Decatur Democrat, Volume 34, Number 32, Decatur, Adams County, 31 October 1890 — Page 5

TARIFF IS A TAX! And it Taxes a Poor Man’s Necessaries. A General Advance on Goods Effected the Robber McKinley Bill. TesUmsny Given by Jobbers in all Supplies. New Price tints Iwaned by All tines of Trade. Big Prouts for the Manufacturers and Hard Tinies for the Marses—What the Republican Party has Done for the Country. The Democrat took the painsjhiswt ek to interrogate the business men of Decatur relative to the eff.-ct the McKinley bill vi ill have on the prices of various' commodities and learned’with astonishment that nearly alj lines of manufactured good? a r e advancmg in price with the jobtiers and manufacturers. While none of our merchants have advanced on goods they purchased before the new law went into effect, yet what thev buy from now on-will have to be sold at increased prices, especially such lines of goods as are directly effect 'd by the new tariff law. To enumerate the many articles that the merchant will be compelled to self at advanced prices, on account of the tariff robbery, would consume more space than we can devote to the subject at present. Suffice it to say that in all kinds of woolen goods, plushes, velvets, satiens, linen goods, pearl buttons, chinaware, crockery, carpets, hosiery, underwear, men’s cloth - ing, women's clothing, borts an 1 shoes, leather goods, certain lines ot hardware, tinware of all kinds, musical instruments, guns and revolvers, ladles’ cloiks and shawls, picture frames, and in fact hundreds ot articles of household necessity, there will be a sharp advance in prices by reason of the McKinley All our merchants are cf the same opinion rela tive to the effect of the new tariff duties on the price of goods, and those who are skeptical on this matter need but to com suit them for themselves. As we have said, our business men are not putting up prices*at present. They are selling out their’srick, bought before the advance, at the old prices, but when they replenish their stock they will have to pay the additional tariff duties. Now the question arises, who pays the tariff taxes? Is it the man who imports the goods or is it the consumer? The Republican party would make the people bilieve that the import.er pays the tax, but the man who looks at the question in an unprejudiced manner can not help but see that the consumer pays it—every cent of it. But the Republican party says there is flo tax on home manufactured goods. There is a protection on home-made goods and that protectionjenables the manufacturer to charge just the additional tax on the foreign article, which goes into his pocket. Protection is for th£ manufacturer —not for the people, and the McKinley bill very forcibly illustrates that fact. The greatest imposition the McKinley bill forces upon the country is in the increased cost of articles most needed by the poor man—for instance clothing and woolen goods for winter. By reason of this unjust measure manv families throughout the land will feel the pangs of a rigid winter and realize most forcibly the need of cheape r clothing and the necessaries of v. life which will be enhanced in price, that monopoly may revel in the pleasures that wealth brings. Now while articles of household neces" sity are advancing, labor remains at about the same price. There is no change in that. The good times promised by the party in power has not come, nor never will. The question is, will the people stand the oppression longer? Will they submit to the rule of the giant monopoly and continue to vote against their own interests? Will they continue to vote more mortgages upon their farms and m>re

Decatur Democrat-Supplement.

