The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1883-06-02
TELGRAPHIC
Free Trade Convention.

the free trade conference accomplished
little owing to the lack Of the report from
the committee on platform.
The committee on organization sub
mitted the following: The conference
recognizes and desires to accord it
hearty appreciation of The valuable WORT
already accomplished by local and state
oTgR iZGtions, and the very important
assistance 10 such effort which bss beer
rendered by The American free trade
league, and
Whereas, the latter has proposed tC
reorgsnize upon q basis more thoroughly
representative and national, and desires
to counsel with this conference 10 such
end, therefore: The conference recon-
mends,
First, that the free trade work of the
country be organized under the general
direction Of the American free trade
league.
Second, That it appoint q national
committee composed of one delegate
from each state league, euch delegate to
have the general direction Ct the work in
his state, and to be responsible therefor.
Third, That the executive committee
appoint and have power to remove a
member to represent on the national
committee each of those states which
have no state league.
Fourth, The national committee to APP
point a general secretary with head.
quarters at New York.
q general and informsl discussion fol-
lowed, in which }. Sterling Norton and
others participated.
The free trade conference assem- bed at
9 O'Clock, but the committee on address
being still out, brief speeches were made
on the questions of the best method of
action, whether by organizing third
party or working inside the lines Of
existing parties. Finally the committee
on address made report, which, after
discussion, was adopted, ss follows: This
conference submits to Americans that
revenue reform has now become a para
mount vital issue in national politics.
we desire to obtain to the greatest
practical extent the same freedom
of trade among nations which exists
among states of the Union. We see in
the abuses of the present tariff the chief
obstruction 10 the continued develop
ment Of the country To do away with
these abuses, we ask the help alike Of
those who believe that free trade is an
essential part Of American freedom, and
the only commercial policy consistent
with business stability, and of those who
recognize that the abuses of the present
unjust and Unequal protective tariff
keep US from the enormous export ira ie
we ought to have and form the
most serious hindrsnce to
American industry and progress. We
submit that protection does not protect
h. ~ Mt IN md III -
TO protect the few at The expense of the
many is in consistent with the prime pies
of republican government. The revised
and by an Intentionally confused clsSsi-
fcation, maintaining others it preteuds
to reduce, is only 8 device Of alarmed
proteclionlsts 10 avoid honest rev.
enue reform. American labor, even
in protected s,industries, is discovering
that it has no higher Wages by protection;
that it can buy less with its money, ana
can save less. The poorer man Is, the
more th3 tariff hurts him. While thUre il
absolute free trade in labor and manu-
fscturers can import the cheap labor Of
Europe, the American laborer is denied
the right to buy goods in tbs cheapest
market. Labor is paid less in protected
European countries than in free trade
England. The profits of protection for
American labor were importing cheap
Canadian labor to strip the northwest of
liz forests. The monopolists corrupt
Legislators, and practically deny to their
Workmen liberty Of speech and the free
exercise oTtheir votes. American farm
ers psy for protection, but get none of il:
They sell in al unprotected market and
buy IN protected one Protection lakes
the poor man far more heavily than the
rich. II restricts the farmers market by
shutting out those who would exchange
with shim. 1t burdens manufacturers
by adding to the cost Of the msteri'ls,
without increasing the amount of his
sales, and it reduces the wages of work.
men in every line Of business. The true
interests of America are bound together
IN free trade, equal taxation, farmers
rights, manufacturing prosperity and
higher wages. the government Of the
United States has nc constitutional right
to impose taxes on the people except with
tia intent OF getting sufficient money to
pay the public debt, or provide for COM
mon defense and provide for
the general welfare, and all tariff
taxes called protective are aaid with
QluerenL intent. anu t06 results ought
to be abolished. We favor protection,
reciprocity and Che repeal Of navigation
laws, which have destroyed our merchant
marin e. We do lot counsel the immediate
formation of new party, although we
recognize that many republicans and
many democrats are losing faith in their
respective parties. We desire to unite
politically for genuine revenue reform in
the utterances Of their candidates,
or their leaders in Congress, sill
who are against those who per-
sistently oppose or evads reform. We
advise revenue reformers TO prepare for
independent political action. Meanwhile
we call upon those who think with us to
make existing public sentiment visible
by organization, to extend it by discus
son, t make it practical at the polls by
qufsti ming candidates for Congress.
This address is issusd on behalf of the
freedom of the most precious politica al
action, and ia behalf of proprietY whose
broad and only lasting basis is found in
perfect freedom of human activity,
bounded only by equal privileges of all
y bo f,N,l- till