St. Paul daily globe., 1884-07-16


selves to the new condition. 1t also declares
that no charge shall be made which will lessen
the wages of labor. These are the only limita
tions upon the methods of exercising the taxing
power for public service. These limitations are
recognized as just ones by free traders. !"
''You propose, then, to cut the dogs tail by
inches so as to make it easy for the dog?'
at is one claim that the change from the pro-
tective system to the revenue system shall bene
lit the manufacturers and add to the wages Of the
laborer. The platform is therefore plain enun-
cistion of the doctrine held by all the tariff re-
formers III the last congress and by the advocates
of commercial freedom all over the country. 1t
cannot, therefore, but be satisfactory to every
one who hopes for the adoption Of ultimate
free trade in this country. We propose
to do by degrees what the business interests Of
the country that have become fixed under the
present system would object to have done at
once. In my judgment, revenue tariff which
would be entirely satisfactory to the revenue re-
formers, could be adopted in day without any
dstriment to the business interests of the coun-
try; but in consideration Of the apprehension
that they enter into this subject, am willing
that II should be done gradually, and this is the
doctrine declared by the platform
'How do you account for the Democratic pro-
tectionists (so-called) like Converse and those
acting with him, making nearly one half the
committee, agreeing to it if it is susceptible of
the interpretation that you put upon it:'
"In ths convention Mr.. Converse moved to
Eubssitute'the Ohio platform, which provides for
Incidental protection. 1t was voted down-30 to
b. He then proposed to insert the Ohio plank
as to the restoration of the duty on wool, which
was also voted down by large majority, A mo-
ton made by member OF The committee to
strike out the word ''exclusively.' The ma
jority against this was only two. After these
defeats Of this element of the con-
vention they considered the prOpri-
ETY. of making minority report, but
as l understood, become satisfied they would be
overwhelmingly beaten in the convention and
that their position would be better while they
remained in the Democratic party by appearing
to bs content with the plat form, majority
had agreed upon it, than by carrying the combat
into the convention, where they would be de-
teated. The action of the convention to which
have referred shows conspicuously that it was
their intention to exclude from the platform
everything that looked like protection Of any
kind
indirectly in making the PLATFORM
'Mr Cleveland was known TO be apronounced
reyenne reformer, and was in hearty sympathy
with the majority in the house of representa-
tives in their efforts to pass the Morrison bill. 1
have understood that the views of Mr.. Marble
and Mr.. Hewitt, WEIGH was presented to the con-
vention, represented the views of
Mr.. Cleveland upon this subject,
and tho platform was largely made
up in the propositions submitted by them. If
you want any corroboration of my views on this
subject Mr.. Bookwalter, late Democratic
candidate for governor of Ohio, who is one of
the largest manufacturers in the west, and who
came to Chicago to aid in the incorporation Of a
revenue tariff plank in the platform. He was in
constant consultation with Messrs. Morrison,
Carlisle and others while the platform was in
process of preparation"
Mr.. Bookwalter was found and promptly an
swered the queries follows:
''What can you tell US, Mr.. Brookwalter, about
the history of tho tariff plank il the plarfo1m
and its meaning?"
81 am deeply impressed said he, ''with the
fact that the immediate issue is tariff reform.
visited Chicago for the purpose of aiding, so far
as L could, in getting into the platform a plank
declaring In the fullest terms for tariff reform
Tariff reform, meaning whaL:''
Meaning the collection Of revenue for gener-
al and not for specific purposes; in other words,
to mees public necessities, not aid private enter
prises. l am thoroughly satisfied with this feature
Of the platform, as it means Enthusiastically tariff
reform, and if carried into effect will ultimately
sweep away the high war tariff taxes we now
raise, in my belief imposing burden on all the
Industries Of the country
''You consider, then, that the platform in the
present shape does not differ materially from the
platform of 1880, which was tariff for revenue
only"
81 regard It as substantially the samey''
'Do you consider tnat in case of the election
of congress and president on that platform one
of their first duties would be to pass the Morri-
son bill, or something similar to it?''
believing that tariff lowed for the purpose
OF protection can only work to the injury of our
industries and business, and belieying that re-
ducton of custom duties to the very lowest point
practicable will operate to the advantage of
our business interests. l think it is the
duty of the Democratic party to take immediate
steps when it gets i'll power to bring about this
reduction, and would be bound to do it under the
platform OF the convention. | think it is more
specific in its declarations, more Enthusiastically
anti-protective than any former platform of the
Democratic party"