 |
| President Sanford Dole of Hawaii. |
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| Minister Albert Willis. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Friday,
February 2, 1894.
HAWAII
CELEBRATES.
MINISTER WILLIS INVITED TO JOIN BUT DECLINES.
Provisional
Government Makes Merry Over the Anniversary of Its Establishment—The Island
Upset by the Minister's Reply—Affairs Moving Quietly. Hints That the Loyalists
Have Access to Inside Information.
(Copyrighted, 1894, by the Associated Press.)
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 2.—The brig W. G. Irwin
arrived from Honolulu bringing advices to Jan. 17, five days later than last advices
received here by steamer Monowai, Jan.
13.
HONOLULU, Jan. 17.—Since last advices but
little of importance has happened here.
The people are preparing for a grand blow-out
in celebration of the anniversary of the establishment of the provisional government,
established a year ago today.
The Annexation club and American league have
gone into the celebration with a will and there is little doubt that it will be
a great success.
Adverse comment has been created by the fact
that yesterday afternoon notice was sent to the United States minister by the
provisional government that the 17th of January was the national
holiday and asking him if he would honor it with public notice and salutes from
the United States warships in port.
This letter of invitation included two others
addressed to the captains of the United States steamer Philadelphia and Adams
asking them to join in the celebration. At 4 P. M. a reply was received which
greatly startled the government. The
substance of Minister Willis' reply is unofficially given as follows:
"I have received your notice of
yesterday and am obliged to say that the United States
finds it impossible to be present to participate in the celebration of national
independence as proposed by the provisional government of Hawaii. I therefore decline
to take part in the celebrations on the part of the United States of America."
Upon receipt of this message great
excitement prevailed in the government circles. They had thought as the
Cleveland administration had acknowledged the provisional government, the
United States was prepared to stand by its guns. The situation at the present
writing is one in which the annexationists are standing shoulder to shoulder.
The royalist question remains.
The old charge that the royalists are better
posted than the annexationists was revived when the ex-queen's paper (Holomua) published the fact several
hours before it was known to the annexationists that Minister Willis had
refused to burn powder in honor of the celebration of Jan. 17.
At a massmeeting [sic] held last night at
Union square (formerly Palace square) a number of prominent speakers delivered
addresses. Chief among these was Walter G. Smith, candidate and leader of the American
league and party in Hawaii.
 |
| Wickwire Bros.' Factory, Cortland, N. Y. |
PAGE
TWO—EDITORIALS.
A
Criticism Answered.
The following communication was handed us on
Wednesday last by Mr. J. A. Jayne of this village with the request that we
publish it:
Cortland,
N. Y., Jan. 31, 1894.
To the
Editor of The Standard:
SIR—I am glad to see great questions discussed,
and for that reason it affords me much pleasure in taking some of the great articles
and figuring on them a little, just to see if the person who wrote them figured
much before writing the same. At a casual glance at the Wickwire article, together
with the comments thereon, we would think our beautiful town was about to suffer
very materially from the proposed tariff revision. Let us see. Take the article
as it stands and figure on it, taking only the statements found therein and we have:
1st. The difference between present tariff and
the proposed Wilson bill.
A. Present
tariff.
a. On rods, $.006 per lb.
b. Fine wire, .03 per lb.
B. Wilson
bill proposed.
a. 30 per cent ad valorum on rods at $28 per
ton, .003 3/4per lb.
b. 30 per cent ad valorum on fine wire, .06
1/2 per lb., .019 1/2 per lb.
c. 30 per cent ad valorum on wire cloth and
netting, .16c. per lb., .048 per lb.
Thus we see on rods and fine wire there would
be under the proposed Wilson law a reduction of about 35 per cent., while on
wire cloth and nettings there would be a reduction of only 4 per cent.
The reader will observe that if the writer
had taken 18c. per pound wire cloth, as one would naturally do knowing that this
firm produces the best, the tariff under the proposed Wilson bill would figure .054
or a greater tariff than the present. But he took the average of 16c. per pound
for argument, so as not to have it appear too strange.
2nd. The article represents that 4-5 of the
cost value of fine wire cloth is represented in labor. If you let labor be
reduced so as to stand the whole alleged reduction in tariff, the 4 per cent
reduction in tariff would cause a cut in wages of exactly 5 per cent. Then why
cry we must cut 50 percent?
