Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-06-07

protected industries, is discovering
that 1t gets no higher wages by protec.
ton; that 1t can buy less with It's mon
ey and can save less. The poorer
a man is the more the tariff hurts
Dim. The higher wages which
generally prevails in America are due
TO the superior advantage which would
be increased by the removal of tariff
restrictions. While there is absolute free
trade IN labor, and manufacturers can
import the cheap labor of Europe the
iaoorer Is denied the right to buy goods
Ii the cheapest market. Labor is maid
less IN protected European countries
than In Tree trade England. In the
highly protected cotton manufactures
tue average wages are actually less
than wages paid IN England. The pro-
OF protection so to monopolies only.
The very men who in congress-
most loudly demanded protection for
American labor, were importing chesp
Canadian labor to strip the northwest
of It's forests. The combined pottery
manufacturers of Ohio cut down wages
and discharged American hands. the
moment the tariff on their products
was increased. The monopolists and
corrupt legislators, practically deny to
their workmen the liberty of speech
and free exercise of their votes. The
American farmers, constituting more
than half our voters, bearing with the
worklngmen the burden of
all the taxes, pay for pro-
lection and get none of it. Thew
sell In an uoprotec ed market and buy
In protected one. Protection taxes
the poor man far heavier than the
rich. 1t restricts the farmers market
by shutting out those who would ex-
change with him. 1t burdens the manu-
tacturer by adding to the cost of his
materials without increasing the
amount of his sales, and it reduces the
wages of wOrkmen in eyery line of
business. The true interests of America
are bound together by free trade, equal
taxation, farmers rights, manufacture
ing prosperity and higher wages. The
government OF the United States has
no constitutional or other right to i'm
pose taxes on the people except with
the intent OF getting sufficient money
into the public treasury TO paw the
public debt, provide for common de.
tense promote the general warfare.and
all tariff taxes called protective. laid
with different ideas and result oupht
TO be abolished, AMI we favor a promo
ton OF reciprocity and the
repeal OF the navigation laws,
which have destroyed our merchant
marine. We do not counsel the i'm
mediate formation of new party,
though we recognize that many repub-
Means and many democrats losing
faith III their own parties, desire to
unite politically for genuine revenue
reform; but IN case the existing parties
III their utterances, III nominating their
candidates or designating their leaders
In congress, persistently oppose the
| needed reform, we advise revenue re.
formers to prepare for an indie
pendent political action. Mean
while, We call upon those who
THINK with us to make the existing
public sentiment visible by orgsnjza.
ton, to extend it by discussion and
other education, to make it practical
at the polls by GA sstioning candidates
Tor congress, and by voting in congress
slonal campaigns in which this is al
ready the supreme question, for can
dldates Who will best servo the cause
OF tariff reform. This address is issued
III behalf of freedom, the most precious
result OF political action; and in behalf
OF prosperity, whose broad and lasting
basis Is found only in perfect freedom
OF human activity, and bounded only
by the equal privileges of all men.
The conference then took q recess till
evening.
DETROIT, June 1.-The free trade
league held B meeting and after some
consideration elected the following
officers:
= President-Hon. D. A. Wells, Norwich, Conn.
Vice Presidents Thos. Holland, New York
Chas. Francis Adams Jr, Boston; Arson
Phelps Stories n. Y; W. P. Wells, Detroit;
W. W. ?. FshbeGk, Indianapolis; R. Sterling Mar
Springfield Mo; T Cue, Dss M,ines, Iowa;
b; K. Forman, New Oceans, Ghas. P Smith.
Philadelphia; Prof James H. CART ED. Law
renee, Kansas.
Secretary R. R. Bowker. New York.
eStern Secretary-H Henry j. Pbilpot, Des
Mones, Ia.
Treasurer Geo. F. Peabody New York.
Executive Commrttee-T. G. Sherman. Brook
iyu: VIM. G. Brown ee Detroit; 0 l.. Earle.
New Y ork: Ell R. B. Stapler, New York: Il. c.
iayi r, Kansas City; E. NJ Shepherd Brooklyn.
One vacancy was left TO be filled by
the committee. The committee will
nave power TO name the members of
the national free trade committee from
states IN which there are no state free
trade leagues. The conference reas-
semblcd this evening and was ad-
dressed by Z. G. Sherman in lengthy.
carefully prep AIRED speech. He was
followed more briefly by Hon. VIM.
Springer, of Illinois, after which the
conference finally adjourned.
Mr.. Gar Keeps up His Pomp.
Moscow limo Tho norar;ol ~