St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-28
it difficult to understand
"wHY WHEAT is Lowa,

thirty-two million, a large increase over pre-
ceeding years.
Is it difficult to understand
"wHY WHEAT IS LOWE"
We are losing the market in which we have
heretofore disposed of our surplus crops. In
stead of pursuing a liberal policy towards the
wheat buying nations of Europe, and secur-
ing their trade by trading with them, we
have built a Chinese wall of tariff duties along
our coast and shut them out. We have done
all that we conld do to induce them to test
undeveloped soil of the east and seek a mar
ket there.
Whatever fluctuations may occur in the
wheat market, it is evident that low prices
viii be the average. Unless the cost of pro-
duction is reduced, unless they can raise
wheat cheaper than heretofore, there is little
hope OF profit to our wheat growers. To do
this, the cost of living, of transportation and
OF agricultural machinery, must be reduced.
Upon each of these elements of production
the existing tariff imposes its heavy burden
of taxation. It taxes the farmers wearing
apparel, his linen, cotton and wooden goods;
his shirt, coat, boots and hat. Ii taxes his
carpets, furniture, bedding and cook stove;
his crockery, rice, sugar and salt; the lum-
Der, nails, paint, glass and hardware in his
house; his drugs, medicines and pipe; his
newspaper and his Bible. There is not a
nail, screw or bolt, or a piece of iron,
steel or leather in his farm machinery, no
implement or tool, not even his hoe, pillow,
spade, scythe, nor AK, which does not pay
its heavy tribute to ''protectedn capital. The
wagon in which he hauls his grain, the rail
road that carries it to the seaboard, and the
ships Qf American) which transport it to
Europe are likewise burdened.
The tariff has increased the cost of trans
portation
1t has increased the cost of farming.
1t has increased the co ST of living.
For twenty-four consecutive years ''pro-
tectionn has been tested here. If at the close
Of this period it is true that the favored in
dustries are unable to support Themselves
if they cannot sustain even as slight a re-
duction of the tax as proposed by the Morri-
son bill, then the experiment is a failure. If
a quarter of a century of high tariffs has left
these children Of subsidy so feeble that they
cannot cast off even 20 per cent. of their
''protecting' wraps, how many generations
o fmen must live, be taxed and die before
they will become sufficiently robust to stand
alone2 A system so burdensome aud so
~fruitless of benefit ought to be forever aBan-
doned.
1t is not right to tax one man for another's
gain. 1t is not right to force the profitable
industries of the nation to pay tribute to
those which are by nature improbable. The
memorable law of demand and supply which
regulates the price of grain and the wages of
the laborer, governs also the manufacturers.
They will exist whenever there is a demand
for them, wherever they will pay. The best
way to protect them is to give them cheap
raw material, cheap machinery, cheap trans
portation, Untaxed labor and an open mar
ket in every quarter Of the globe. If, with
these advantages, backed by American pluck
skill and ingenuity, they are unable to be
s~elf-supporting, no system of subsidies or
tariffs, no stimulants can ever render them
so.
Revenue reform can only be secured by an
emphatic and determine expression of public
sentiment in its favor. Thu monopolies who
have become millionaires by protection are
too powerful to be easily overthrOwn. The
politicians and political parties of the coun-
try are in their hands,. Old issues are res
directed aud new ones created for the pur-
pose of concealing and suppressing this most
important Of all issues. Every attempt in
congress to materially reduce the tariff tax
has hitherto failed. A mysterious but over
towering influence has stitled the voice and
thwarted the work of reform.
1t is time for the people to speak.
We ask the reader to give this subject the
candid and thorough investigation its i'm
p~ortance demands. The-anti-protective tar
if league of Minnesota does not seek to ere
/ -1-- -oI{.ooI a,+ $50 - 1.;-+oo..%.
existing parties. Its single purpose is to
call forth such an emphatic popular demand
for revenue reform, that in this state neither
party will be able to elect to either house of
congress, a senator or representative who
will not vote and honestly and zealously
work for reform in spite of caucus dictation,
party expediency and the occult influence of
a rich and powerful lobby.
We believe that the existing tariff taxes
should be gradually and Systematically re-
duced until the element of 'protection'' is
eliminated from them. The duties upon i'm
ports, like all other taxes, should be levied
for revenue only, and only so much revenue
should be so collected as is necessary for the
support of the government economically adj
ministered; that every business should stand
upon its merits; that favoritism should
be shown to none; that the best way to re-
duce the $3.50, 600, 600 annual surplus in the
treasury is to reduce the taxes which create
it.
We urge the organization in every town
in the state of local clubs for this purpose,
and invite the cooperation of all citizens
who are ready to demand the reduction of
surplus taxation.
TIC Anti-PrOtectice-Tdrif League of Min
neSOtd.
OFFICER.
President. ...........C II. Benedict, st. Paul.
First Vice President IF. b. Nash, Fergus Falls.
Second Vice President. Herbert, Red Wing
Corresponding Secretary I'D. W. Willis, st. Paul.
Recording Secretary u. D. Wood, Fergus Falls.
Treasurer ...............P H. Kelly, st. Paul.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE,
MlnnAinnrr u tho lnnm1rn and