Thus you see if the company could stand a 5
per cent reduction on their profits there would be no necessity for reducing wages.
Merchant's profits have been cut more than the 5 per cent.
3d. In regard to other countries importing their
product.
a. If they imported rods because of the
reduction of tariff on them, that would cheapen the working material, hence enhance
the profit of the manufacturer.
b. If the importation of wire cloth ceased
when the price went below .02c. per square foot with duty at .05c. per pound,
how much would be imported when the same is sold here at present for .01 1/8c.
per square foot, should there be a duty of .048 per pound.
To illustrate:
1. Used to be, 100 sq. ft. at .02 would
bring, $2.00 Tariff, estimated weight 10 lb. at .05, .50
2. Proposed, 100 sq. ft. at .01 1/8 would
bring, $1.33 1/2 Tariff, estimated weight 10 lb. at .048, .48
Net the importer, .85 ½
It is plainly seen that if the importer could
not afford to import a certain amount for $1.50 he could not import the same
for $ .85 1/2. Therefore, no fear of the importation. As the greatest part of the
Wickwire Bros, mills' output consists of wire cloth and nettings the writer is forced
to conclude that there is no need of reducing wages on account of the proposed tariff,
or fear that this industry will not be amply protected under the Wilson bill, but
can run as usual.
Wishing success to all manufacturing enterprises
in our beautiful village, and believing in a judicious tariff, be it called by
whatever name, I write this not at an antagonist or evil public educator, but simply
from another standpoint, hoping it may not injure the welfare of our populace but
on the contrary cause them to think that there are two sides to all questions, and
when they read either side weigh it well before admitting its soundness.
Yours respectfully,
J. A. JAYNE. [Retail merchant who sold shoes in Cortland--CC editor.]
Any comment which we chose to make on the
above, he said, we were to be at perfect liberty to make. We called his
attention at the time to several errors which it seemed to us to contain, and
said to him further that no good business man would commit himself in black and
white to a statement by which he could be proven to be either a fool or a
knave, and that Wickwire Bros. were thoroughly posted as to their business and
undoubtedly knew what they were talking about.
We promised, however, to look the article
over more carefully at our leisure and decide whether we would give it space or
not. After carefully reading it a second time, it seemed to us so good a sample
of the criticisms made by tariff reformers on the claims of protected industries
that we could not do the cause of protection in this vicinity a better service
than by publishing the article and an answer to it.
We do not question Mr. Jayne's sincerity any
more than we do that of many others who honestly believe as he does, and who so
believe simply because they do not realize the conditions under which many
protected industries are carried on, the dependence of labor for good wages on
the prosperity of these industries, and the destructive effect both on
employers and employees of a reduction of the tariff below a point at which
present wages can be maintained and business conducted at a profit. Hon.
Roswell G. Horr in a recent speech said that the trouble with the Democratic party
as to the tariff is their incapacity to grasp a business idea. Democratic Congressmen
occasionally get a tariff idea pounded into them, as in the case of those from
Louisiana who see that the sugar industry of their state is to be ruined by the
Wilson bill, the Troy [New York] representative who realizes in a very lively
way how the bill proposes to wipe out the shirt and collar industry of that city,
and the Alabama representatives who are trembling at the havoc that free iron
ore and free lumber will make in that state. But even these men are not broad enough
to comprehend the interdependence of all industries, and to realize that their
immediate localities are to be benefited not alone by the protection of their own
special industries but by the prosperity of every industry which uses capital
and gives employment to labor.
This same idea was brought out in
Representative Payne's remarks following the reading of Wickwire Bros.' letter
in the house when he said: "I think even this house, tending as it is in
the direction of free trade and ruin, would hesitate if its members could
understand all the relations which these amendments have to the industries of
the country."
That
there might be no mistakes made in answering Mr. Jayne, and believing that a man
who has made a success in any business—except of course the newspaper
business—knows more about it than one who has had no experience whatever, we
submitted the above letter to Mr. Theodore H. Wickwire, with the request that
he meet the points which Mr. Jayne attempts to raise. He consented to do so and
has sent us the following:
CORTLAND,
N. Y., Feb. 1, 1894.
To the
Editor of the Standard:
SIR—Through your politeness we are asked to
reply to the letter of Mr. Jayne. The author of the letter, by what seems to be
ability in figures, but without any knowledge of the subject, proves no doubt
to his own satisfaction that we have not sufficient intelligence to
substantiate our statements as against a technical critic. Ad valorem duty, in
the first place, is not computed upon the selling price of goods in this
country, but upon the value (or undervalue) of the article in the
country from which it is imported.
