The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1900-07-04
THE TIN PLATE TRADE
500, 100000 SAVED TO THE
UNITED STATES.
No Longer at the Mercy of the Welsh
Trust Which Was Independent or
Our Laws and Contributed Nothing
to Our Revenue.

TO our AeVeuuee
"The manufacture Of tin plate in the
United States was created by the NC
Kinley tariff Of 1890, the particular
section relating to tin and tin plate
going into effect on July 1, 1884, said
Gen. Dick, secretary Of the Republic
an national committee,
"From that date until the end OF
1899 we have produced in this country
,4O4, $50 tons Of an article for when
there is great demand here and which
both our late president, Mr. Cleveland,
and the Democratic prospective Presl-
dent, Mr.. Bryan, declared could never
be made in the United States.
under the Mckinley tariff Of ~
cents per pound, our tin plate Industry
thrived. 1t was permitted to exist I'M
der the Wilson bill, with a duty OF LIZ
cents per pound, but it would not have
lived under the Wilson bill had not
manufacturers been enabled to run
their plants at lower cost, partly due
to the cheapness Of wages, ana parity
due to the cheapness Of raw material,
both conditions Of cheapness being pro-
ducts Of the Democratic free-trade
tariff,
"Stimulated again by the Dingley pro-
tective tariff, the tin plate industry now
gives employment to thousands OF
workers at wages much higher even
than those paid under the Mckinley
tariff of 1890. Consumers, moreover,
are buying their tin plate at much low
er prices than before the enactment OF
the Mckinley law.
Immediately preceding the estaD'
.lishment Of this industry in 1891, we
paid to the Welsh manufacturers al
most $2600O,OO for their tin plate. Our
average imports had been at the rate or
$2O,OOO,OOO a year. Last year we I'M
ported less than 100000 worth, SO
that there has been saved to this coun-
try upward Of $1OO,OOO000 at least
through the establishment Of the tin
plate industry.
COLLECTION is made by our Democrat
ic friends to the tin plate industry be-
cause there has been an advance In It's
price in the last two years. But this
advance has been less than the average
advance of iron and steel articles, and
it is fully in harmony with advances In
the cost Of raw materials, and with the
advance in the price Of tin plate in
Wales.
Another objection made by the Dem
ocrats to the tin plate industry is that
it is now controlled by trust, but they
never made any objection to the con-
troll of our market by the British tin
| plate trust before the establishment
Of our own industry.
1.-THE tin plate trade in Wales Is reg
ulated by the manufacturers, and
every pound of their product is sold
through one selling agent, no matter to
what part Of the world it may be ship
ped. There was no getting away from
the prices that the tin plate trust want
CO to charge. They eXtorted from us
whatever products they saw fit, and the
Democratic party fought tooth and nail
when the Republicans attempted to di-
vert the profits Of this business into our
own channels.
Admitting that there is tin plate
trust, is it still not better that our re-
| quirements should be filled by trust
in this country, rather than by trust
in Wales? The American trust Is sub
ject to American laws. 1t pays Ameri-
| hn init Oh,
ject to our laws, and contributes not
cent to our system Of taxation or rev.
| enue.
Another reason why, it seems to
me, an American tin plate trust is bet
ter than a Welsh tin plate trust is be-
cause the American institution has
built factories here, has created a de,
mand for building material and for ma
cAinery. The Welsh tin plate trust
buys it's building material and ma
chinery in England Still another. and
the most important reason why the
American tin plate trust is more adj
vantageous to us than the Welsh tin
plate trust is because the American con-
Germ employees thousands and thou
sands Of men here, paying them among
the highest rates Of wages that are re-
ceived by any wage earners in this
country. The Welsh tin plate trust. on
the other hand, employees English la
Dor, paying low wages, which are spent
in Wales, whereas the earnings of our
workmen are spent right here at home,
creating a demand for the products Of
our farms and other factories.
Naturally the Democrats do not like
anything that even suggests prosperity
for their country. Mr.. Bryan. their
leader, is for free trade, and should he
be nominated for and elected to the Of
fee of President this year, then the
American tin plate manufacturers. and
the workers in those mills, can rest as
sured that every effort will be made
by the Democratic party to strike a
blow at the American tin plate indus
try, which will divert an annual bust
ness of at least $4,000. 600 info +bo