The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-22
A Thrifty Protectionist.

John Wannamaker, of Philadelphia, is
one OF the great merchants of the country,
and, like Mr.. Carnegie, the millionaire iron
manufacturer, is a noted protectionist and
distinguished republican. He is also u very
good man, and is conspicuous in the Sunday
school and church.
MIR. Wannamaker is a large importer of
silks, and particularly of silk ribbon. The
duty on bonnet trimmings is 20 per cent.
while on manufactures of silk it is so per
cent Mr.. Wannamakcr has inn
ported many millions of dollars o.
silk ribbons which, he has always declared,
were for hat trimmings, and hence he iu-
sisted he should only pay 20 per cent. duty.
The treasury department, however, did not
agree with him, aud he was compelled to pay
80 per cent He brought a suit five o. six
years ago egainst the government TO re-
cover the difference between the duty he
paid and the duty he thought he ought to
pay, and the other day the court decided in
his favor. 1t is e,timated that if tne court
OF the last resort sustains this decision the
government will have to return TO Mr..
Wannamaker about 81 900, 900.
There is silk factory in New Jersey
which. it is asserted will be ruined if this
decision is sustained. Did M. Wanna
maker want to ruin this factorys Being in
favor of high protective duty, what differ
ence did it make to him whether the 90 per
cent. duty which the government exacted
was authorized by law or not, since it did him
no harm, and helped the little silk monopoly
Il.
JerSey9
1t can hardly be that Mr.. Wannamaker
wanted to benefit the people who bought his
ribbons, because it is stated that he was
largely instrumental in raising campaign
fund of 100000 for the republicans in the
present campaign. He wants the repub-
lcans to win the election because he is
anxious that the present high protective
tariff shall be maintained.
But is not MI Wannamaker a little in
consistent! He appeals to the courts to re-
duce the tariff, but helps to raise big
fund for a party that promises that the
tariff shall not be reduced. What sort of
reformer is Mr.. Wannamaker!
But suppose the court of the last resort
sustains the decision in Mr.. Wannamaker's
case, and the government pays him the
millions which, according TO the decision, it
has unlawfully collected from him, what
will he do with the moneys viii he put it
into his pocket, like good protectionists
It certainly does not belong to him. 1t be-
longs to the people from whom he collected
the difference between 20 per cent. and so
per cent. duty. VIII Mr.. Wannamaker
hunt them up and pay thems OF course
not. He could not lind them if ne wanted
TO, and if he found them he could not deter
mine exactly how much was due them.
How will Mr.. Wannamaker dispose of the
money. He will keep it, of course. The
people to whom it really belongs will never
see cent of it. BY this suit Mr.. Wanna
maker, il he finally succeeds, will have ac-
complished two tning,-he will have made
himself great deal richer, and he will
have crippled an infant industry, for which
he and other protectionists are always so
solicitous 1t looks as if Mr.. Wannamaker
would have reason to think that protection
is a very good thing for him.