money into the coffers of the protected industries, by supporting the principles of the Republican p<_ty? Certain it is that blind partisanship will continue to lead many along the paths of adversity and high taxation as long as they live, but the masses generally are awakening to the question that confront us—the question of TO-DAY. The slavery question and kindred topics have long since been settled. The conflict of other days is no' linked with the that is now being waged against the encroachments of greed and monopoly-—against the oppression of the poor for the benefit of the rich. A nfew theme presents itself. It is the tariff question. It is Ota trial and the people are the jurors upon whom will fall the lot of deciding for or aglinst the legalized robbery} J That our readers may better understand the situation, we present a number of circular letters from jobbing h »uses touching the effect of the ‘McKinley *bill on prices. They are convincing. Each one is genuine and may be seen by calling at this office. Let the Dmochat readers ponder them well, because they tell a tale of oppression and wrong that cannot fail to carry conviction to every honest heart. TEN CENTS ADVANCE. Read what a Boston manufacturer has to say about the advance of leather. He charges an additional io cents or. each pair of shoes. Boston, Mass., Oct. 5, 1890. Dear Silt: 1 have your esteemed favor of the 2nd ilist.-iu which you order 48 pairs of Glove Grain Butt., worked button hole, climax, 2-8 at sl.lO. You state that you want them right away, and it 1 cannot send them at once to inform you, which I now do. The price of the shoe to make it for you will be $l2O and that is not near the advance in the leather. The Polish of the same shoe will be sl.lO. Can make t hem very quickly, i. e., gs quick as any manufacturer. and will take special pains to give you prime goods. You can telegraph at my expense if you wish to have them made. Very truly yours, J. B. Lewis. UP GO THE PRICES. The price goes up fifteen cents on each pair of shoes,, owing to the advance in leather. Interesting news for the consumer. Read it: Cincinnati, 0.. Bth Oct., 1890. Dear Sir: Yours of the 7th at hand, owing to increase cost ot material we have been obliged to advance prices ot all shoes 15c per pair. The best we could now do on such goods as you order would be $2.00 per pair. If you wish made at this price let us know and we will make at once, or we can make you a lower grade shoe at $1.85. Awaiting reply we are Yours truly, Stribley & Co. MORE MONEY FOR MONOPOLY. The McKinley tariff is advancing every thing but Übor. Another shoe manufacturer is forced to advance prices. The man who pavs the increased cost will surmise where the money goes. More highway robbery. Grand Rapids, Mich., Oct. 7, 1890. Dear Sir: Your order of Oct. 7th, ordering 24 pair of women’s Dongola No. 446 and 12 pair ot Goat No. 447 at $1 50 is at hand. On accouiit oif the great advance in leather we are now having to pay, a good deal more for those shoes, will put them in at $1.55. which does not pay us for the advance we have to pay, and that is the very b«ist figures 'that we can make them in 36 pair lots. We would be very glad to till vour oders at these prices. Please answer what we shall do, and oblige Yours truly Rindge, Bertsch & Co. IO CENTS MORE PLEASE. Monopoly wants an additional ten cents for its goods, since McKinley legalized the robbery? Here is what another manufacturer says about the increased cost ot stock. It ought to convince the most ultra protectionist iff the country. Perhaps he’ll “catch oft" when he buys the goods. • ' Chicago, Oct. 4, 1890. Dear Sir: Your favor of the 2nd at hand. We regret to say that we cannot furnish the goods ordered out ot our regular stock, as you will remember they were made up especially tor you before. It will take at least three weeks to make them up for you. and will have to charge you an advance of 10c a pair, as owing to the gTeat advance in the price of stock of all kinds it is impossible to produce . these goods and sell them at the old figures and realize any profit on them. Please advise at once if we shall order the goods made up. Yours truly, C. M. Henderson & Co. HARNESS LEATHER TAKES A JUMP. Not only has custom made boots and shoes advanced since the McKinley bill went into effect, but all kinds of harness leather, eaddeiy and trimmings as well, the advance being irom four to six cents on the pound. One of our harness dealers notified the Democrat that on August 4th he bought a bill of harness leather at 31 cents per pound. On October 18th, he paid 35 cents for the same kind of goods—an advance cost to him of $lO on the bill. It is impossible for him to sell his manufactured products at the old prices and come out whole, consequently harness, etc., will advance, and the people pay the protit, which goes into the hands of the protectionists. Another harness dealer says the manufacturers have put up the price of leather from four to six cents per pound and that in all probaoility the ad

