The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-10-19
Tax Rerorm-- Advance (!

II is matter OF little moment 10 the
/ country whether President Cleveland or
| General Harrison shall be chosen Presi-
| dent in November, 50 far as the charac-
/ ter and qualifications of the candidates
are involved. Both are admittedly
/ honest aad competen: both have been
| tried in public trust and made credita>
bic records, and either would make a
patriotic and faithful President.
Which should be elected ? There is
one supreme issue involved in The coz
test. and both sides have met 1t man
/ fully. Grover Cleveland demands the
reduction Of gar taxes upon the neces-
saries of life and upon the raw materials
necessary for industries TO standard
! that will furnish sufficient revenue for
/ the government economically admits
! tered and in that reduction he distinct
/ iy demands that the wages of American
labor shall be fully protected. Be1ja-
| min Harrison demands that the present
tariff policy OF the country shall be sub
stsntialIy continued, and that revenue
reductions shall be made chiefly on in
ternal taxes and sugar, and that raw
materials shall not be put upon the free
list If any portion of our supply Is pro-
duced at home.
and it appeals to every citizen of every
section and of every condition. 1t Is
an issue that has been forced upon Con-
gres5 by the people il was forced upon
both parties four years ago and was
given pledges by both which are yet un-
fulfilled, and IL has wrlDg from an
unwilling party in the Senate after long
criticism of tariff agitation, a revised
tariff measure to meet the Mills bill
passed by tie House.
The issue of tax reform requires no
apology, no hesitation no ambiguous
expression. 1t is an issue that calls for
al earnest and aggressive advance of its
supporters. 1t is the cause of tie peo-
pie the cause of equal taxation the
cause of enlarged industry /; the cause
of industrial prosperity and the foe of
monopoly and oppression.
The people have groaned under high
war taxes for half a generation after
they had ceased to be necessity, and
TO day they are taxed full $50. 000, 600
annually that the government cannot
expend- 1t has now S120. 600 900 of the
peoples money in government vaults,
withdrawn from the channels of COM
merce, industry and trade, and is daily
collecting over $500. 900 of unneeded
revenue from our oyerGaXed industries
Such an Issue calls for q bold, defiant
advance Of all who are ready to protest
against extortionate taxes Oh the neces-
saries of life
Our manufacturers are crippled and
our American labor i'll paid because OF
the extortionate war taxes continued on
the raw materials needed for our pro-
ducts. We are TO day taxing consul
mers OF woOlens, which embIace every
man, woman and child in the country,
over 60 per cent. on their clothing and
yet allow English mills and English
labor to supply nearly half our market,
while our American mills and Ameri-
can labor languish in idleness, solely be-
cause we tax wool. chemicals and dye
stuffs to an extent that forbids compe-
tition in our own markets.
As rule, every champion of high war
taxes appears before his audiences clad
In English garments. to demand high
taxes for the protection Of our wooden
IN dustries. And why are these orators
English clad WY are not American
cloths as good as English manufacture
Solely because the raw materials for
good wooden cloths are so highly taxed
that no American mill can buy them
and yet professed labor protectionists
mock our workingmen by demanding
that they shall be taxed into idleness
and denied the right to supply their
own markets with the products of their
industry.
And why should every table be taxed
for the salt upon it? And why should
every home be taxed Cor the lumber In
it? And why should every kitchen and
every worklngman's dinner pai, be
taxed for the tin in 1T? And why
should every bed in the land be taxed
double price or more for it's blankets
And why should tariff taxes now aver
age over AZ cents on every S1.OO of for
eign goods consumed, when the highest
protective tariffs before the war never
exceeded 36 cents on the S1.00? These
are moi protective taxes they are ex-
tortionate and they have bred monopoly
combines and trusts until banded greed
rohs every consumer of the nation.
With such an issue and such a cause.
there IS bur one order to be given along
the whole line before the whole people.
1t is-Tsx reform, advance l-Phila.
Times.