Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-12-04
BLOWS At PROTECTION.

BLOWS At PROTECTION.
Platform Adopted by tho National co,
vention of Free Traders at Chicapo-i
New. Officers Elected.
CHICAGO, Nov. 13.-The convention or'
the National Free Trade League, which has.
been in session in this city during the past,
two days, closed last night in a mass-meet-:
ing at Central Music Hall, where a vervrs
large audience was addressed by Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher and David A. Wells.
AT the afternoon session the COMMITTEES.
on nominations submitted a report, which
was adopted. 1t named the following as.
the future officers of the league:
President, Daniel A. Wells, New York. a
lst or Vfce-Presidents in which nearly everv
3 Hta 3 Is 1opresented; Honorary Secretary,
pot i central s Meseepn secfHe aaGsy' H j.: Phi:
Treasurer, George i. Peabody. E Evw,aha;.
G6o "1ncIt e " Gnn G. Sherman, iosiaSS.
/; Doy e. William g; %Brownlec. A. A. He,ai ":
": W. Witmcr; Erksine NJ. Phelps. NJ My" Is
Gommitte and WI G: Ro resehham; National.
g; Mosher, Iowa: /. ". Stiles, i nGw i1 8
0Rourke. Indiana; William G.. Brown nis
MM T. H91aIw .. Ster M;.g Morton, Nebraska; E,
louisiana; j. S. Dargan, South CC ano
James 6. jenkins, Wisconsin: .Jamos ~ !, I'M,
I N d rghmnSylnan,a Enoch Harpolc, Kansas
JOSIAH quincy, Massachusetts.
The Committee on Resolutions sr,,n
It's report, which was adopted otter saverai
amendments had been made. rho ronoS+,
was as follows: ~ 'epoi''
we submit to the people Of tho u,,+o,
ot.tes .nnt the continuance of the war tariff
" %v.n fu1,ss avG,raglng iorty.two per cont. on,
v OuIlt1tu nlnurln rti11 -
consumption and a much higher specitic dntv
on many crude materials. has prolonged the.
evils OF war in tunes OF profound neece ND md
has been the principal cause Of the CONVEX "nu
cial and industrial depression of recent Years
ny forcing labor and capital from naturally
and by adding to the cost of production T.
has decreased the common productive intor'
ests or the country, and thereby reduced both
the wages OF labor and the profit of caDita,. II
mas provoked an antagonism between labor
and capital against which our great natural
resources and our free institutions should
to compete with other maDufacturinp M.
tons in the markets OF the world, and SO Oh
structed National progress and development.
1t has destroyed many branches Of bust
ness, and has kept many people from enrar.
ing in other branches OF business which
labor.
by preventing our buying from nations.
willing to buy from us. and by provoking re-
taliation in like spirit, instead OF promoting
A@HNt ~ ~ ms oDSlEuCIGu JnCr
on OF our agricultural and manu-
featured products by other countries, and
has driven our commerce from the seas.
nv lmpairing our domestic power to buy IT.
has prevented the fun Development of our in
t%er-Stnte and reduced the lemiti-
mate nrofts OF and has driven into bankruptcy
Il large number OF our transportation COM
paIlIes ana 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 civilscrvice.
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
tlohal progress OF wealth among the farming
power. and heightened the enforced idlene>s
OF work!ngmen, restricted our manufactures
from their natural murtets, and demoraiized
the general business of the country.
While holding, accordingly, that taxes in
AID or private interests, or for any purpose
other than the requirements Of Government.
that every protective feature must at the
earliest possible date he cradicatcd 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
ut the ensuing session-tilst That under no
pretense shall any countcnancc be given to
second. that articles winch are at the
foundation of great industries Should,
i'll the interest of labor and commerce.,
be free from duty, whether they be crude
materialS-ls lumber. salt, coal. ore, wood,
etc.-or partly manufactured-as chemicals,
dyestuflS, pig iron. tinplate. wood pulp, etc;
third. that on products from such articles
duties should NJ least be correspondingly re-
duced, so that the protection, real or nominal,
to manufacturers shall not he Increased, and
that the consumers shall have the immediate
benefit OF the reduction.
We urge that amy steps in tariff reform
classification, should do away with mixed
duties, replacing them by ad valorem rates
!nstend OF 10y specific duties, which are most
DurdenSome 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
we oppose hountics and subsidies on
shipping. We urge revenue reformers to
vote only for such Congressional candidates
as openly oppose tariff for protection. and to
take steps to nominate independent candl-
dates when all party candidates oppose tariff
reform. preparing for that step by diiiusing
sound economic literature and promoting Or
ganjZation, especially in close Congressional
districts.
The following resolution was also adopt
eds
Resotrcd. I'nat it is the sense of this conven-
t!OH tEitt no further reduction be counte-
lanced in the internal revenue tax on spirits
and tobacco Until the existing tariff has been
Drought to a street revenue busis.
y 1t was also agreed that reports Of the con-
ventlon proceedings be sent to the President
and every Congressman and United States