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About The Loup City northwestern. (Loup City, Neb.) 189?-1917 | View Entire Issue (June 12, 1903)
DFE TO PROTECTION FACTS REGARDING DOMESTIC PLATE GLASS MANUFACTURE. In Spite of Wages Twice as High as in England and Three Times as High as in Belgium the Cost to the Consumer Has Been Greatly Low ered. A Republican member of Congress from Minnesota lias forwarded to the American Economist a postal card which has been circulated all over the State of Minnesota and has been printed in many newspapers. It has also found its way into print outside of Minnesota, the Republican of Springfield, Mass., having recently used It as the text of an editorial ad verse to protection. The postal card emanates from a Minneapolis business house, and is as follows: “If there was no duty to be paid on imported plate glass, based on to day's market, an ordinary store front would cost $100, f. o. b. Minneapolis. The same store front, with the present tariff added, costs $275, the consumer being obliged to pay $175 extra for duty, which the “protection” given to the trust. As plate glass is manu factured entirely by machines, no skilled labor entering therein (and machines are operated about as cheap in America aB in Europe), it must be clear to any one that the trust Is not entitled to such enormous and unrea sonable “protection” as it has at pres ent at the expense of the consumers of plate glass. Your truly, "Foreman, Ford & Co.” This is the customary form of argu ment chosen by free traders as a rea son for urging the removal of the pro tective tariff from all competitive im ports. In the case of plate glass there is a semblance of truth on the surface of the statement that if there was no duty to be paid, a store front which now costs $275 would cost $100 in Min neapolis. Undoubtedly the store front would be cheaper without a tariff than with a tariff—to begin with. But how long would it stay cheaper? That is the question. Twenty-five years ago, before a protective tariff had helped to establish that iudustry, we imported all our plate glass. It sold then at an average of $2.50 per square foot. To day the average price per square foot Is forty cents. With the cost of labor in the United States twice as high as creased from 368.797 square feet In 1898 to 1,590.350 square teet in 1900. The American railroads, strangely in sympathy with foreign production, help along the dumping ground and cut price game by charging 25 cents per 100 pounds more on plate glass shipped from Pittsburg to Minneapolis than on plate glass shipped from Ant werp in Belgium to Minneapolis—that Is, they charge twenty-five cents per 100 pounds more for a haul of 1,000 miles than for a haul of 5,000 miles. See testimony before the Inter-State Commerce Commission, January, 1903. They are charging precisely the same rate on domestic glass that they charged when the selling price was four or five times higher than it is. This rank robbery and discrimination is an additional reason why domestic plate glass makers need a protective tariff to enable them to compete with foreigners. The -ate in the Dingley tariff on all sizes of plate glass from 24x30 inches up is precisely the rate in the Wilson Democratic free trade tariff of 1894. On these sizes the existing rate of duty is 2V4 to 15 cents per square foot lower than the McKinley tariff rate of 1S90. As to trust monopoly in plate glass production the case is very different from what It is generally supposed to be. Three years ago the Pittsburg Plate Glass company produced about 72 >4 per ctnt, of our domestic plate glass. Then there were but three “in dependent” factories. To-day that number has increased to twelve, and the percentage of the Pittsburg com pany lias been cut down to probably less than 60 per cent of the total out put. To-day six-sevenths of the plate glass used in this country is supplied by domestic labor and industry. To the extent of six-sevenths the republic is doing its own work in the produc tion of plate glass, and is employing thousands of American workmen at wages twice as high as the wages paid in England, and more than three times as high as the wages paid in Belgium. And the price of plate glass to-day is about one-sixth what It was prior to the establishment of the industry in the United States through the opera tion of a protective tariff. If the enormous discounts which European makers grant on exports to this country were abolished; if the selling price for export were the same that it is for local consumption in Europe, instead of being one-half; and if American railroads were not in a DOMESTIC TRADE THE REAL KING. it is in Great Britain and three times as high as it is in Belgium—the exact figures in support of this statement may be found in the testimony taken before