By basing our calculations upon foreign
values both of labor and material, allowing a sufficient per cent for mill
expense, freight, repair account, etc., fine wire can be made at a cost of 4
cents a pound. A duty of 30 per cent ad valorem would place the goods in our markets
at 5 3-10 cents per pound, duty paid, as against our stated price of 6 1/2 cents
per pound. Now please note the reduction in duty on this article from 3 cents
per pound, the present duty, to 1 2-10 cents per pound, proposed duty. Is not
this a reduction of 60 per cent in our present tariff? From this
standpoint is our statement incorrect in regard to necessary reduction in wages
to compete with the foreign product?
When the fine wire is carried through to
finished wire cloth by foreign labor, the effect of the proposed tariff would
be the same, for the duty would not be 1 1/3 cents per foot but less than 1
cent per foot.
Our principal production at present is wire
cloth. We beg to state that if we may be able we intend also to manufacture our
entire supply of wire, for which our new mill is about completed. With our raw
material as stated at 1 3-10 cents per lb. and finished product 13 cents per lb.
and above, can you not see it to be possible for 4-5 of the value to represent
labor? We would inform the gentleman that this is not all profit. The duty on
wire rods being the same as on wire cloth, does it not appear that there is no
additional protection on our labor?
In answer to the statement that a 30 per
cent duty added to our present price of wire cloth stills brings us
within the 2 cent price at which importation was stopped, we would say
that that price was reached when all wire rods used in the manufacture
of wire cloth were imported at over twice the present cost. This reduction
has been brought about by a protective tariff, building up our American
wire rod mills, which, in competition with each other, and by
improved processes, have reduced the cost of our raw material
from the imported at $70 a ton to the American at $28 a ton. Since Norway,
Sweden and Germany have lost our American market they too have followed
our price on the downward scale, which they never did when they had our
markets. It is a fact that foreign iron has been sold as low in this country
as in the countries where it is manufactured, and where by combinations and
trusts they hold up the price to enable them to pay our tariff.
Our letter was addressed to a member of the
ways and means committee whom we supposed to be possessed of sufficient
intelligence to comprehend the situation, and from his appended remarks we are satisfied
that we were not at fault. It has not been our employment to get notoriety by
writing articles for publication, and the fact of our letter to Mr. Payne
having been published here should not have aroused the opposition of citizens
who are at heart interested in the welfare of our community. It is not our
intention to continue this debate through newspaper articles, but we will say
that if the gentleman will take a correct basis for his calculations his figures
will show very different conclusions.
Very respectfully,
WICKWIRE BROS.
We think that the above answer to Mr.
Jayne's letter will be regarded as conclusive. The members of the ways and
means committee of the house hailing from Southern agricultural hamlets doubtless
think they know more about Northern manufactures than the manufacturers
themselves, and the ignorant, blundering, piratical and destructive tariff bill
which they have patched up is the result. The whole free trade and tariff
reform idea, so far as this country is concerned, is based entirely on the
craziest theory and most absolute misapprehension. This theory of destruction has
not had an opportunity for years to come into actual and practical conflict
with a prosperity based on the facts of protection. To-day the fight is on.
Some of the results of the conflict are already seen all over the country. If
the bill becomes a law many more are in store for us, of which Cortland will
have its share.
A
SPLENDID OPPORTUNITY.
Linoff
Russian Concert and Operatic Company May Visit Cortland.
Manager Rood of the Opera House has received
a communication from the celebrated Linoff Russian Concert and Operatic company
which states that the company will be in this section of the state in the
latter part of February or early in March and that there is a possibility that they
could be secured to give one of their magnificent entertainments in Cortland.
This company numbers thirty people. It came
to the United States especially for the World's Fair, where in Festival hall it
gave one hundred performances of "A Russian Peasant Wedding," a musical
folk drama in two acts, with unique ceremonies, characteristic costumes, songs,
dances, scenery, etc. The first act is devoted to the betrothal and the second
to the marriage. This entertainment was received with the greatest enthusiasm.
