The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-09-20

MT. rranKl0 IlerCe, OF f1Ouef, N. T.,
has written the following letter to the
New York Evening Post:
In recent editorial on Mr.. Bryan's
speech, you say as to Trusts: "Any
one desiring to tell the truth would say
that the responsibility for them does
not attach to any party-that, however
bad they may be, they are the out.
growth Of modern conditions of trade,
aud are without political bias, except as
democrats have made rather noisier at
tacks upon them. and have thus caused
them to lean rather towards the repnb-
licans."
Dik6LEY BILL AND TRUSTS.
Is this not new doctrine on the part
of the Evening Post? Have you not,
for the last twenty years, until recent
iy, been assailing the republican party
as the sole author of protective tariffs,
and do you mean to say to your readers
that the Mckinley bill and the Dingley
bill have not greatly aided in the forna.
tion of trusts? True is that individ.
ual members of congress, protesting the
democratic faith have from time TO time
voted for protective tariffs under cir.
cumstances quite suspicious in their
nature, and strongly Indicating that
they were induced by arguments which
caLnot he combated. But has the dem.
ocratic party, as a party, during the
last ten years, favored protective tariff?
Would you haye your readers believe
for a moment that a great proportion of
the trusts are not direct result of pro-
tectlve tariffs? Are you really sincere
in Saying any one desiring to tell the
truth would say that the responsibility"
for these trusts attaches to the demo-
cratic party equally with the republican
party? Let ns see whether the facts
justify your statement referred to
above.
TARIFF AND TIN pLATE.
The Mckinley tatift imposed duties Of
2 ;5scents par pound npons imported
tin plate; this duty was reduced BY the
Wilson bill to l.5 cents per pound, },
and was Increased by the Dingley bill
to i cents per pound. From 1880 up
till 1899 our people paid increased prices
for tin plate, by reason Of tariff, of at.
least 500, ,OOO,OO If an industry could
become established by reason Of protec-
tive tariffs. surely tin plate presents a
fair illustration. Under the Wilson
tariff, great profits were made by the
manufacturers Of tin plate, though some
considerable decrease in the selling
price Of tin plate has been made.
In November, 1898, trust was estab-
lished. The trust came into existence
for the purpose of avalline itself to the
fullest extent of the Dingley tariff. At
that time 100 pounds of tin plate could
be purchased in the market for $3.50,
but. protected against foreign competi-
ton, within one year the trust increased
its price to 81 .85. You know, and every
one knows that this could not have
been done but for the Dingley duty Of
"A
81 SO box upon.tin plate.
PROTECTION AND ExToRTIoN.s
Do you say for one moment that the
democratic party is responsible for these
extortions. Do you believe for one
moment that this trust could have in.
creased the price from $3.50 box for
tin plate to $4.85 without the existence
Of the tariff? The duty on tin has been
the especial pride Of the republican
party. In all these years the democrat
c party has fought in every manner the
existence of duties upon tin plate, and
yet you say to your readers that "any.
one desiring to tell the truth" would
say that the responsibility" for >this
"does not attach to any party"
Since 1851 high duties have prevailed
upon glass. The Wilson tariff reduced
it to 80 per cent. The duty under the
Mckinley bill was about two cents per
pound, or between 80 and 100 per cent.
UP GOES GLASS.
In October, 1899, the American Win.
dow Glass company, q trust corporation
with $l7, ,OOO, 600 capital, was formed.
1t owns factories with capacity of
about l 800 pots, out Of a possible ca.
pacity of 1900 pots. This trust pro-
tected by the Dingley bill from foreign
competition, has greatly increased the
price Of glass. It is one of the Oldest
infant industries nurtured by the re.
publican tariffs and it could not con-
tinue prevailing prices for a day without
the aid cf the tariff. From 1860 to 1890
under this high tarff, prices Of glass in
this country declined only an average
of 8 per cent, while foreign prices de-
clined 81 per cent. from 1869 to 1890.
and prices to-day are higher than in
1850, for ordinary sizes. viii the Eve
ming Post say the Window Glass Trust
| is not a direct result Of the Mckinley
and Dingley tariffsY Has the democrat
ic party, as q party, ever been regarded
as q friend Of glass manufacturers?
STEEL WIRE AND THE TARilsF.
In January, 1899, the American Steel
and Wire Company, 4 trust with $9O..
! 600 600 capital was formed It owned
4 fha rjcheat ora minas IN the Meaahe