the Industrial Commission in December, 1900—abolish the protec tive tariff, and who would make the plate glass consumed in the United States? Answer: It would be made in countries whore wages are one-half or one-third what they are in the United States. Either that, or the American wage rate would have to be reduced to one-half or one-third of what it now is. It is, after all, almost wholly a question of wages. The Minneapolis postal card seeks to convey the im pression that the labor cost in plate glass making is a minor quantity, practically a negligible quantity, since the work is done “entirely by ma chines.” This is a flagrant perversion of the truth. The wage cost in plate glass manufacture is 48 per cent of the total cost of production, as sworn to before the Industrial Commission. We have said that in the absence of a protective tariff the selling price of plate glass in the United States would probably bo reduced, to begin with. How long would lower prices remain after all the mills making plate glass In this country were closed up? Before we had any mills the foreigners charged us five or six times what we now pay for plate glass. They did the same thing with tin plate before pro tection gave us our tin plate mills. They would do It again if home pro duction were crushed out of existence by the removal of the tariff. Just now the foreigners are selling plate glass very cheaply In the United States. All the foreign factories are operating on an agreed plan, where under great discounts are granted on exports to the United States. For ex ample, while the discount, on Belgian polished plate glass sent to England is 10 per cent off the list price, on Bel gian glass exported to the United States the discount is 40 and 5 per cent., making a difference in price of 58 per cent. In France the local price of polished plate glass is at least 100 per cent higher than the price obtain ed for the same glass when shipped to the United States They make this country their dumping ground by means of cut prices, and our imports of plate glass in consequence in conspiracy to help foreigners capture this market by charging considerably less to haul plate glass from Antwerp to Minneapolis than from Pittsburg to Minneapolis—In short, if there was a fair field and no favor, there would be little ground for complaint as to the influence of the tariff on the market price of plate glass. As the case stands there is little ground for complaint so far as any tariff-protected trust is concerned. There is an abundance of competition in plate glass production, and in view of the heavy advances that have taken place in wages and the cost of raw materials, current prices of plate glass would not seem to be excessive or unreasonable. This country is making Its own plate glass and it will keep on doing it.—Ameri can Economist. Not Very Broad Ground. It is probably a demonstrable fact that any treaty of reciprocity that could be negotiated would injure some industries in the United States. The question is whether we would derive compensating benefits to an extent sufficient to warrant the sacrifice. On this question radical differences of opinion are bound to exist, even among protectionists. The preponder ance of opinion in the Senate (and no doubt throughout the country) is clearly against the ratification of these treaties. The Cuban treaty appears to be the only one which has any real fightirg chance for ratification, and tiie fate of that, as we have said, Is doubtful. It will be ratified, if at all, chiefly because it is the personal de sire of the President to have it rati fied. This, it must be confessed, Is not very broad ground for action on an important question of public policy, —Los Angeles Times. Has Had a Wholesome Effect. Altogether, the effect of the tariff ut terances of the President and mem bers of his cabinet seems to have been wholesome In Iowa. There Is a pros pect that the Republicans of that State will he able to meet upon common ground at their coming convention. They should then exhibit a degree of harmony in contrast with the Kil kenny fight that the Democratic state convention will repeat over the ap proval of Bryan's Kansas City plat form.