Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-02-10
Friday. February 10, 1888.
r. L.. JOINER ON THE TARIFF.


some time ago, the republican side OF
the tariff question Was presented last
week, by II. /. Joiner, in the Rural Eye
published at Arena. To Mr.. Joiner'E
mind the republican position in regard
to tariff reform is not quite the same
as it appears to Messrs Blaine, Chan
dler, ct al. He lodges the issue OF
free whiskey and tobacco versus free
coal, lumber, wool, etc, and assumes
that both the democrats republicans
are in favor of tariff reform, the only
issue being as to the mode and manner
in which the reduction shall be made
He argues from the standpoint that
country can be enriched by high
even prOhibitory, tariff laws; and like
all other advocates Of the doctrine OF
commercial restriction loses both theory
and reason in a misstatement Of facts
70 even enumerate the errors contained
in his contribution TO the economic lit
eraturc of the country would make a
newspaper article too long for publica-
ton. 1t must suffice The Democrat TO
point out few Of its most glaring
absurdities.
He asserts that tariffs on iron and
coal can only increase the price of
labor in mining and transporting those
commodities to market" This state
ment is SO utterly groundLess that it is
hardly worth while to contradict it.
While the almost prohibitOry duties
maintained on iron and coal for many
years past have produced monopoIies,
trusts, strikes, etc, they have com
pletcly failed to increase the prices of
prices of coal and the manufactures of
iron TO consumers. 1t would be very
hard TO make the striking miners in
Pennsylvania believe that the only
effect of the tariff tax on coal is to in
crease the price of labor Congress-
man w. H. Scott, who OWNS extensive
coal mines, declares that the import
duty on coal increases his profits to the
extent Of fifty thousand dollars per
year; but denies the Justice of main
tanning the tax for the benefit of him
self and other mine owners.
Mr.. Joiner further says that "almost
every article the farmer produces is
protected by Il high duty" While
there are nominal duties upon various
articles Of farm produce, they are, of
course, imperative; because the coun-
try produces vastly more of those
articles than is consumed, and while
scarcely any are imported, they consti-
tute the great bulk of our exports.
On the other hand, however, the price
of almost everything consumed by the
liN hlNA - stN tNittllN iliNitooNt W tii'
tariff taxation. His building material
household goods of every description,
wearing apparel for himself and family,
farm machinery and farm implements
OF every kind, are all made dearer to
him for the sake Of protecting the in
FAINT mouopolies of the country.
Mr.. Joiner enumerates the articles
upon which he claims the farmer re
ceiyes benefit through protective
duties among others, the timber
growing on his land and 4" hay on his
meadows" The Democrat would like
to know exactly how much the timber
in Iowa county which is scarcely
worth the cost of cutting is increased
iii value through SO called protection
And we have no doubt that if tht
people of south western Wisconsin
thought that the high price of hay
this winter was owing TO the war tar
III and not to the drought of last sum
mer, they would vote as u unit for q
reduction of import duties and against
free whiskey and tobacco.
lie most clearly shows lack OF
knowledge of our present tariff laws il
assuming that there is a high import
duty on hides, and in baSing a CHIEF
point of his argument upon that false
assumption. The fact is that no tariff
tax has been collected upon hides sine,
1872, and the result has been increased
activity and general prosperity in the
leather trade throughout the United
States
lie also assumes that the price OF
American farm products Is not al
present governed 10y the Liverpoo
market, as it was before the war. II
he believes in the truth of this propo
sition and should go into the grain
buying business and act upon it, bank
ruptCy will soon convince him OF hi;
error, as it has many others who hav,
tried il before
Mr. Joiner is an efficient county sur
yeyor. n good citizen, man of ability
and is well posted upon most sub
iects. He is total abStainer and ha
thorough knowledge of the temper
ance question; and consequently nigh
do effective service for his party in dis
couraging the third party prohibition
movement in districts which republi
can campaigners of less exact habit
of life, more uncertain breathS, anC
noses of more brilliant hue would d,
we'll TO avoid. But in advocating tn
case of the protected barons agains
the consumers of the country he is no
success.
A Leading Question.
The La Crosse Chronicle.