The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-06-07
THE FREE TRADERS

Report Ell the Committee On Address.
DETROIT. June LIN the Free Trade
convention to day the committee on adj
dress reported as follows:
This conference submits TO Amerl-
Cabs that revenue reform has now be-
come paramount and vital issue in ma
tional politics. We desire to obtain 10
the greatest practical extent the same
freedom of trade among the nations
which exists among states of the union
We see in the abuses of the present
tariff the chief obstruction to the contin-
ued delopmeht and prosperity of the
country. To do away with these abuses
we ask the help alike of those who be-
lieve that free trade is an essential part
of American freedom, and the only CON-
mercial policy consistent with the busi-
ness stability, and of those who recog-
nize that the abuses of the present un-
just and unequal protective tariff keep
| US from the enormous export trade we
! ought TO have, and forms the
most serious hinderance TO Amer
| submit that protection does
not protect the classes it claims to pro-
tect. That to protect the few at the ex-
pense of the many is Inconsistent with
| the principles of Republican govern
ment, and the REVISED tariff OF 1885, rails
ing some duties, and by an Intentionally
confused classification, maintaining
others that it pretends to reduce, is only
Device of the alarmed protectionists to
| avert an honest revenue reform. Amer
lean manufacturers need cheaper mate
rails in order to contend successfully
in the markets of the world against
foreign competitors. The protected man
ufacturers are few among the many, and
| even these have generally been him
dred rather than helped by so-called
protection. American labor, even in
protected industries, are discovering that
| it gets no higher wages by protection
| than it can buy less with its money, and
can save less The poorer q man is the
| more the tariff hurts him. The higher
wages which generally prevails in
| America are due to the superior advant-
ages, which would be increased by a re-
| moVal of the tariff restriction. While
/ there is absolute tree trade in labor and
manufacturers can import the cheap la
Dor of Europe, the laborer is denied the
| right to buy goods In the cheapest mar
ket. Labor is paid less IN protected
| European countries than In free trade
England. With highly protected cotton
manufacturers, the average wages paid
here are actually less than wages paid
in England. The profits of protection
| go to the monopoiists only. The very
men who are now in congress most loud
| ly demanding protection for American
| lobor, were importing cheap Canadian
| labor to strip the northwest of its forests.
| The combined pottery manufacturers of
Ohio cut down wages and discharged
| American hands the moment the tariff on
their products was increased. The mo-
nopolists corrupt legislatures, practical
" deny to their workmen the liberty of
/ nd 1f re-
The American farmers constituting
more than half of our voters, bearing
with the workingmen the burden of all
the taxes we pay for protection and get
none of it. They sell in an unprotected
market and buy in a protected one.
Protection taxes the poor man far more
heavily than the rich. II restricts the
farmers market by shutting out those
who would exchange with him. 1t bur-
dens the manufactures by adding to the
cost of his materials without increasing
the amount of his sales, and il reduces
the wages of workmen in every line of
business, The true interests of Amer
lea are bound together in free trade.
| equal taxation, farmers rights, manu-
featuring prosperity and higher wages.
The government of the United States
has no constitutional or other right TO
impose taxas on the people, except with
the intent and result of getting sufficient
money into to public treasury TO pay the
public debt, provide for common defense,
provide for the general welfare, and ali
the tariff taxes called protective, laid
with different intent and result, ought
TO be abolished, and we favor the pro-
motion and reciprocity and repeal of
the navigation laws which have de-
| stroyeG our merchant marine.
We do not counsel the immediate for
nation of new party, though we rec
Ognize that many Republicans and many
Democrats, losing faith in their own
parties, desire to unite politically for q
genuine revenue reform. But IN case the
existing parties, in their utteFances of
their candidates or the designating of
their leaders in congress, persistentIy
oppose or evade the reform, we advise
refOrmers to prepare for independent
political action. Meanwhile we call uD-
on those who think with US to make the
existing public sentiment visible by Or
ganizlng to extend by discussion and
other education, to make It practical at
the polls by questioning candidates for
+, congress, and by voting in congresslon-
al campaigns in which this is already
; the supreme question for candidates
who will best serve, the cause of tariff
reform.
! This address is issued IN behalf Of
freedom, the most precious result of po-
litical action; in behalf of prosperity
whose broad, everlasting basis Is found
! in perfect freedom of human activity
3 bounded only by the equal privileges Of
. | all men,"
The conference then took recess I'M
til evening.
J, At the afternoon session members o
/ the American free trade league held {
l nd aft
e the following officers: President, Hon
g David A. Wells, Norwich, Conn. vic
d president, Thomas Holland, New York
c Charles Francis Adams, Boston; Ansol
e Stokes, New York; VIM. p. Wells, De
! troIt; W. P. Fishback, Indiana; j. Ster
= ling Morton, Arbor Springs, Neb.; JohI
o s. Phelps, Springfield, NO.; B. T. Cue
o Des Moines, Iowa; B. R Foreman, New
q Orleans Charles p. Smith, Philadelphia
g Prof. James 81. Garfield, Lawrence, Kas.
e Secretary, Il. X. Bowker, New York
# Western Secretary, Henry j. Philpott
a Des Moines, Iowa; Treasurer, George Z
If Peabody, New York.
VI An executive committee was named q
It follows: 7. G. Spearman, Brooklyn
IL VIM. G Brownlee, Detroit; A. L. Earle
II New York; 81. r. Stapler, New York
" E. G. Taylor, Kansas City; e n. SheI
= ard, Brooklyn. One vacancy was left 3
le be filed by the committee. This CON
II mittee will have power to name men
is bers of the national free trade e0mmitte
from states in which there are no stat
y" free trade leagues.
The conference reassembled this ever
d ing and was addressed by T. G. Sherma
d in q lengthy and carefully prepare
IT speech. He was followed more bfie
re IL by Vim. NJ. Springer, of Illinoi
e after which the conference finally &c
ct journed.
If About OleomArEarins-
l. KANSAS CRY. June LIN the Unite