Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-07-14
new TARIFF AIDS
POTTERY PLANTS
Manufacturers Who Saw Ruin
In Underwood Rates Find
Business Has Grown
UNDER THE NEW TARIFF
Ohio Potteries Flourishing as
Never Before. More Kilns
and Increased Orders

WASHINGTON. July 1O.-When the
Underwood tariff bill was before Con
gress one of the loudest protests
against it was made by representatives
of the pottery industry. They con
tended that the Underwood rates
would ruin their business and drive
them into bankruptcy.
Chief among those who set up this
claim were the pottery makers of East
Liverpool, Ohio, and vicinity. East
Liverpool is in the 18th Ohio con
gressional district, which for many
years was represented in the house
ry the late President Mckinley. Its
representative at the time of the pas
sage of the Underwood bill was, and
still is, John ]. Whitacre, consistent
Democrat. In both of his campaigns
Mr.. Whitacre was forced to face the
charge that the Democratic policy
would ruin the pottery industry.
When the pottery tariff question was
raised, Congressman Whitacre pro
posed that the pottery owners throw
open their books for the inspection Of
government agents. His idea was tC
obtain accurate data as to the cost ol
manufacture, and with this informa
ton as a basis, fix a competitive tariff
rate on pottery. This solution OF the
problem so impressed Secretary Red
field, of the department Of commerce
and labor, that he not only ordered
agents of the government to inspect
the books of the poteries, but similar
investigations were undertaken in
tther indust les.
The interesting thing now is that
the Democratic tariff reduction did not
destroy the pottery industry, but, in
fact. stimulated it as never before
Today the calamity bowler in East
Liverpool and other pottery towns Ii
laughed at, for the simple reason thai
the potteries are enjoying the greatest
run of business in the history of tht
industry as proven by the following
statements contained in Republican
newspapers in the pottery district
The Sebring Times (Republican) re
Gently said:
"The past two weeks hold the recor'
for the biggest output of pottery in tn
history of Sebring. Fifty-four CLOS
kilns were made during that time, an'
the most gratifying feature is that thu
ware is not going into stock. but is be
ing used to fill orders and is bein'
shipped as soon as made"
China, Glass and Lamps, the journa
of the pottery trade, published in Pitts
burgh, in a recent issue said:
"Neyer before in the history of tn
American potting industry have ther'
been so many kilns in use or so man.
lotteries in active operation. All tn
general ware plants are beng rushed
to the limit to fill orders on hand ant
take care of new business bein!
booked. Large forces of operatives ar
working and shipments are create
than ever before in the history of tn
trade"
The East Liverpool Review, Re
publican paper printed in East Liver
pool, Ohio, the center Of the potter,
industries. says:
Business in the domestic potterie
continues ever better than was eS
pected the first of the year, and ther
is not a general ware plant in tn
country without orders on its book
and in sight to keep it in steady opel
alton until the summer shutdown
But, as uusal, there is a fly in tn
ointment. 1t is the lack of competen
workmen."
In the issue of May IA, the Eas
Liverpool News.Review, says:
"A seven-kiln pottery plant. moder
in every respect. will be erected a
Clarksburg. w. Va. during the nea
few months by the McNichol Chin
Co., of this city, to be operated entir'
ly separate from the local plant. Tn
structure will represent an inves
ment Of nearly $125.00O."
The same paper on May IA said:
I'VE have it from the lips of loc'
real estate man that East Liverpot
reeds 500 new houses to meet tn
present demand. There is absolutel
not a house vacant that Is fit fe
occupancy, and the only source
relief for the newcomers is to bu
homes outright. The large influx
newcomers must be provided wit
shelted."