—New York Mail and Express. f WIT AND eeumoj^ Strictly Business. “So you think you will have a titled son-in-law?” "Yes,” answered Mr, Cumrox; “mother and the girls think we had better take another partner into the eonrern. My name is all right on a ■heck, but it doesn't carry any weight worth mentioning on a visiting card.” Struggling Bard. "So there are many obstacles in the poetry line,” remarked the bosom Vlend. “What do you have to be care .'ul of ” “Feet!” ejaculated the struggling poet. “Poetic feet?” “No, the editor's feet.” Contagious Only. “This fishin' fever seems to be con tagious,” said the stranger, noting the long row of anglers perched upon the creek bank. “Yes. it’s contagious, all right,” said the man who had been fishing four hours without a nibble, “but not ketchin’.” They Worried Him Greatly. “Debt," remarked the frugal man, “is a terrible thing.” “It Is,” answered the cold citizen. “Nothing annoys me more than debts.” ”1 didn't know you owed anything.” “I don't. I refer to what other peo ple owe me.” Scylla and Charybdis. "I see that they are ruling dogs out of the apartment houses in New York.” “Yes, and they’ve already ruled out children. What Is a fellow to do If he can't either be a bachelor and keep a dog or a benedict and keep a kid. Between Friends. He—Oh. I'm no fool. She—Perhaps not. but what an ex cellent understudy you would make. After the Expulsion. Eve—I’m so sorry! Adam—Too bad. It waa a fool’s j paradise.—The Smart Set. AN EASY ONE. f I,---er u i— Sunday school teacher—And when the Prophets said, "Oh, King, live forever,” what did the King do? The Dumb One—Please, ma'am, he immediately lived forever. Still in the Woods. Miss Oldun—I wish the Ixird had made me a man. Charley (iay—Perhaps he has and you haven't met him yet. Safe Horses. Nervous Party—You are sure, driv er, that those horses are perfectly safe? Driver—The horses are safe enough; hut they’re pesky, and we can never tell how safe we are when we're behind ’em.—Harvard Lampoon. Getting Rid of Him. "I am fixing up a surprise for John, but I am afraid that If he stays around the house he will discover me.” ’ That's all right. You just tie a towel around your head and ask him if he can’t stay at home to-day and help you take up the carpets.” Doesn't Miss It at AH Now. Parson—I trust, my hoy, that when Sunday comes round you never miss going to Sunday school? Johnnie—No, sir. I did some at first, but now, with skatin’ an’ coast in’ an’ Ice flshln' ter make me forget it, l never miss it at all. One May Wish. Johnny—Grandma. 1 wish you'd give me some cake. Mother—Johnny! Didn’t I tell you not to ask Grandma for cake? Johnny—1 didn't ask for anything. I’m Just wlshin’.—Catholic Standard and Times. The Explanation. Cannibal Chief—‘‘What was that I had for dinner?” Cannibal Cook—“It was a bicycle rider, your excellency.” Chief—“I thought I detected a burnt taste,” Cook—“Yes, your excellency, he was scorching when we caught him.” HE WANTED TO KNOW. !--—-----1 Little Johnnie, as he goes through the Zoological Garden)—Oh! nrn, what kind of a bird is that? The Game of Love. “It always takes two to play the eame of love,’’ she said. "Oh, I don't know,” he replied. “The orisk business which Is being done In the divorce courts seem to indicate that it is common to have three or four hands dealt around.” His Complacent View. Cadleigh—Pardon me. but it must be pretty tough to be married to a strong-minded woman. Honpeck—Oh! it has its advantages. When my wifo thinks she hears burg lars downstairs she won’t trust me to go down and investigate. / ' ' His Neighbors in the Flat. “Yes. I know of one case where ex cessive use of the piano actually caused lunacy.” “Isn't that awful! And did they lock up the unfortunate pianist?” “Of course not; they locked up the people that went crazy.” Safety in Numbers. Branniran—Come home an’ teck supp°r wld me. Flannigan. Klannigan—Shore, it’s past yer sup per time, now; yer wife'll be mad as a hatter. Brannlgan—That’s jist It; she can't J'ck the two of us. Threw Mud Anyway. “Have you discovered the perpe trator of this crime?” "No,” answered the detective, “but we have something to show for our work. We have placed a whole lot of people under suspicion of misbeha vior.” , A Tribute. "A very able divine, isn’t he?" "Very. It la -wonderful how he ran adapt the Bible of the requirements of a fashionable eongregation.” NEVER DO IT AGAIN. Jlcks—I made a mistake last night. 1 told my girl a ghost story. Jacks—Frightened her, eh? Jicks—I should say so. I frightened her so badly I had to turn up the gas. Sure Sign. Wife—I think father must be enter ing into his second childhood. Husband—That's right. I’ve noticed lately that he is beginning to remem ber a great many incidents of his boy hood days that never happened. Missed the Curtain Lecture. "What did your wife say when you came home so late?” ■ “I really don't know. I can Just re member that I woke up three times and she was still talking." The Slow Wooer. "I notice,” said the Blow wooer, “that the extreme cold weather lias been fatal to a great many sheep.” 'I should think,” said the girl, her patience being about exhausted, "that you would be afraid to venture out.” An Insinuation. "Do you think ignorance is bliss, Mr. Owl?” “Do I think so?” "Yea. I thought you w**re just about | wise enough to know.”