vance wi’l be still greater before a fortnight. He says it is out of the question to sell goods at the old prices in consequence of the extra cost of materials. Any person who doubts these statements can be convinced of their truthfulness by calling on Decatur's harness and saddlery men and they will substantiate every word we halve said on the subject. The advance on harness leather, etc., has been fully fifteen percent. VELVETS AND VELVETEENS HIGHER. A Philadelphia wholesale house thinks local dealers should advance prices on stock ori hand as they will have to pay more tor thegcods when they buy again.. Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 23,1890. Esteemed Friends: Your kind favor . received and filled. On all velvets and velveteens you have on hand and which you bought in early season, you had better advance them 25 per ceut as they are very scarce and will have to pay the advance when you want to buy anymore. Hoping you are having a good big trade. I. R. Burton. MCKINLEY’S BILL DOES IT. Cincinnati, 0., Oct. 10.1890. On and after the twenty-fifth of October, we shall be compelled to make an advance on the price of plushes. Up to the above date we shall endeavor to fill orders at old prices, but should the heavy re-orders continue, it will, compel us to make the advance before the twenty-fifth. We should not bo in a position to give you so long an interval in which to take advantage of our old prices, but for the -fact that we foresaw the effect of the McKinley bill and stocked ourselves largely with plushes in advance of the rise that promptly followed the passage of the bill. We feel sure that you will appreciate our efforts to share with you the result ot our prudence and forethought, in giving you this margin of time to re-order, rather than follow the prevalent close policy and advance our prices without giving our patrons an opportunity to complete their stocks at the old figures. Glad to be in position to make our customers thi concession. Yours respectfully A. E. Burkhardt & Co. THE ROBBERY GOES ON. CLEVELAND. (>., Oct. 13, 1890. GENTLEMen: We are unable to make garments as described in your letter of Oct. loth tor lees thon $ll.OO. as plush has risen greatly "nd we have to pay the advance. Do-you wisn us to make you one at this price? Yours truly, E. Black & Co. FROM A REPUBLICAN FIRM. The following letter addressed to a traveling salesman is from a well known Philadelphia woolen house, whose members affiliate with the Republican party: * Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 23, 1890. in gettiug a few mote pieces Defiens (German Goods) assorted with which to sort up with, not, however at old prices, but under the new tariff the importer showed a willingness to divide up with us in this last lot, thus enabling us to sell them at $4 per yard, an advance of 12'.: percent, or 37J4 cents on the yard. j' Respectfully, Wm. W. Biddle & Co. ' MUSIC IN THE AIR. The McKinley bill forces up the price of musical instrutnents. Cincinnati, 0., Oct. 10.1890. By the passage of the new tariff bill which went into effect on October 6th, 1890. the duty on musical instruments, parts thereof, and strings, has been materially increased. This ia connection with an increased European cost of manufactured goods, and an advance on duty upon imported materials used in Ameri-can-made goods, renders necessary an advance in prices on musical merchandise affected by the new tariff, and we hereby notify the trade that all orders received on and after October 15th, 1890, will be billed at an advance in prices proportionate to the increased duties. Very truly, The John Church Co. The following circular letters regarding the advance on musical instruments have just been issued : ® The tariff act, which goes into effect October 6th, 1890, suddenly advances the duty on musical instruments, parts thereof and strings from 40 to 100 percent above old rates. This, combined with a steady rise in the European cost of goods tor some time back, absolutely compels all importers to advance their prices. Various American made goods are also affected because oUtogher duties on imported material, parts, ettsjjised in their construction. Ata large meeting of the wholesale houses of New York, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Paul, etc., the question as to how and when to advance the prices was fully discussed, and it was unanimously decided to make the necessary advance at once, and to all dealers without exception. Any other plan would demoralize the trade. A state of unsettled market prices would be worse than a decided and a staple advance. We, therefore, notify you that all orders received by us after October 6th will be filled at prices in advance with the new tariff. Exceptions cannot be made. Dealers wbl do well to mark up their goods accordingly. Respectfully, Chas. h. Parson & Co New York. Dear Sir: The House ot Representatives disposed in May of musical instruments, etc., as follows: Paragraph 471.—Piano and pianoforte actions and parts of, 40 percentum ad valorem; other musical instrumentsand parts of, including bows, cases, strings, pitchpipes and tuning-forks, 25 percentum ad valorem; metronomes and parts thereof, 30 percentum ad valorem. The bill then went to the senate, where to the surprise of the trade, the paragraph was stricken out entirety. Delegates were then sent to Washington, and it was explained to congress, that great confusion would ensue unless musical instruments, etc., made specially named in the new tariff, and an indisputable rate ot duty made for them —but the result shows that all efforts were in vain. The music business was given needlessly a blow and an indignity. Congress in Its wisdom mdae special mention of many insignificant goods in the new tariff, but thought best to omit mentioning musical instruments. This brings our goods under general paragraphs of the law and is an advance of 40 to 140 percent above old rates of duty. Musical instruments, etc., are now “manufactures of metal, or of wool, or of ivory, or of silk, etc..” with a different rate of duty. In many cases, on this plan, different rates of duty apply to one instrument; for instance, a one key flute pays 35 per cent, an eight key flute pavs 45 percent, an ivory head flute pays 40 percent duty. (In the opinion of some custom authorities all must pay the 45 percent rate.) .We do not think that the advanced prices caused by higher rates of duty will kill the business. Buyers will have to pay more than formerly—that’s all. Therefore look out for another advance at any time on some lines of goods—end in the meantime , mark up your owp guoda on the prices of pres-

