Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1894 — THE GREAT TARIFF REDUCTIONS [ARTICLE]

THE GREAT TARIFF REDUCTIONS

John Wanamaker (late republic can postmaster-ger eral, and ore of Pn.’adelphia’s most successful merchants) is continuing his eloquent testimonials to the effect of the tariff reductions on clothing, and for fear that malicious persons may claim that his firm and not himself is making the advertisemeats he prints a letter of thanks to the collector of the port of Philadelphia over his own name, thanking him foi his courtesy and promptness in getting out t oods. The letter concludes as follows:

We purposely left ourselves short of foreign goods in view of the tariff changes, and having so manv cases yet in bond with several hundred more afloat soon to arrive, it will be a great favor to us and our customers if you will this week let out our packages as rapidly as possible. Yours truly, John Wanamaker. He says many kind things of the new tariff rates, as, for example: Everything that free wool [and tariff influences can do to put prices on a lower level has been much more than discounted in the handsome ne'w dress stuffs that are crowding so the counters every day. But while Mr. Wanamaker is telling these wholesome truths to the nation his enterprising competitors, Strawbridge & Clothier, inform the Dublic that they have been wiser than even shrewd old John. They say: As for ourselves, we have sought, without screaming i bout it, to conserve the interests of our patrons, and for months past we have prepared for a tariff even much lower than the present—purchasing only on the basis of the house bill, or below it. We have reasoned that this quiet service was more in the interest of our patrons than the other course referred to for while newspaper advertising is quite proper, some one has to pay for six or eight column cards at from 5 to 20 cents per line—and it is usually the advei tiser. Hundreds of cases of foreign goods held by us in bond nave been, and are now being withdrawn. All were bought at lower prices abroad than ever before known, and all are, of course, to be distributed on the same basis. No time could be more opportune, in the irterest of our patrons, for the reduced duties to go into effect than chance has decreed- at the yery outset of the season; and we now submit the result of preparations, greater than ever in the pist, to the examination of the public—-soliclti-jg criticism and comparison with any stocks in the American market.

It must be evident to any person that this system of purchase wo’d give Strawbridge' & Clothier a great advantage over their competitors, and the fact is a demonstration of the much greater advantages that would have been enjoyed by the public if the Wilson bill had b'en passed instead of the Gorman bill. We quote one paragraph from these enterprising merchants:

Today we inaugurate a saie of strictly reliable hosiery at prices never before heard of. No broken lo 1 s uro included. Without exception all are new goods, purchased by cur buyer this summer, at the great hosiery centers of Europe, at the low:-st prices ever known. The goods were landed under the new tariff, and ai;e now offered out patrons at even lower prices than we. c mid buy the same grades today—prices have already mateiially advanced in European markets.

It does not seem possible 'hat Wanamaker can compete with such exce t onal advantages, and the probabilities are tnat he wili suffer until his opponents’ dock, bought at Wilson bill prices, is exhausted. This first week has beeu productive sig" iflea-t movements. He<e in Ntw England the woolen mills report orders for he ivy poods, while the trade is selling tfeeh, indicating a ’evival of consumn tion. A 1 this is fostered bv the grant of free wool, which the new tariff makes. And the inf n mce is f *’t in oh r lines, ir dicat 4afa r fall business from the very start) The western cente r s ’of trade report distinct gains in the volume of business . Iu th J iron and steel manufacture an increased output is n »Ld. From Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis, c”tnes the same story of increased demand and healthy t ade in all lines, la spite of t, e drought—which undoubtedly has been exaggerated as to its de-

structive effects—the far West reports a larger trade and better collections And in Chicago, where a vear ago 100,000 men were out of employment not more than 25,000, or the usual average, are idle. — Boston Post. Hall's Hair Renewer contains the natural ford and color-matter for the hair, and medicinal herbs f or the scalp, curing grayness, baldness, dandruff, and scalp sores.