this city reports to us from per-
sonal observation that the Oakland Wooden Mills,
IN Freedom district, are running night and day.
It is very evident that the Republican victory last
fall and the Inauguration of a Republican Presi-
dent, with Congress almost certain to pass pro.
tective tariff law, not damaging the business OF
this Carroll county industry
| am very glad the Sentinel has at last
discovered the existence of this industry in
Carroll. 1t probably would not have an
nounced its existence now, but for the fact
that it imagined it could score point for the
Republican party by stating that the mills
were running day and night, under Repub-
lican President and with Republican Con-
gress in session bent upon increasing tariff
taxes.
For two seasons prior to this the mills have
been operated day and night, but the Sentinel
never discovered the fact and we had more
orders to fill then than we have now. And these
orders were for our regular line Of goods.
These orders, too, were received during No.
vember and December.
This season, after the prediction in thunder
ing tones by the press and orators of the great
era of prosperity that was to burst upon the
country Immediately after the election of
Mckinley, we waited all through November
and December for the promised boom, and
through January also, but no orders came,
though we offered goods at less price than
formerly. The outlook was gloomy, and idle
nacc Xvac faoinO ne We caf IN work q ham,
doned our regular line of goods and took up
other grades and offered them so low that
other mills could not meet us. In this way
we secured orders, but the margin of profit
was so low chat it became necessary TO run
night and day, doubling production, to give
us returns enough to pay for the oil used on
the machinery.
The present proposed tariff change is dam
aging to business, and | would be thankful if
the present Congress would adjourn sine die
and let us alone. The present tariff law is
the best we ever had for all, except it gives a
few trusts and monopolies too much protec-
ton. The 40 per cent. tax on manufactured
goods gives all the protection any concern
should have. would blush and hide my face
in shame before | would ask any debt ridden,
mortgaged and oppressed farmer to protect
us more than 40 per cent, in our ignorance
nationality. With free raw materials and
fair field, unhampered by tax laws, we can
hold our own against the world. This is very
evident from the large dividends declared by
certain manufacturing concerns. These divi
dends, too, are the result of excessive profits
exacted from the farming (the producing)
class which are made possible by high taxa
ton that keeps out competition and leaves the
home market a prey to those who would grind
the farmer while there is anything left to him
to exact. No one should desire more than
fair profit, and their is neither sense nor Wis
dom in crushing the consumer-in killing the
goose that lays the golden egg. When agri-
culture is depressed manufacturing must Ian
guish, and the more farming is depressed the
greater must be the depression in manufac-
turing interests.
High taxation will not enrich people.
You cannot benefit man by taking his money
away from him. Yet the Republican plan to
make people prosperous is by doing that very
thing-by raising tariff taxes to point that
competition is killed. Competition among
domestic industries is avoided by the forma-
ton of trusts, limiting production and main
tanning excessive profits.
No industry should be put in position by
federal laws to prey upon the people. 1t is
neither constitutional nor right, and the only
way the people can protect themselves from
unjust exactions by monopolies and trusts is
to oppose by their votes party whose eardi-
nal principle is Protection, and sustain the
one that believes in taxation for revenue
only. Any tariff is necessarily protective,
and tariff that will produce enough revenue
for the legitimate expenses of government
will be ample protection for any industry.
Those that cannot exist under a revenue tariff
have no excuse for existing and should close
up.
In conclusion | will state that the Sentinel
must look elsewhere than the Oakland Wooden
Mills for evidence that triumph of Mckinley
and Protection has produced prosperity.