ent wholesale prices. This confusion, uncertainty, and ad vance in prices would all have been avoided had congress heeded our reasonable petition to mention musical instruments, etc., and fix a rate of duty for them. Respectfully, , C. Bruno * Son. MIRRORS, PICTURE FRAMES, ETC., ADVANCED. The price of all the cheaper grades of mirrors has been advanced fully 25 per cent. On French mirrors and finer grades (for the wealthy) the advance has been lighter. The cost of all kinds of moulding and picture frames is also being advanced by the manufacturers, as will be noticed by the following letters: Cincinnati, 0., Oct. 3,1890. Dear Sir: Prices have advanced from 15 to 20 percent by reason of the increased, duties on imported articles under the new tariff acts. L. A.’Strobel & Co. Detroit, Oct. 15, 1880. Owing to advance in materials, all mouldings have advanced from 10 to 25 percent. We shall lie obliged to charge-10 to 15 percent additional for all mouldings. Respectfullly, j Allen Bros, the tin plate robbery. That the people may see just how they are being robbed by the Tin Plate Trust we submit the following letter for their consideration: Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 20, 1890. —■ , Decatur, Ind. Dear Sir: Allow us to call your attention to a change in prices, caused by the new tariff bill. The present duty on rooting or terne plates is Ic. per lb., or 68c. per square of our tiles. The new tariff makes the duty 2 2-10 cts. per lb., or $1.50 per square of our tiles or slates. An increase of 12-l Oct. per lb., or 82 cts. per square, which has to be paid the United States Government. All consumers should bear in mind that not a single pound of roofing plates is manufactured in this country. We did everything iri our power to prevent the passage of the tin-plate clause, knowing the consumer would be seriousy affected, and we are not alone in believing that this tariff clause is intended to beneft a few, at a great expense to the many. TJie passage of this bi 11 has created an extraordinary demand for ali kinds of roofing plates, and already the price has advanced over SI.OO per box of I. C.. 20x28, within the last month, and the market is still jumping. It is highly improbable that roofing plates will ever again be bought at as favorable prices as formerly. We have always sold our special products at a very low margin, and this great advance in cost of material forces us now to withdraw all outstanding quotations. We, however, kindly ask you to let us know your probable wants, and we will name our best prices at present. Yours truly. Cortright Metal Roofing Co. MONOPOLY’S TRIUMPH. An advance of 50 percent is asked by wholesale dealers on guns, revolvers, etc., caused by the increased tariff duties. And the dear people will have it to pay. - Dear Sir: We will charge for the present about 10 percent advance over prices in our catalogue. The tariff bik passed by the U. S. Senate will, if it becomes a law, compel us to advance some goods more than 50 percent Loaded, shells advanced 5 percent, September 23, 1890. B. Kittredge Arms Co. THE CONSTMHR PAYS THE TAX. Cincinnati, 0., Oct. 10, 1890. Dear Sir: We beg to withdraw all quotations made you on saws, plastering trowels, etc., and all other goods of our manufacture. They have advanced. Truly yours. Wood rough & McFarlin.. Peterson Items. Rumor has it there will be a wedding shortly in our village. The young people of our community had an excellent time at the corn husking at R. B. Johnson’s. Our school-is in progress with Jessie Steele, of Pleasant Mills, as teacher. He is a very excellent teacher. The dedication of the German Baptist church in Kirkland township was a grand success. Although considerable rain fell during the day, the church was full to overflowing. William 'Zimmerman, our merchant, is doing a flourishing business. He carries goods of all description, from gentlemen’s clothing down to pins and needles and even to a woman’s weapon—a broom. P. L. Andrews, the substituted Republican candidate for joint representative from Adajns and Jay mjde a speech at Steele’s school house on Wednesday evening of last week. Qui ea large crowd was in attendance— eight being present. His father, his mother, his little brother, his uncle Jim, his cousin George and three other fellows whom we didn’t know, constituted the crowd. Before the speech P. L. remarked that quite a, large crowd would be present. ' After speaking a few minutes and discussing the McKinley bill in, such a mannere as to lose his father’s vote, he dismissed, the meeting on the plea of a violent headache. How do the people like Briant’s record as published in the last week’s Democrat? Who can vote for such a man? Is it not a piece of inhumanity to support a man, in preference to a good, noble and honest man, as A. N. Martin? Martin works for the interests of the laboring class of people and consequently everybody is fer Martin. If Briant could be in congress he would help pass a McKinley bill, or he might pass a “Briant bill’Jto reduce the wages of laborers to 75 ce* a day,, and get a protection of one hundred percent on his manufactured goods. Private Martin defeated the great and only pork packer, Maj. Geo. W. Steele, agd he can likewise defeat the great protected mantt* lecturer, Col. Briant.