Since the close of the Fair the company has
been making a tour of the United States, visiting all the larger cities, where
they have been received with great enthusiasm and have won for themselves some
wonderful press notices. It would be a great thing if this company could be secured
to come to Cortland. Manager Rood must guarantee them $450, and is in doubt as
to whether he could realize enough to pay expenses. He would really be
satisfied if he could pay expenses and not make a cent, simply for the
privilege of presenting to the people of Cortland such a wonderful and such a
celebrated company with this play, which in its style and music is so wholly unlike
the ordinary American opera.
The question of the financial success of the
undertaking is so serious that it seems advisable not to risk it unless there
can be a considerable guaranty of support by subscriptions for tickets. At the
store of D. F. Wallace & Co. and at the Candy Kitchen Mr. Rood has placed a
prospectus of the company with pictures of them, full outline of the opera and
press notices and he will be glad to have any one call and examine them and
leave subscriptions for tickets. If enough interest is taken and enough support
is guaranteed he will engage the company. He has about four days yet in which
to decide. The tickets would have to be placed at $1, 75 and 50 cents.
If the people of Cortland would like to hear
and see a really first-class entertainment, such as is winning laurels in all
the large cities, now is the opportunity. Call at either the store of D. F. Wallace
& Co. or at the Candy Kitchen.
BREVITIES.
—Candlemas day.
—"Myrtle Ferns" at the Opera House
to-night.
—While W. T. Bush was unloading a barrel of
fittings at the store of Buck & Lane
yesterday he slipped and in some way sprained his left ankle.
—The
funeral of Mr. L. B. Dodge will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the
home of his daughter, Mrs. M. L. Decker, 24 Railroad-st.
—Those who neglect seeing "Myrtle Ferns"
at the Opera House this evening will miss one of the best amateur performances given
in Cortland for a long time.
—Henry W. Sage, the founder of Sage college
connected with Cornell university, was eighty years old on Wednesday, and the
occasion was celebrated by the university.
—The friends of Mr. George E. Butler, the
photographer, are smoking cigars on a youthful assistant, the date of whose appearance
is recorded in the column of vital [birth] statistics.
—The old bear has been spending the whole
day sunning himself, and the popular superstition is that he will now go back
and stay six weeks before signs of spring can come.
—At a meeting of the wheel club last evening
beside transacting an amount of routine business twelve new men were elected to
membership, and the resignations of three members were accepted.
—Rev. E. C. Olney, pastor of the Congregational
church in Homer and Rev. H. W.
Fish of the Free Methodist church were present at the revival services at the
Homer-ave. church last night. Three new seekers presented themselves at the
altar.
—The Cortland Athletic association has just
received an invitation to attend the athletic tournament to be held at Elmira, March
1, by the Twenty-sixth Separate
Co., N. G. S. N. Y. The invitation will probably be accepted at the next
meeting of the club.
—Dr. H. A. Cordo will preach at the union
revival service in the Presbyterian church this evening at 7:30 o'clock. All are
cordially invited. The woman's prayer-meeting will be held as usual in the
chapel at 3 o'clock and the men's prayer-meeting at 7 o'clock.
—All who read the editorial article in last
Tuesday's STANDARD on the effect of the Wilson bill on the fine wire drawing industry,
will be interested also in the article which appears to-day on our second page
including letters from Mr. J. A. Jayne and Mr. Theodore H. Wickwire.
—Dr. F. W. Higgins yesterday removed a
cataract from the left eye of Mr. Henry Turner, who is about 70 years of age
and was so blind that he had to be accompanied to the office. Every appearance indicates
that the operation will prove to be successful. A similar operation will be
performed on the right eye which is similarly afflicted in the course of a few
weeks.
Adjudged
Insane.
Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Mincemoyer of the State
Hospital for the Insane at Binghamton
took Mrs. Adelbert Livingston, a seamstress, of Cortland back to Binghamton
with them on the 6:27 train last evening, she having been adjudged insane by
Drs. H. T. Dana and Jerome Angel. The two physicians examined the patient
January 30. She was an inmate of an insane asylum at Buffalo eight or nine
years ago, and had a brother die at the Utica Hospital for the Insane.
The present attack has been gradual, but she
is very excitable. She told the physicians that she was constantly annoyed and
persecuted by parties who followed her here from Buffalo, who are in conspiracy
with others who reside in the place. She talked constantly of the persecution
she suffered. She was excited, but not auspicious of the examination as to her
sanity. She stated that she had applied to the governor, through the district
attorney, to rid her of annoyances. Her mental condition is chronic and has
been for several years.
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