The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-07

say, probably referring to an article
which appeared in the Intelllgencer a
few days since:
A Republican paper boasts that nine
years ago. under Democratic rule, there
was no tin plate manufactured in this
country. While to-day there Is a tin
capital OF $4,000, 900. II there 10 any
thing particularly creditable, or COM
mendable, to the Republican party in
this changed condition, the plain people
cannot detect 1t. Nine years ago the
American people were buying a better
quality Of tin plate so per cent cheaper
than they are to-day. Now II there are
more people interested in the manufac-
ture OF tin plate than there are in buying
It, then there 10 room for congratula-
ton.
There is everything particularly
credltable, and commendable" to the
Republican party in the fact that when,
nine years ago. there being no tin plate
made in this country. the Democratic
press and leaders said that no tariff
whatever could encourage such an In
dustry, because tin plate could not be
made in the United States" 1t went
right ahead and demonstrated that the
article could not only be made here. but
that a protective duty would build up a
new industry that would keep in this
country the millions Of dollars then go
ing to Great Britain annually for our
supply.
The purpose of the article referred to
by the Gazette was to show that this
confidence was rewarded by the perma-
nent establishment of the industry the
Gazette's party said could not exist, and
the fact that $1,000 American workmen
are now employed in producing what
was being produced by cheap labor In
Wales. 1t is not true that the tin plate
we are making is inferior to that which
was imported. The Gazette perhaps
does not know that our British friends
admit quite the contrary. 1t is not true
that we are paying fifty per cent more
for the product than we were paying
for, the Imported article. The tin plate
quotations in the daily markets show
our home products lower than imported
tin. The public is not protesting against
the fact that this enormous Industry
has been built up in the United States
within nine years. The free traders
even dropped that idea long since.
According to the Gazette's logic, not
only should the tin plate industry be ex-
communicated from this country. but
all our steel and iron industries, and
every other manufacturing enterprise
that produces articles in which more
People-are interested in buying than in
manufacturing" No Industry or mer-
camille establishment could exist under
any other condition. The absurdity Of
that argument could be no more so than
to say that there are more people ''ln-
terested" In reading the Gazette than
there are In printing and publishing It.
1t is not true that tin plate workers
are not receiving good wages. The re-
verse Of the case is true. The Gazette
is wholly unfamiliar with the tin plate
situation, and ought to know that con-
ference on the tin plate wage scale for
skilled mechanics is to be held to-day in
Chicago by committees of the Amalga-
mated Association of Iron and Steel
Workers and the American Tin Plate
Company, which the Gazette terms a
trust; that 1t is expected that an agree
ment will be reached and all the mills
win resume in few days. 1t should
know that $4,000 of the $4,000 employees
have already been granted 20 per cent
wage advance.
The Gazette does not want to see this
great Industry quit, resumption Of the
consumption of foreign tin plate, follow
ing the throwing out Of employment
Of $4,000 American wage-workers. IT is
engaging in pure political demagogy.