—Puck. Truly Significant. "I was just telling my daughter,” said Mrs. Nooson’a, "that it’s really a shame for her to play the piano on Sunday." “Why did you mention Sunday par ticularly?” asked Mrs. Pepprey. How Sweet 1 Ernie—After the waltz Jack took me out In the conservatory for a kiss. Ida—Did he kiss you under the palm, dear? Ernie—No, under the nose. Iowa Farm# S4 Per Acre Cash, baUnr* Lj crop till paid. wntlt AM. Ski ll City, U. Some people are planning already to move for a change of administration when they get to heaven. Clear white clothes are a sign that the housekeeper tmes Rad Cross Ball Blue, Large 2 or., package, 5 cents. Some wise men are not wise enough to see that they can't answer all the fool questions asked. CHANGE OF LIFE. Some sensible advice to women passing through this trying period. The painful and annoying symp toms experienced by most women at this period of life are easily over come by Lydia E. Pinkham’a Vegetable Compound. It is espe cially designed to meet the needs of woman’s system at the trying time of change of life. It is no exaggeration to state that Mrs. I’inkham lias over 5000 letters like the following proving the great value of her me licine at such times. “ I wish to thank Mrs. Pinkham for what her medicine has done for me. My trouble was change of life. Four years ago my health began to fail, my head began to grow dizzy, my eyes fiained me, and at times it seemed as f my back would fail me, bad terrible pains across the kidneys. Hot flashes were very frequent and trying. A friend advised me to try Lydia E. Plnkhain’s Vogotable Com pound. I have taken six bottles of it and am to-day free from those troubles. I cannot speak in high enough terms of the medicine. 1 recommend it to all and wish every suffering woman would give it a trial.”—Iln.i.A Ross, 88 Mont clair Ave., Roslindftle, Mass, -gsooofar. fait If original of abova latttr proving ganvlnanooo Ionnot bo produttd. A new order of things is easily brought about—provided you have telephone connection with your grocer. - 1 GREATLY REDUCED RATES via WABASH RAII.ROAD. Below is a partial list of the many half rates offered via the Wabash Rail road. Atlanta. Oa.. and return.$32.10 Sold July 5th, 6th and 7th. Indianapolis, lnd.t and return ... $19 40 HoW Juno 7th, 8th, 9th. 13th aud 14th. St. Bouls, Mo., and return.$13.50 Sold June 16th and 17th. Boston. Mass., and return.$31.73 Sold June 24th. 25th and 26th. _ , Boston, Mass., and return.$33.75 Sold June 30th to July 4th. ^Saratoga. N. Y., and return.$32.20 Sold July 4th and 5th. Detroit. Mich., and return.$21.00 Sold July 14th and 15th. Baltimore. Md.. and return.$32.25 Wold July 17th and 18th. Baltimore, Md., and return.$32.25 Sold Sept. 17th, 18th and 19th. All tickets reading over the Wabash are good on steamers In either direc tion between Detroit and Buffulo without extra charge, except meals anil berths. Bong limits and stop overs allowed. Remember this is “The World's Fair Bine.” Oo this route and view the grounds. For folders and all Information, ad dress HARRY E. MOORES. Q. A. P. D., Omaha, Neb. ‘ A magazine recently contained a poem written by ‘‘A Man Who Thinks.” It is believed to be the first To Cure a Cold In One day. Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. All druggists refund money if it falls to cure. 25c. Edison'* Only Speech. Edison has made but one speech In his life; it was not a brilliant one. He had agreed to lecture on electric ity before a girls’ seminary, and had engaged a friend named Adams to work the apparatus while he talked. But when the Inventor arose to ad dress his audience, he felt so dazed that he simply said: “Ladies. Mr. Adams wll. nod ad dress you on electricity, and I will I demonstrate what he has to say with the apparatus.” Do Your Feet Acne and Burn? Shake into your shoes, Allen’s Foot Ease, a powder for the feet. It makes tight or New Shoes feel Easy. Cures Swollen. Hot. Sweating Feet. Corns and Bunions. At all Druggists and Shoe Stores, 25c. Sample sent FREE. Address Allen S. Olmsted, LeRoy, N. Y. The man who is always sure that he is sound In the faith is almost sure to be sound asleep during the sermon, poem of the kind ever published. To the housewife who has not yet become acquainted with the new things of everyday use iu the market and who is reasonably satisfied with the old, we would suggest that a triad of Defiance Cold Water Starch be made at ouce. Not alone because it Is guaranteed by the manufacturers to be superior to any other brand, but because each 10c package con tains 16 ozs., while all the other kinds i contain but 12 ozs. It is safe to say that the lady who once uses Defiance Starch will use no other. Quality aud quantity must win. When a woman nudges you with her elbow It Is equivalent to saying “I told ! you so.” Hall’s Catarrh Cur* Is taken internally. Price, 7So. You ask for a loaf and Gtod give* , you a seed.