Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-05-22
THE OHIO TARIFF IDEA.
4 Clear Statement of its scope by Congress
man FOran.

WASHINGTON, May 2l.-Mr. A. A Amai-
don, of Painesyille, Ohio having written a
letter to Representative Foran, OfCleveIand,
criticiSng his vote to strike out the enacting
clause of the Morrison bill Mr.. Foran has
made reply, giving the reasons why he voted
against the tariff bill In this letter Mr.
Feran SAYS:
The vote upon the Morrison bill shows
more plainly and forcibly that it was ever
shown before that parties in this country as
at present constituted are not organized
upon the tariff issue If the forty-one Dem
ocrats who voted to kill the Morrison bill
are Republicans in fact then there cannot
be found in the whole State of Pennsylvania
10000 Democrats, although about 100000
voters in that State have heretofore voted
hat ticket
$50 far as | am personally concerned, !
have tried to. represent the people of the dis.
lrict whose interests am here to guard;
and it is a question of no concern TO me
what citizens outside OF that district may
think of my official conduct. All of ninety
per cent of the voters of the Cleveland dis.
irict believe on this question rs | do; and
when reflect their views ] feel that | am
doing INV whole duty, and the opinions of
citizens of other districts ! hook upon aS
opinions merely, and not entitled TO any
consideration in shaping my official course
on matters of public policy.
But outside of that view Of the equestiOn,
and from the standpo point OF the party as
whole my course on the Morrison bill
seemed to me to be perfectly clear. The
advocates Of that measure not only admitted
but claimed it was simply a first step toward
free trade II YOU believe the Democratic
party should be organized on the basis Of
free trade, then YOU are not IN harmony
With the party in Ohio The ten Ohio Dem
ocratic Representatives who voted TO kill
the Morrison bill stood squareiy upon the
Ohio platform Yesterday the Democrats
of New jersey and the Democrats Of old
Virginia adopted the Ohio idea. Pennsyl-
vania has already adopted it; Connecticut
will follow: 30 will California and several
Other Democratic States.
Incidental Protection.
"A large portion of the Democratic party
believe in Incidental protection-the Ohio
idea: another portion believe in tariff for
revenue only-this means ultimate free
trade and defeat to the party every time ii
goes before the country on that platform.
Cnder a tariff for revenue only platform or
policy. all the revenue needed by tn. Gov
ernncnr might be collected on sugar, tea,
coffee and spices, articles not produced in
this COUNTRY And this IL exactly what is
meant bv men Of the Morrison school. The
Ohio idea is opposed to this policy and de
clares that take or revenue shall be raised
on articles which We ourselves produce. 50
that Incidental protection shgll be afforded
American industries and American labor.
That the present tariff Is unjust, unequal
and discriminating, no Democrat denies
That it should be modified and reformed all
admit That this result could be secured
by the Morrison Gll we most emphatically
denv. That n would decrease the revenue
and the surplus in the United States Treas
urr was not seriously claimed by Is most
ardent supporters, Their only aim was to
reduce the dnfy, not caring whether the rev
enue would Ge reduced or whether the in
congruities inconsistencies and inequalities
Of the present tariff would be remedied. II
was traly. as Mr.. Dorsheimer said, "A firm
step toward free trade That being the
case. no Democrat who stood upon the Ohio
platform could consistently vote for Il; nor
could any patriotic American citizen ofahy
party vote for Il unless he honestly believed
the policy Of free trade vii resnl; in all the
blessings and benefits TIE schoolmen, doe
trinarians, theorists and visionary sophists
claim.
Never Been q Free Trade Country.
This country has never been free trade
country. nor has the Democratic party ever
beer, strictly speaking, free trade party.
We knox VIA; the American policy has