Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-12-09
Tie Weekly Intelligencer
9Ie ca,Iastfr 1ntclliasntet
LAHcAsrER. DECEMBER 3, ls8s.
The Party Positions.

The president and the secretary of the
treasury have undoubtedly indicated the
Democratic policy on the tariff, and Con
gress assemblies with this definite indica-
tiou Of the position of the Democratic
members. The Republicans are still at
go, but their opinion is crystalizing into
support of reduction Of duties, since
such reduction is admittedly neCessar
upon articles of different class from those
chosen for release by the Democrats. In
this reduction the Democrats have the ad-
vantage of being first in the field with their
Recommendation, and undoubtedly occupy
the strongest ground in advocating the
abolition of duties upon raw materials en-
tering into manufacture.
II our own Pig Iron Kelly does not be-
ware he will find himself forced by the de-
mands of his constituents into the camp
Of the Democrats on this question, since it
is undoubtedly to the interest of PennSyl-
vania iron manufactures that the duty on
ores be abolished. The iron makers have
hung together thus long with the protec-
tioDists of every degree, because they have
believed that such union was necessary
for the defense of the doctrine that they pro-
claimed. Their feeling has been that if they
advocated the abolition of the duty on raw
materials, which injured them, they would
invite the abolition of the duty on pig iron,
which they need to keep their furnaces
lighted. a couple Of years ago there was
q convention at Cresson of the men en-.
gaged in the various iron industries, and il
was interesting and amusing to see the
varied views of the tariff upon iron pro
ducts held by the different classes Of ore
iron and steel producers. Their interest!
were all different, and they found that they
could only agree to recommending stout
duties all around, by the reflection that in
their union was their only strength, and
s>tthat they must endure what hurt them &c
get what helped them.
But now we have reached stage where
tits admittedly necessary to cut down the
duties, and the question is what shall &C
and what shall stay. In this situation
some Of Pig Iron Kelley's Republican
friends are advocating the release Of the
0atJ oh ouS"A WAL AAtAiNA49 sA'-
Brother Kelley's sugar refining constitu
ency, nor agree with his heory that al
Pennsylvania industries at least must b.
protected. 1t will suit his people a gTea'
deal better to release the duties on iron
ores, which will be a benefit to his port anC
to the pig iron furnaces that are the idOL
Of his heart.
The situation evidently invites disrup
tion OF the unnatural union between tht
ore producers and consumers, and the Re
publican party will be in trouble if it un
dertakes to fight the free ore policy. Penn
sylvania is not interested in the duty OF
ore. She does not have, outside Cornwall
any considerable deposit of iron ore tina
the foreign ores compete with. Her fun
naces must import ores from abroad, 0
from the lake or other region outside tn
state, and it is the interest of the state tha
they shall get them at the lowest cost. l
Pig Iron Kelley can divorce himself suff
ciently from his ancient prejudces TO Sc
what Is right under his nose he will 20 wit
the Democrats for free ores, even if it doe
make his head swim to get on the Demo
cratic side on tariff issue.