Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-11-13
FREE TRADERS
Hold Forth in Large Numbers at Chicago
-Res0lutiOns Adopted.

CHiCAGO, NOV. IL.
At today's session of the free trade leauge,
the following officers were elected:
President-David A. Wells.
Vice Presidents Holland, New
York, j. Clark. Iowa, NJ. NJ. Trumbull, III,
w. +. Fishback. Indiana, W. P. Wells.
Michigan. U. S. Harwood, Nebraska, Ex-
Gov. J. Phelps, Missouri, B. A. Forman,
Loulsiana,9F. w. Dawson, South Carolina.
W. NJ. Singerly, Pennsylvania, Elk Gov. j.
5 Robinson, Kansas, ]. L. Smith, Ohio, N.
L. Pierce, Massachusetts, T. B. Sargent,
Connecticut, Henry Waterson, Kentucky. j.
5. Stevens, New Jersey, W. A. Jenkins,
Texas, +. t. Whitman, Oregon, VIM. Glib
bons, Delaware, Rowland Harvard, Rhode
Island. B. B. Hulburt, Minnesota.
Treasurer-Geo. F. Peabody.
The report of the committee on resolutions
was subjected to much discussion. II was
adopted as follows:
We submit to the people of the United
States, that the continuance of the war tariff
with duties averaging AZ per cent. on over
l40O articles of domestic consumption, and
much higher duty on many crude materials
has prolonged the evils of war times. of pro-
found leace, and has been the principal
cause of commercial and industrial depres
sion of recent years. By forcing labor and
able lines of business, and by adding to the
cost of production, it has decreased the COM
mon productive capacity of labor and capital
and thereby reduced the wages of labor
and profits of capitol; has provoked antago-
nlsm between labor and capital, against which
our great natural resources and our free in
stltutions should have protected us; has i'm
paired our power to compete with other man.
ufacturing nations, in the markets of the
world, and so Obstructed national progress
and Development that it has destroyed many
branches OF business and has kept our people
from engaging in other branches of business
which would have given an increased employ
ment to labor. BY preventing our buying
from nations willing to buy from US and by
provoking Federation in like spirit, instead
of promoting a friendly reciprocity, it has
obstructed the consumption of our agricul-
tural and manufactured products by other
countries and has driven onr commerce from
the sea. BY impairing our domestic power to
buy, its prevented the full development of
our Interstate commerce and reduced the
legitimate profits of traffic, and has driven
into bankruptcy large number of our trans
portatiOn companies, and made domestic
traffic more costly through the influence of
its lobbies. 1t has enthroned jobbing and
corruption in our legislative halls, and has
impeded The reform of civil service. In short,
taking BY force the earning of one class of
men to enrich another class. 1t is opposed
to the spirit of American liberty and of the
constitution. 1t has prevented national pro-
gress of wealth among the farming classes,
decreased wages and their purchasing power,
and heightened the enforced idleness of our
working men, restricted our manufacturers
from their natural markets, and demoralized
the general business of the country. While
holding, accordingly, that whatever it takes
in aid of private caterers, or for any purpose
other than the requirements of government,
are un-Amerlcan, unjust and unwise and that
every protective feature must at the earliest
possible day be ersdicated from our
revenue system. We invite all who oppose
the abuses of the present tariff to
join US in promoting immediate steps of a
practical tariff reform which we believe will
increase wages, reduce the frequency of
strikes, develope business, and restore our
flag to the seas. We therefore urge upon
Congress that at the ensuing session. under
no pretense, shall any countenance whatever
be given to any attempt to increase the pro-
tective duties; that articles which are at the
foundation of great industries should in the
interests of labor and commerce, be freed
from duty, whether they be crude materials.
as lumber, salt, coal or wood, etc., or partly
manufactured, as chemicals, dye stuffs. pig
iron. tin plate, wood pulp, etc. that on
products from such articles duties should at
least be correspondingly reduced, so that
protection, real or nominal to manufacturers,
shall not be increased, and that consumers
shall have immediate benefit of the reduction
We demand free ships and and the abolition
of our restricting navigation laws, which,
together with the tariff have driven our flag
from the seas, and we oppose the bounties
and subsidies on shipping. We urge the rev.
enue reformers to vote only for such Con-
gressional candidates as openly oppose
tariff for protection and to take steps to noLi-
mate independent candidates who oppose
tariff reform, preparing for that step by
d;fusing sound, economical literature and
promoting organization, especially in close
Congressional districts.
At Central Music Hall tonight David A.
Wells and Henry Ward Beecher spoke on
free trade. The building was packed to its
utmost capacity.