The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-12-09
A CHANGE OF OPINION

as to the principle of protection" that
has so long prevailed in this country
under Republican rule. LabOrers see
that, however beneficial protection"
may be to certain industries, the work
ers therein get only moderate pay. The
protected mOnOpOlists appreciate the
swag, and howl horribly If the working
men clamor for better wages, OF dare to
strike" 1t is quite another thing,
thOughlwhen the "mOnopOlists," asi n the
recent case of the steel rail makers, at
tempt to shut down" and so strike"
Congress.
The late performance of the Tariff
Commission has had much to do
in opening the eyes of laboring men.
This was evident in the recent session
Of the Trades Union Congress" at Cleve-
land. In the session on November 22d
a discussion was had on MIR. Fosters
paper on Protection vs.. Labor"
"a motion was made to strike from
the platform that section which recon-
mends full protection from the cheap
labor of foreign countries. Frank Foster
| urged the elimination on the ground
that it had been sprung upon the con-
VentiOn in Pittsburgh, and did not
properly represent the sentiment of the
federation proper. Various delegates
followed, Mr.. Crawford, of Chicago,
/ faYOTing the striking out of this plank,
but also opposing the adoption of one
| faYOring free trade. Another delegate
was sorry that that question had come
up, believing that they were not pre-
pared to gTapple with it. Mr.. Letting
| we'll, of Indianapolis, believed that pro-
lection, as it exists to-day, was an Op-
preston on the wOrkingman. He said,
| in the course of his remarks, that every
man who believed that protection helped
1 wOrkingman was fool; but, in defer
| ence to the feelings of those present, he
modified that statement and made it
milder. The roll was called on the pro.
/ position to strike out the protection
/ plank, and it was carried, only one dele
| gate voting for its retention, that one
being Foster, of Cincinnati, who was
acting under instructions from the
assembly Of that city,"
WOrkingmen will doubtless remem-
Der that the financial crash and business
stagnation of 1878 and some years fol-
lowing, the protected industries suffered
the most. These had been most over done,
1
ity this overriding precipitated upon the
country. As we look at it, this "prOtec-
tiOn" instead of benefiting American in
dustry and the wOrkingman is a serious
drawback. individuals may be bene-
fitted by subsidies, but the millions thus
bestowed by Government manipulation
comes from the labor of the land. Work
ingmen should never forget this,
whats one mans meat is another
mans poison"
The mOnOpOlists aYailed themselves
of the pretexts and opportunities of the
war to fasten upon the country sys.
tenn of tariff exactiOns and iniquities
which are only now beginning to be
generally understood. The Democratic
idea Of tariff for revenue only" is
again working its way in the minds of
the people. The idea is based upon
justice and the Constitution. Our Gov
ernment has no right to tax the people
except for revenue to carry on the Gov
ernment and pay the debts thereof. The
Constitution forbids a privileged class
in this country, requiring that all shall
have equal opportunities and equal tax
alton.
Under protective system there is no
equal taxation, for those who are pro-
tected are the recipif nts of subsidies and
are not burdened by taxation at all. The
arrangement is to let these favOrites
escape taxation and receive the millions
so unjustly taken from the pockets of
their fellow citizens.
In 1874 the Presidential contest was
fought upon this question and the
Democracy carried the day, electing
James K. Polk. The Democrats got con-
troll of every department of the Govern
ment and in 1916 enacted a revenue
tariff, arranging the rates as low as
possible to supply the needed amount OF
revenue. Under this tariff there were
not millions and millions of blood
money taken out of the wages and earn.
ings of the working people, through en-
hanced prices and otherwise. The bur.
dens of the present tariff came out OF
the wages and earnings of the labOring
people; and when weremember the hun
dreds Of millions required yearly to
carry on our extravagant star route Gov
eTnment, the need of reform will be
seen. We must return to economy and
| tariff for revenue OnlYo