The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1906-04-12
SOMETHING FOR STOND PATTERS TO
CONSIDER
And for American Citizens who buy Watches
to think about

Rainey Of Illinois, in congress. No
comment is necessary. We only de-
sire to say that he could have taken
up fifty other commodities and made
the same speech. Now let the Paynes,
the Grosvernors and the McClearys
get busy and do the explaining act.
''There is tariff on watches-a
tariff that is practically prohibitive.
We produce in this country from
$4,000, 900 to $1s,OOO,OOO worth of
watches every year; we import into
this county less than 100000 worth
of watches annually, nearly all of the
imported watches coming from Switzer-
land. The specific and ad valorem
duties on watches and watch cases
amount practically to nearly so per
cent of their value. The watchmakers
of the United States are practically
entirely free from competition. The
Swiss movements that are brought in
to the country every year are the more
expensive grades of movements; they
come here because there has been es-
tablished trade for them.
Trust Fixes Priees2
"Two or three years ago Mr.. Charles
A. Keene of New York, commenced to
buy American watches abroad at the
export price. He accumulated over
100000 worth of watches purchased
at the foreign price before he COM
menced to advertise his goods.
until tho Dingley tariff went into
effect we had one price for American
made watches at home and the
price prevailed abroad. Soon
that time the American watch trust
was formed. They will probably deny
that there is watch trust, but they
own each others stock, they fix the
same price here and the same price
abroad on the same grade of goods.
They are exact from retailers the same
contract as to the minimum price for
watches.
"Under the contracts an Elgin
for less price than $35. Mr.. Keene
advertises this movement for $25.38.
might continue the comparison, but
have called attention to the contrast
in prices sufficiently, perhaps to raise
the question as to how this enterpris-
ing American jeweler can make these
prices.
"The reason for it is simply this:
American-made goods can be re-em-
ported free of duty if they come back
in the same condition they were when
they went abroad, and if they have
not been advanced in value or i'm
proved upon while abroad.
Others Profit Too.
"Mr. Keene simply buys American
watches abroad, upon which jobber
in some capital of Europe has made
profit and perhaps retailer also has
made profit; he buys watches upon
which the freight has been paid across
the Atlantic and pays freight on them
back to New York and, with all these
items added, he is able to sell the
watches he brings back, from 25 to so
per cent cheaper than the American
retailer can possibly sell the same
goods. 1t is easy to reimport watches.
The name of the maker is stamped
upon them and they can be easily
identified as American-made goods.
"The movement in this watch (hold-
ing up sample) is 16-size, 17-jewel
Riverside, made by the Waltham COM
pany. 1t was bought by Manchester
watch dealer from the London agent of
the Waltham company for 80 shillings
1912 in American gold). This same
grade of movement costs the largest
dealer in America. all discounts off,
$17.35. This is one of the movements
which it is impossible, by the iron-clad
agreement for him to sell to the con-
sumner for less than S25. This grade of
movement can be purchased from Mr..
Keene for 1859 as long as the stock
lasts.
Cali watches are numbered. This
WdUCu Is 1OcC6tOts uC
book of the Waltham company will
show that this watch was sold abroad.
l challenge the company to produce
the books and prove the contrary.
Challenges DeniaIs.
81 have here an Elgin watch, made
in Elgin, Ill. The movement is 16-
size, 15-jewel movement; the case is
2O-year Keystone James Boss brand of
goods. This watch was sold in South
America for $40 complete; it costs the
American jeweler to buy this complete
watch SLAP with all discounts off.
The ordinary American retailer sells it
for $17. Mr.. Keene sells it for 1918.
The number of this movement is 11078-
O7S. I challenge the Elgin Watch
company, or any member who desires
to represent it on this floor, to disprove
anything l have said about il"
Mr.. Raiuey made similar compare
sons on a dozen or more different
watches, in each instance giving the
makers name, the price, and the
number of the watch. He continued:
"Under these circumstances, who