The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-06-13
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
"The Rich WouId Lose, But the Poor
would Gain, If the Mills Bill Became
Law''-s'NYhere Protection is Highest,
Wages Arc Lowest"

is the treasurer OF the Hadley thread company
OF HOlyoke, as well as of the Lowell manu-
featuring company Of Lowell. In reply Mr.
Lyman wrote the following letter, which we
are permitted to publish:
"OFFICE or THE HADLEY CoNPAEY,l
BosTOS July i3, 1855.
Chairman Of the Finance Committee OF the Holyoke
Republican Club;
DEAR SRI have yours of the 18th, asking
for contribution TO the republican club. /
am, of course. deeply Interested i'm the tariff as
regards the Hadley company, and also in its
bearing on many other cotton and wooden
manufactures in which I am interested, but in
my opinion the republican members of con-
gress iron New England and the Home market
club and the Wooden manufacturers associ-
alton have practically done more harm TO the
cause OF protection and to the protected $50
called) industries of Massachusetts, than the
democratic members OF the ways and means
committee.
Il have had occasion TO see some Of the demo-
cratic members OF the wavs and means COM
mittee and To hear of the plans and views of
others, and | am convinced that but for the
action of the republican members OF congress
from New England and Of the greater part of
the republican manufacturers OF New England
we could have had in the Mills bill satisfactory
schedules tor woolens and cottons. AS it is at
the request OF some manufacturers republican,
made through the democratic members from
Massachusetts, the democrats OF the ways and
means conn altered anu advanced rates on
some important items, while we were met I am
informed by republican members of the house
saying: Leave the schedule as IL is; Il IS better
for the election The republicans now refuse
to aid in putting raw materials on the free list,
and certainly in New England free raw material
has been considered as an element in prOtec-
ton almost as essential as the duty on the
manufactured article.
From my business experience in both i'm
porting and manufacturing, am fully aware
of the necessity OF protection for the mainten-
ance here OF certain manufactures, and | very
much regret that the republican party, with
which have acted from its beginning, has, for
political success, taken a position which / con-
slider hostile in its practical effects to the pro-
tected industries of Massachusetts,. The demo-
cratic members OF the ways and means commit
tee take broad, and on the whole reasonable
views OF the tariff question, and while OF
course, they look at the interest of the United
States as a whole, they do not ignore the fact
that many great industries have grown up in
this country under the high duties made neces-
sary by the war of the rebellion, and that it is
only fair ana proper that consideration should
be paid 10 their existence and condition.
Neither do they ignore the fact that the work
people IN the protected industries are very
largely members of the democratic party. Be-
sides the consideration that my manufacturing
interests have been put at needless risk by the
partisan action of the republicans, l must also
take into consideration the interests OF the
whole country, in which we are involved, and
I can not feel 10 to be right to vote for any one
who can honestly stand on the republican plat
form Most of the republicans with whom |
have spoken about il have told me that they
have not read it, can readily believe that it
would be disagreeable reading to republicans
who IN the past have, in al honesty, desired to
have raw materials and food products on the
free list. But the eXigencies OF practical poll
tics have forced the party into false position
as regards the tariff and into many other un-
wise and dangerous relations In regard TO the
domestic and foreign affairs OF the country.
There is practically no party In this country
in favor of free trade in any reasonable sense
Of the term, and II IS as unfair to call the Mills
bill free trade bill as il is to say that the re-
publicans are in favor of the free drinking OF
whisky, because the manufacturers OF protected
articles have for several years insisted that all
internal taxes should be taken off in order that
il should be impossible to alter the duties OF
imports. While the Mills bill is not bill that
wholly commends itself to me, it is correct and
for the interest of Massachusetts in many par
ticulars, notably in the matter Of free wool.
Every manufacturing country IN the world of
any consequence except the United States,
has wool on the free list. The position that
the republican party has taken makes it well
for the country, as it seems 70 me, that 1t
should not have control of the government for
the next four years. Yours truly,
"ARTHURT T. LYMAN"
During the debate in the house on the Mills
bill, Congressman Dingley, representing the
Second Maine district, declared that every
wooden manufacturer in the Second district had
said to him: "Free wool would, in the end, DO
q curse TO the manufacturing interests of the
country" This statement was brought to the
attention OF Mr. Robert Bleakie OF Hyde Park,
Mass, part owner of two wooden mills located
in Mr. Dingleys district, and under date OF
July % he wrote to the editor OF the Lewiston
Gazette as follows:
81 am surprised that Congressman Dingley
should have made the statement quoted by you,
knowing rs he must, that it was not true, Tor
we have two wooden mills IN the Second con-
gressiOnal district of Maine, and we surely have
given him no authority TO speak for US In that
manner. The employment OF such methods to
further retard legislation, whether success
full or otherwise, must tend to a loss of self
respect by the person using them. Dir. Ding
ley's statement cannot be excused on the
ground that ne had not sufficient evidence of
my position on the tariff question; for knowl
edge OF that has extended as far and as wide as
the circulation of the Boston Herald, in which
paper, a few months ago, lengthy controversy
on the subject Of free wool was carried on be-
tween the Hon. A. W. Beard treasurer OF this
state, and myself, in which claimed and at
tempted 10 prove (and l think did prove)
that free wool would be vastly beneficial TO
both manufacturers and operatives. On &C
count of the official position OF one OF the dis
putants and his well known reputation as q
most able and industrious champion OF the
high protective policy, as well as tor other
reasons this series o. letters attracted great
deal of attention; and, if the representative
from your Second district has given any heed
to the discussion in the newspapers and else
where, which has followed the advent OF the
Mills bill, he cannot have failed TO know my
sentiments in this matter.
speaking q wooden manufacturer Of that
part of the bill which concerns my business,
have to say that | think il is the best bill that
has ever been framed to promote the interests
of wooden manufacturers and the laboring
population employed in woOlen-mills. l can
not see how any manufacturer can tail TO md
in it all the protection ne needs, and the opera
tive all the guarantee he requires OF protection
against the cheaper labor of European coun-
tries. Briefly, this is the positions: Free wool
and 40 per cent. protection against competing
products OF foreign countries. II there is any
fTee-trade in this | cannot see it. But do see
that we get free wool and protection OF 40 per
cent, which is equal in amount to double the
whole labor cost OF making wooden goods. II
European manufacturers were to get their labor
for nothing under this bill we would still have
the advantage of them. 1t seems a pity that
this question of tariff cannot be viewed by each
man from practical business standpoint and
not, as it now Is, from a political one. be-
lieve that il it were so viewed and calmly and
carefully considered, the people of New En-
gland would hasten to instruct their represen-
tative to further by every means in their power,
the making of the Mills bill law at once; at
any rate so far as the wooden interests are at
fected. Very truly yours,
The Hon. w. L. Douglas of Brockton, the
well-known shoe manufacturer, comes out
strongly for tariff reform and the Mills bill in
the following letter, which has special interest