Ashcraft Cornered Again. Editor Ashcraft has again made a taele ot himself by trying to explain wnj he left his taxes unpaid in Whitley county. The act of leaving his taxes unpaid was honorable compared with his attempt to explain why they were not paid. He says that the taxes in Whitley coyn ty were not due until last spring and that ' * he had a man call at the treasurer’s office to pay them, and the treasurer informed him that he had no taxes against Mm— -all of which is untrue. The taxes he left unpaid in Whitley countv were the taxes of 1888 which became due and delinquent on the third Monday in April 1889 They were certified to the auditor of ‘Adams county on the 14th day of January 1890, after having remained due and delinquent in Whitley county for about nine months. If Mr. Ashcraft or any other person had called at the treasurer’s office in Whitley county at any time to pay his taxes he would never have been called on here to pay them. In h:s cxplanati-n, ‘t seem?, h" to make the people believe when his taxes were certified to Adams countff’thev were erased from the books off Whitley county, which is not true, as Mr. Ashcraft was charged with thosg taxes on the book of Whitley county tAtil tfciejr were paid and the treasurer of Whit|ejPcounty charged with the collection of mese t?xes. Therefore if any person had called at the treasurer’s office in Whitlev county to pay his taxes the treasurer would not have informed him there were nosuefettaxes (here, as they were the recharged allthe time, and Mr. Ashcraft undoubtedly !lied*when he said that any person, called to pay bis taxes in Whitley county, / Again, Ashcraft Wed when he said those taxes were not due until /last soring and that they were certified td| Adams county before they were due. file knew that he came to Adams county in early part of ISB9 and that he was not assessed in Whitky county in 18S9, but that the taxes for which he was assessed in W hitb y county were the taxes for ISSS and became , due in April 1889. He knew that he did not pay them or offer to pay them for one year after they were due and delinquent, and would not have offered to pay them then had they not fceen sent here for collection. Ashcraft seAns anxious to have the official records of Adams countv examined. If therg is,as wilful and foul a lie on any of the records of*Adams county as Ashcraft’s tax explanation, in the Journal, the books should be examined at once. His explanation of his taxes is about as unreasonable and inconsistent as Lis explanation of his speech at Wabash in which he said the Democrats would not be able to get out their full vote on account of their ignorance; all of which he finally tried Jb palm off on the Amish people, which’was a direct insult to the Amish people. Every person knows he had no thought of the Amish when he made his Wabash speech for eveybody knows that the Democratic majority would not be reduced at all by the Amish people staying at home, they always have remanied away from the election. ’ Notice to Hunters. » Notice is hereby given that the under signed, of French and Monroe townships, Adams county, ndiana, will positively allow no hunting on their enclosed lands except upon the consent of the owners of the glands entered: y G. Ashbaucher, J. Roth, P. D. Rdth, Gottlieb Sauers, D. J. Moser, Albert Zager, J. A. Amstutz, J. J. Soldner, Peter F. Moser, J. C. Moser, *acob §teiner, M. Fuchs, Jacob Neuhausen, A. Sprunger, Jahn Neuhauser, A. A. Sprunger, Peter Khopfenstine, D. Stauffer, Abarham Meyers, P. Stauffer, f’red Reppert, J. Nusbaum, John Fuchs, B. Nusbaum, Peter Meshberger, H. Eilenbarger, J. Mullimann, F. Aug#' urger, Joseph Rich, A. W. Moser, H. A. Meyer, J. P. Nusbaum, C. Gerber, J. Wittwer, f. Ashbaucher, S. Riff, R. Schugg, C. Neuenschwander, C. E. Detter has sold the Willshire Gazette. The purchasers are St. Marrs, O, parties who will take possession of the plant on the 15th of next month. Detter has several offers on the editorial stafife of city dailies and expects to accept one of Rfliem upon his retirement from the Gazette. Bro. Detter is an excellent newspaper man and wherever he may cast his lot the best wishes of the Democ*> 7 t go with him.