The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-03-24
Current Events.

The first State convention Of republicans
in republican state was held by the Iowa
republicans at DesMoines on Wednesday
last, 10 select 26 delegates and alternates to
the National Republican Convention at
Chicago In June The attendance was
large and the 'thusiasm 'mense. No plat
form was adopted; but Senator Allison was
practically unanimously endorsed as a can
didate for the presidential nomination. The
speeches indicated no disposition to antici-
pate the line of policy to be laid down by
the national convention; and II there were
any getting away from fossilized issues OF
the party, IL was in guarded declarations by
the speakers In favor of protective"
tariff.
The Bulletin of the American Iron and
Steel Association has announced that Gre.
sham cannot be the nominee of the repub
lcan party for president, since, as the can
ddate of the Chicago Tribune, the Bulletin
and the iron and steel men infer, his tariff
views and those of the Tribune are alike
and IL farther announces that "if the re-
Publican party Is TO be restored to power
next fall, 1t must be on an out and.out plat
torn of protection for the sake OF protec-
ton, with candidates whose records are In
accord with that declaration. Only
"A stalwart prOtectionist can defeat Cleve.
land, because no other candidate can rally
the whole protectionist strength" And
that will assuredly be the republican plat
form. The debate on the message has com
mitted the party to the high protection
doctrine; and the man who hopes for tariff
reform from the republican party has rs
90 ha tuh nv napts rain n
fall from cloudless sky.
The Philadelphia Times has been gath
ering "straws," and of several thousand
votes received finds that Indiana Is for Har'
rison, and Ohio for Sherman. Pennsylva-
MIA has no choice, and New York none.
Blaine leads all the candidates everywhere
There are loud complaints In the Pennsyl-
vania mining counties of Carbon, LuzerDe,
Lackawanna and SchuylEill, that the tariff
issue Ia played out, and that something new
must be tried If the party IL to hold Its own
Reports from Minnesota show that only ~
per cent of the republican party strength Is
for high tariff; Is per cent are outand out
free traders, and the other 65 per cent in
favor of modified (reformed) tariff.
It Is not improbable that In addition to
demand for reduction OF tariff taxes, the
republicans will be called on to explain the
cause of the excessive high taxes In Iii.
nois, which have been increased from 27c
on the 800 In 1879 TO 53c In 1887. Why this
doubling of state tax should occur now,
when there IL no state debt, Is something
the common kind of men do not understand
Farmers who are now paying the levies on
them would like to understand the reason,
and also why, e. q, II is that Ohio's tax Is
only $8, 10000 and that Of Illinois "a 1885,
900 over and above the per cent revenue
from the Illinois Central Railroad. If the
excess IL not the result of waste and OK.
travagaHce, whence comes IL
The Illinois waterway project Was up
he fore one of the House committee s again
on Tuesday and Wednesday last. Col.
and canals talked over his report on the
Springer commission bill Tuesday. They
Endorsed the matter of the report thor
oughly, but finally voted instructing Plumb
% draw substitute bill to be presented
Monday The new bill Is to order surveys
by the government engineer corps Of the
Two proposed routes, one by Calumet, and
one from the heads of navigation to the
river. The survey Is also to include a
study OF the overflow and drainage prob.
lem and all matters which have had a
bearing on the waterway project. Con
gresham Adams on Wednesday before
the river and harbor committee requested
that the bill include an order that the
engineer corps 60 ahead aud prepare plans
and estimates for a waterway from the
head Of navigation In the river to Lake
Michigan, 80 that, II possible, work can be
begun toward the project 10 the Illinois
legislature this winter.
The Mills tariff bill still hangs on the
committee, but II will soon, no doubt, be
submitted TO Congress. The debate will
ne long one-prObahly cover month or
more, since already seventy members are
enrolled for recognition by the Speaker
!, Is not claimed there are are now enough
democrats In favor OF the bill TO pass II,
bat the friends of the bill are nevertheless
hopeful for 1t. II will require 1913 votes TO
piss II, the total estimated strength for il
in the House being now estimated at 1877.
The international copyrightists have
introduced In the Senate a bin to give
authors international copyrights the publ.
cation at home and abroad to be simulta.
neous and the home publication TO be from
type set and plates made entirely In this
country. American publishers, II an inter
sttlonsl copyright should obtain, should
then adopt the German selling their books
with sheets folded and glued, but un.
sewed and unbound, 50 that the buyer
would not be forced to pay for binding he
personally dislikes or does not want at all.
The trouble with American copyright
books Is that they are made too nigh
priced for the common people, and this
publishers should In some way remedy
The justice Of an International copyright
no one will question.
The funeral OF the Emperor William
took place at Berlin on Friday last. The
ceremonies were very impressive, but
crowned heads Of Europe, the new En-.
peror, Prince Bismarck and Won Moltke
we're conspicuous by their absence.
On Monday the report of relapse by
the Emperor came from Berlin, and II is be.
lieved his physicians are Disgusting the
real facts 10 his case. He continues, how
ever, to work with tremendous energy
for 80 sick man.
ST. Patrlck's day was celebrated with
c. II re