The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-07-06
EXPERIENCE VS.. THEORY.


A Chicago Delegate Tells why He Abandoned
His College-Taughs Free Trade Ideas.
Brooklyn Standard Union.
Timothy Woodruff, who was one OF the Kings
county delegation at the Republican con INVENTION
recently held in Chicago. is, without doubt,
one of the brightest young mon In the party.
and will achieve a prominent place before many
years have elapsed. He is q graduate Of Yale
College, a quick reasoner and q sound business
man, and, therefore, his reasons for being pro-
tectionist ore Offset TO those of ex-Mayor Low,
which induced the latter gentleman TO sever his
allegiance to his party. so that be might adhere
to the freetrade policy of Cleveland The story
of Mr.. Woodrufs faith in protection WAS told by
him on his way to Chicago 70 group OF friends
and the Standard Union correspondent,
aud hence antedates Mr.. Lows position in favor
or free trade while controverting 1t. The party
was enjoying q comfortable smoke after supper.
on the train. when Mr. Woodruff surprised
them by suddenly saying that be had narrowly
escaped being Democrat This was revela-
ton, and brought forth questions resulting in
Mr. Woodruff telling this story: II was edu-
Gated at Yale College. and was there instructed
in political economy by one of the most pro-
nounced fres-traders in the country, and SO
when left college, and was about entering bust
ness life, was theoretically free-trader Of tho
most pronounced type, and finding the Repub-
lican party devoted to the protection theory,
naturally. was inclined to join the ranks of the
Democratic party.
But Just at that time went into the ware
house business, and had An experience there
which soon induced me to believe from pract-
cal stand point that the great interests OF this
country could only be developed by protection,
and that ;t was to the interest of every working
man to see to it that the barrier which protects
him against the pauper labor Of Europe IS not
broken down. And this experience. while dem
monstratioe the value OF protection, was gained
at personal loss found among other articles
that were stored In our warehouses WAS foreign
salt, upon which q large duty was imposed.
At the same time in this State were our
vast salt interests in which millions of dollars
were invested. l learned on investigation that
the foreign sali-dealers could mine their salt
send 1T to this country, pay the storage BILL and
yet sell it for less money than our domestic ealt
men could, aud that it was the protective tariff
alone which enabled the carrying on Of the salt
works in this State While without the tariff
the warehousemen would mako more money,
and hence my profits would be increased, still,
despite self-interest saw that by the protective
tariff alone could the great interest be Maintained
against foreign competition. This realistic Illus
tration of the effects Of protection and its ad-
vantsges over free trade put me in line Of
practical Investigation, aud all the theories in-
cnlcated by my free-trade professor were
knocked endways by facts, and hence l am q
protectionist ell the way through and am re-
joicsd to the Republican party defining its
position in positive manner, leaving no sort of
doubt AZ to its intent, and hope that this will
be clearly set forth in the platform"
This wish Of Mr.. Woodruffs was eratifed by
the convention and be is thoroughly satisfied
that upon the platform OF PRINCIPLES set forth
the party will WIN glorious victory this fall
Salt is one of the articles from which the Mills
bill proposes to remove the tariff and hence Mr.
woodruf's views on this subject have additional
value