The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-04-05
Washington Letter.
Especial Correspondence. !

Especial Correspondence
! WASHINGTON, March 20, 1900. Coal
miners are striking in Saxony and Bohe-
mia and thew teach a lesson that should
not be lost on American wage earners.
| The United States consular agent at
Ebenstock, Mr. Ernest L. Harris, writes
| that .sif the strikers hold out for any
/ length of time many manufacturer will
/ be unable to fill his orders, and the poor
people of the country will be brought
! face to face with distress and want" Con-
sui Hughes, of Coburg, says that ''prices
of all local goods are bound TO go up.
The various branches of the trades are
| having meetings to increase the cost for
exports, and American buyers will find
products higher in price than they were
! last year and the delivery time much
longer If the foreign manufacture ers
cannot fill American orders, then so much
the better for American manufacturers.
| 1nversely, a strike in this country that
checks our production simply plays into
the hands of the foreign manufacturer
and merchant, besides bringing our wage
earners face to face with distress and
WANT
According to the Moniteur Officiel du
Commerce, an official publication of the
French government, the Philippine market
received, prior to the Spanish A merican
War, all sorts of articles from England,
Spain, France, Belgium, etc. The United
States, whose exports to those islands had
been relatively of very insignificant i'm
portance, has since taken a prominent
! place in the victualling of Manila, which
place is daily growing commercially. The
| hISlnpSS M IF 70 MT he
OF observation, become convinced that, in
order to hold their own against the Ameri-
can competitor, they would have to re-
plenish part of the stock of trade with
American goods, so that now one can see
! in all the stores of Manila, besides the
foreign goods formerly imported, also a
number of articles which the American
manufacturers try to introduce in large
quantities.
Writing of one of the latest British free
trade trusts--the wall paper combine
Consul Wilbour, of Dublin, says that it
compels every dealer to buy all stock
from the trust, and to sell no other for ten
years. He adds that 'Some dealers are
| skeptical as to the ability of the combina-
ton to mantaiu monopoly and keep
prices firm. The prices have not been
ma terially advanced (perhaps ) to Is per
cent?, except on low grade goods. In
these goods the percentage of advance is
greater. In order for American wall pa
| per to compete, it would seem to be neces-
sary for the makers in the United States
| to come to some agreement with the com
bination." The effect of the free trade
| trust would, therefore, seem to be an alb
/ solute monopoly of the British market at
/ higher prices, and to compel American
manufacturers to enter into a deal with
/ Englishmen or lose their export trade.
! Comptroller Dawes and his force are
working at high pressure to meet the de-
mands for new bank notes and the trans
| fer of one class of bonds in place of
another to secure circulation. 1t is now
quite apparent that the new financial act
| is going to furnish IA considerable increase
in the money in circulation, and in such
| form that its reliability and safety can
never be questioned.
Action on the subject of ''trusts'' is to
be taken by the sub committee of the
House Judiciary Committee. which has
been appointed by Chairman Ray. The
Republican leaders are anxious to go on
record on this subject during the present
session of Congress, but they find it diff
cult to devise a plan which will be effec-
tive and yet within constitutional limits.
1t is possible that an amendment to the
Constitution may be recommended, giving
Congress plenary power over corpora
lions.
1t is believed that the Filipinos will
make a strong effort to hold out against
Uncle Sam forces until November, a.
they have been told that Bryan will be the
next President. A special cable, in the
st. Louis Globe. Democrat, of March 20
brings this fact out strongly and clearl,
and has attracted considerable attention
in Was hingtou. The st. Louis Republic
(Democratic), in its issue of March 18th
shows the 'trightful condition of Filipi
nos under insurgent Iule,' and their utter
untitnesS to govern themselves. much less
those foreigners whose business interests
have led them to settle in the islands
Bishop Potter, who went to Manila a con-
filmed anti-expansionist has returned
fully convinced that America can give the
islands much improved government, anc
he has shelved his former views.
The South is helping largely to build
up our favorable trade balance this yeal
through it's exports of cotton, which has
recently been quoted at nearly 10 cents a
pound in New York. This will add to
the money value of our foreign trade, i'm
prove the condition of Southern farmers.
and generally tend to increase prosperity
elsewhere through the more liberal pur-
chases that Southern States will make in
the East and West.
His New Brother.