Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1893 — THE FARMER’S RIGHT. [ARTICLE]

THE FARMER’S RIGHT.

THE TARIFF BURDEN MUST BE REMOVED. Why the Reform Club Advocates Ad Valorem Duties—Schedules of the Bill Prepared for Congress’ Consideration — Occupation of the New “Calamity Howlers” Gone. The New “Calamity Howlers.” “Calamity howlers’’ have changed sides since Nov. 8. Before election all who did not think we could tax ourselves into prosperity, and who quoted statistics of increasing mortgages and millionaires, and gave some of the facts in regard to the hundreds of bounty-fed trusts that were advancing prices at one end of their factories and reducing wages at the other end, were “calamity howlers;” so the McKinleyites said. Since election the protectionists have turned about-face, and are doing some howling on their own account, or at least have begun to tune up their howler instruments; for, up to date, by some singular freak of fortune or misfortune, there has been, outside of the wage reductions in the pearl button, industry and the cessation of that other great McKinley protege—the tin industry—nothing to howl about. Instead of the protected industries getting ready to start “to destruction on a toboggan slide,” as some of the protectionists 6till promise, the most of our important industries are not only prosperous just now but are looking ahead, under the promise of free raw materials, to even greater prosperity. The manufacturers of cotton and woolen goods have been so unusually busy since the country fully decided to pay its own taxes and go to the dogs that wages have advanced from sto 10 per cent, in the cotton industry, and the price of wool has gone up several cents per pound. The iron and steel industry also is not preparing for the “utter destruction” to which it was doomed if the free-traders should get control of the government, and diminish the supply of the pap to this whopping infant. The enlargements and improvements now occurring in this industry in anticipation of free ores and an enlarged demand for finished products are sufficient to give the blues to this second crop of calamityites. Here are a few of the latest of these tantalizing items: On April 1 it was reported from Pittsburg that the Carnegie Steel Co., the largest of the kind in America, was preparing for a boom by increasing the capacity of its four great plants at Braddock, Duquesne, Beaver Falls, and Homestead. At Braddock the capacity of the blooming department is to be doubled, two immense underground heating furnaces to be added, and the big foundry and machine shops increased to provide employment to 200 more men. At Duquesne the capacity is to be more than doubled, and steel rails as well as billets will be made. The 1,000 employes will be increased by several hundred. At Homestead a new press for the armor plate works will be put in. It will cost over 81,000,000, and will be the largest piece of machinery of the kind in America, probably in the #vorld. It will enable the Carnegie Co. to make the greatest forgings in the world. A plate weighing 200 tons can be worked in one mass. At Beaver Falls two open hearth furnaces will be added. The total cost of all these improvements will be atleast $2,000,000. It was also announced that the Tyler Tube Works, at Washington, Pa., which now employs 270 men, is to double its capacity; the Gautier Steel Works, of Johnstown, Pa., is adding a new building for the manufacture of merchant steel, which will provide work for 100 new men. Many other mills are enlarging and others that have been closed are starting up. Toe pig-iron trade is in excellent condition and the wrought iron pipe mills have orders ahedK for six or eight months. In some other lines orders have been received for more than a year ahead, a most discouraging condition of affairs to contemplate for the tariff editors on Republican papers, whose hopes for promotion depend upon the fault they can find with free-trade rule.—Byron W. Holt.