The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-02-06

relief. 1t is only necessary to put an
end to the existing protectionist con-
troll of congress. Let us re-examine, in
a brief and general way, some Of the
facts which have already been set forth
in these letters.
THE TIN PLATE TRUST.
The tin plate trust is one in whose
operations nearly every one is interest
ed. The prices of the plates effect the
prices of a large number Of domestic
articles, pans, pals, etc, of the cans in
which articles of food are preserved, Of
roofing tin, and large number of other
useful and essential things. Several
years ago a tariff tax was imposed up
on this article for the purpose of build
| ing up the industry" The tax was
| heavy. The industry was created. 1t
| is now controlled by a trust. It's mill
prorerty-40 plants-can be duplicated
for $6,OOO,0O0. The total assets of the
trust, on Mr.. Byron w. Hollis calcula-
ton, at it's foundation, aggregated be-
tween $10,000,000 and $12,0000OO. The
| trust paid S36 100000 in common and
| preferred stock for the plants-at least
| three times their value. The promo
ters' retained $10,000,000 of common
stock for their services. The capital of
the trust is $50,00000O It's outstanding
stock is worth $26,000,0OO. 1t controls
the whole business of manufacturing
| tin plates, and It has closed 80 mills.
It's profits are very large. 1t has in
creased the New York price of box of
American tin plate of 100 pounds, from
$3.50, the pri ce in November 1898, when
| the trust was formed, to $4S5, the price
| in September 1899. It is enabled to do
this by the tariff tax of $1.50 per box.
In September, 1899, English tin plate
would have been land de in New York
at $3.65 per box. Adding the duty the
price would be $5.15. The trust put it's
price 30 cents below this, Gas high as
it could without incurring competition
from importations of the lighter
weight), but on 100 lb. tin plates the
consumer paid $120 wholly on account
of the tariff
Mr.. Holt estimates the cost Of Great
ing this industry since 1891, at from $780,
| 100000 to $S4,OOOOOO to the wholesalers,
and at about $100,0O0,0OO to the con-
sumner. The trust, besides imposing so
great burden on the country by ruin
ing thousands of shops has oppressed
| the laborer and the farmer BY reason
factories have been forced to lower
wages, and to reduce the price paid to
farmers for fruits and vegetables
Farmers. laborers and consumers are
the victims Of this tariff protected
combination.
THE STEEL AND WIRE TRUST.
Let us examine one or more of these
combinations whose operations are
ms hNrf he fn, fox
| for it's protection. Builders, farmers,
| mechanics, and all who have occasion
to use nails or wire are deeply in
| terested in the American Steel e. Wire
| company. It's manager Mr.. John W.
| Gates, is one of the products of the
| time. He is absolutely unconscious Of
any valid objection to the extraction by
| the government of millions of dollars
from the pockets of the people, If his
business is only increased thereby Last
November he appeared before the
Industrial Commission as a witness
Mr.. John Dewitt Warner, who has ana
lyzed this concern with his usual
lucidity and thoroughness, seems to be
astonished that Mr.. Gates did not blush
at his own admissions. Why should Mr.
Gates blush? He does not know evil
when he sees it. He is of the spawn of
the protective system. He is ignorant
that he is making a confession when
he says that the mendicant of which he
is manager obtained it's aims under
false representations. He forgets, for
the moment, that his concern pretends
to exist for the benefit of the country
and that its protection is to cheaper
prices. He forgets that 1.-The tariff has
nothing to do with or for trusts" and
he admits all the accusations against
him and his kind with pleasurable
pride and suggests that if the tax
bearers will only permit a further rob-
berry to be perpetrated upon them, in
the form of direct bounty, the IRON
masters of the United States will do
about 80 per cent of the iron and steel
trade Of the world. And perhaps the
American people will be glad to contri-
butte a few more millions out of their
earnings to make the happy iron
masters happier still.
Mr. Warner is my authority for facts
and figures which 1 take from his let
ter recently published in this series. The
present trust" was formed in 1899.
1t succeeded other trusts. It's capital
Is $90,OOO,0O0 and it's assets less than
$40, 100000. 1t will be observed that
these tariff defended trusts always ex-
pect to make profit enough to pay
fixed per cent or 7, on preferred stock,
value of the business and profit, and a
dividend of as much more, or even a
greater amount of common stock. This
trust has a monopoly of wire rods,
drawn wire, barbed wire, wire nails,
and almost controls the manufacture of
woven wire fencing, of which 1t manu-
factured about 10000 miles in 1898.
Under the tariff the trust has raised
prices enormously. For example: The
average yearyl "base"price of wire nails
per keg has increased since 1894 from
Sill to $2.60-the present price being
1888; and the price of barbed wire from
$1.S0 in 1897 to $317 in 1S99-the present
price being Sab. The profits of the
trust run from $S,0OO,OOO to $4,000 900
year, the increase of price being nearly
all profit. 1t has however by it's in
crease of prices, greatly reduced the
consumption of wire fencing, and in