Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-07-13
TARIFF AGITATION.

There are q great many Republican
papers which support the HARRISON ticket
which are dissatisfied and III at ease over
the tariff situation. Among them is the
Philadelphia Telegraph. which is protec-
ZIONIST paper. 1t now and then breaks out
in honest indignation at the miserable sub
terfuges and pretences Of some of the
highly favored benefcisries Of the existing
tariff. 1t is Disguised with the conduct
Of the iron and steel manufacturers OF
Pennsylvania in the lockout Of the iron
workers. 1t shows that the most highly
protected of all cur industries is that of
iron and steel; that it 10 'the
most cOddled and pettsd and wrapped IN
lambs wool protection of them all" Yet
in spite OF these facts the capitalists have
locked out labor, not because labor is ask
ing for more bat because capital demands
that labor shall take less. The excuse for
this as offered by Chairman JONES, Of the
National Republican Committee, one Of
largest steel capitalists, is that the contin-
ual agitation of the tariff question and the
prospect of the reduction of the duties on
iron aud steel have induced buyers to
withhold their orders until the reduction
takes place, when they can buy their sup
plies cheaper.
Commenting on this excuse, the 7sIe-
graph makes the following pertinent and
convincing remarks:
This Is exceedingly tiresome, drearily stupid,
sepseless drivel for when was there not tariff
agitation? When, during the last eight or ten
years, was there not bill before Congress to re-
duce duties and extend the free list? There was
one before Congress in 1889, which was prepared
by q commission composed, with single excep-
tiou, of proteetionists, and majority OF whom
were Republicans said commission having been
appointed BY Republican President ard having
been created by Republican Congress, ana
which bill provided for an average reduction OF
duties otno. less than twenty per cent, and 1t
Is the opinion of the commission that the reduc
ton win reach twenty-five per cent" There was
another reduction bill in the next Congress, and
there has been one in every Congress sirce That
oflSS2 passed; but the commissions reduction OF
twenty or twenty-five per cent was reduced 10
two per cent, or practically to nothing. The
present MrLLs bill proposes, or did orisinaly pro
pose a reduction of ten per cent; but 1t has ST.
ready been so hammered at. that the ten per
cent is now reduced to about seven per cent,
and il may, before il reaches the senats, be ham
mered rs low as that of lSs2. 1t is the rsnkest
nonsense 70 talk Of tariff agitation keeping buy
ers out of the iron market Has not the Repub-
Ii an party in its platform given notice to the
Republican Senate that duties are TO be IN
creased, not decreased and if the MILLS bill
should pass the House at this session, when, II
ever, would it pass the antagonistic Republican
Senator
Protectiouist though it is, the Telegraph
bluntly declares that the cause of trouble
in the iron trade ',is to be found in the
excess of imported labor in the iron re-
gions and the combination Of the iron
manufacturers. The Telegraph thinks that
the workingmen cannot longer be fooled
by the pretense that tariff agitation is res-
sonable excuse for loekouts and reduction
of wages. Coming from Republican pa
per, these remarks are significant and aug
gestive.