New-York tribune., 1902-10-13
ROEBLLNG GIVES 1T THE LIE.
HE SHOWS THE FALSITY or STATE
MENTS IN DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN
BOOK REGARDING WIRE ROPE.
IRY rELEGRApH TO rHr TRIBUNE-

Trenton. y. J, Oct l2-.The True American
one OF the most strongly Democratic newspapers
in the STATE. Will publish tomorrow statement
from Ferdinand ". Roebling. treasurer of the
John A Roeblng's Sons Company. givlns the lie
70 numerous assertions in the Democratic cam
paign book issued from Washington by the Demo
cratic Congressional Committee In this book
under the caption. The Wire Rope Trust, the
Roebling company is charged with Being the prin-
cipal party 10 a gentleman's agreement or pool
20 keep up prices in this country and reduce them
10 the export trade Taking the book as a text.
Democratic Congress candidates IN the state have
been advancing the argument that the taTin on
wire rope is an iniquitoUs imposition the Amert-
can people and enforced only for the benefit of the
trust.
In reply 10 this. MIR. Roebnng IN MS statement
SAYS.
This campaign article prepared by business
competitor is 50 fun ot unmitigated lies that il IS
scarcely worthy OF notice The statement that
American manufacturers sell their wire ropes for
export all over the world for from one-han 20
one-third Of the prices charged domestic con-
sumers is a deliberate falsehood the facts being
that there Is practically no difference. and that
prices for export az present higher than those
charged the larger American consumers.
Export wire ropes extremely limited IN
quantity, and the trade does not exist where Amer
team manufacturers compete for anything but
business which calls for immediate execution and
prompt delivery available from the United States
rather than abroad, or where the rope IS sold IN
| connection with American built machinery. or
where II Is believed that the American product is
better than the foreign
4 Nj. Roeblins comments on the omission from the
campaign book Of the name Of Democrat high
| in the councils OF that party. who is one % the
most prominent Agures in the so-called trust
He adds 1t IS perhaps fair 20 assume that he
OF his company did not contribute any part % the
800 On alleged 70 have been given 20 the Repub-
| liean campaign fund but did contribute literally
Fka f.r rlaa Of 7azf
| ing his own investments in manufacturing prop
| critics"
The compiler os the tables has taken the precau-
/ ton continues Mr.. Roebtng, TO avoid the in
/ portant item % dates. and one is left 70 judge
whether some OF The prices named are those of to-
day or I'VE years ago. The first table processes 70
| give present prices OF English wire comparing
! them with American selling prices az Liverpool II
made appear that the latter are from thirteen
| 20 twenty-five per cent less than the English
prices Il must be evident every sensible person
/ that difference of ~ or, al most 3 per cent
would be sufficient 10 secure the trade Perhaps
afl -r,.r--ise eTS is 5fsfrih,ltTs bis an gotten
gains among the foreigners. rather than al home
cost of American wire rope delivered in England
sTiEgiEg Il back payes . eI'y ~ o sb sG iT poBa
This is 50 novel as a method of demonstratlng
nrres are those Of an infant prodigy or an escaped
lUnatic. The principal tables profess 10 make
American and English rope This selection is IN
fortunate. because The American kind IS least used
and sold while the EIsIlsh lIslA1. -.ie
bulk of the English trade. The American goods
comprised IN these tables are made Trcm ne high
eSt grade Of Siernens-Martn steel, Whlle me EnE-
lish goods brought forward for comparison are the
cheapest and lowest grade possible 70 produce, be-
ing made OF either puddled iron or me cheapest
steel
when il is attempted TO demonstrate facts by
figures IL s necessary 70 have an mat applies
Price lists are given. but only those ot manuiact-
goods are used il is a well known fact that sell
ing prices of English manufacturers vary from
9O - Il uer cent on rome said 20 be OF uniform
quality. The various comparative tables brought
forth would have a very different appearance IL
they were based the selling prices OF an Eng
his Goods They Wol Ia hardly be used for an argu-
ment.
ITO helm out a lame argument. the manufacture
of ne pronosed Pacific submarine cable Is dragged
in Not one OF tho manufacturers named IN the
canDaicn book has the slightest interest IN this
the great item of cost being gutta perCha. and the
second the copper conductor; and any American
manufacture would be free 10 use any foreign
material paying duty. because he would be en-
Titled 10 a drawback Of the duty paid"