The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-11-20
BLOWS AT PROJECTION.
Platform Adopted by Gsle National Com
vention of Free Traders at Chicago
New Officers Elected.

vention of Free Traders at Chicago
New Officers Elected.
CHICAGO, Nov. 1S.-The convention of
the National Free Trade League, which has
been in session in this city during the past
I'VE days, closed last nightin a masS-meet-
ing at Central Music Hall, where a very
large audience was addressed by Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher and David a. Wells.
At the afternoon session the Committee
on Nominations submitted report, which
was adopted. 1t named the following as
the future officers of the league:
President Daniel A. Wells, New York:
list of Vice Presidents in which nearly every
State is represented; Honorary Secretary,
r. r. Bowker; Western Secretary, H. j. Phil
Treasurer, George II. Peabody. Executive
Contradictions G.. sherman, Josiah
Quincy, A. W. Thomas, Il. b. B., Stapler, e.
T: Doyle. William g. Rrownlce: A.. A Healy.
w. w. Wilmer, Erksine NJ. Phelps, III. ID.
Harter and w. g. Peckhafn. National
Committee--R. r. Bowker, New York;
O'Rourke Indiana; William G. Brownlee.
Michigan; ]. Sterling Morton, Nebraska; +,
L. Underwood, Missouri; w. r. Whitksr.
louisiana; J. S. D:rgan, South Carolina,
James 9. Jenkins, Wisconsin,: James D. Han.
cock, Pennsylvania; Enoch Harpole, Kansas;
j. NJ. Osborn, Ohio; p }. Smailey, Minnesota;
Josiah Quincy, Massachusetts.
The Committee on Resolutions submitted
Its report, which was adopted after several
amendments had been made The report
was as follows:
We submit to the people of the United
States that the continuance of the war tariff.
with duties averaging forty-two per cent. on
over fourteen hundred articles of domestic
consumption, and a much higher specific duty
on many crude materials, has prolonged the
evils of war in times of profound peace, and
has been the principal cause of the CONNER
cial and industrial depression of recOnt years.
By forcing labor and capital from naturally
profitable into Improbable lines of business,
and by adding to the cost of production, is
has decreased the common productive inter-
eSts of the country. and thereby reduced both
the wages of labor and the profit of capital; it
has provoked an antagonsia between labor
and capital against which our great natural
resources and our free institutions should
have protected us; it has impaired our power
to compete with other manufacturing ma
tons in the markets of the world, and so OBJ
structed National progress and development
1t has destroy ed many branches of bust
ness, and has kept many people from engag-
ing in other branches of business which
would have given increased employment to
labor.
BY preventing our buying from nations
willing to buy from us, end by provoking re-
taliatiOn in like spirit instead Of promoting
friendly reciprocity, it has INSTRUCTED the
consumption of OuI agricultural and mafIu
featured products by other countries, and
has driven our commerce from the seas.
By impairing our domestic power to buy it
has prevented the full development of our in
ter-State commerce and reduced the legti-
mate profits of and has driven into bankruptcy
a large number of our transportation Com
pauies and made domestic traffic more costly.
Through the influence of its Hobbies it has
enthroned jObbing ana corruption in our
legislative halls and has impeded the reform
of the civilservice.
In short, taking by force the earnings of
one class of men to enrich another class, it is
opposed to the spirit of American liberty and
of the Constitution it has prevented the Ma
tiOnal progress of wealth among the farming
class, decreased wages and their purchasing
power, and heightened the enforced idlenese
of WOrlxingmen, restricted our manufactures
from their natural markets, and demoraiized
the gene al business of the country.
While holding, accordingly, that taxes in
ana OF private interests. or Tor any purpose
other than the requirements Of Government,
are un-Amerlcan, unjust and unWise, and
that every protective feature must at the
earliest possible date be eradicated from our
revenue system, we invite all who oppose the
abuses of the present tariff to join US in pro-
noting immediate steps of practical tariff re-
form, which we believe will increase wages,
diminish the frequency of strikes, develop
business and restore our flag to the seas
We therefore nrge upon Congress for action
at the ensuing sessiOn-frst that under no
pretense shall any countenance be given to
attempts to increase protective duties;
second, that articles which are at the
foundation of great industries should,
in the interest of labor and commerce,
be free from duty, whether they be crude
materials-as lumber, salt, coal, ore, wood,
etc-0r partly manufactured-as chemicals,
dyestuffS pig iron. unplate, wood pulp, ETC.. (;
third, that on products from such articles
duties should at least be CORRESPONDENCE re-
duced so that the protection, real or nominal,
to manufacturers shall not be increased, and
that the consumers shall have the immediate
benefit OF the reduction.
tariff reform
should simplify the present complicated
classification, should do away with mixed
duties, rep .acing them by ad valorem rates
instead of by specific duties, which are most
burdensome to low-price goods consumed by
the great body OF the people.
We demand free Ships, and the aboli.
ton of our restrictive navigation laws,
which, together with the tariff, have
I driven our flag from the seas; and
we oppose bOuDties and subsidies on
shipping. We urge revenue refoTmecs to
as openly oppose tariff for protection, and to
take steps to nominate independent candi-
dates when all party candidates oppose tariff
reform, preparing for that step by diffusing
sound economic literature and promoting or
ganization, especially in close Congressional
districts.
The following resolution was also adopt
ed:
ResOlued, That it is the sense of this conven-
ton that no further reduction be counte-
nanced in the internal revenue tax on spirits
and tobacco until the existing tariff has been
brought to a strict revenue basis.
1t was also agreed that reports of the con-
vention proceedings be sent to the President
and every Congressman and United States
Senator.