The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-09-07
PLea TARIFF LESSONS.
Bli per.sir. Tails Plainly to American
Naye-Workers.

Naye-Workers.
I met rich man in Philadelphia the
other day. He owned a good many
bonds and mortgages. His revenue
was large and he was not compelled to
tabor. In politics he always votes for
the party that helps him most. He is
frank and honest.
When / asked this rich man what he
thought OF reducing the tariff, he said:
when | was a poor man, laboring
by the day, was for protection. be-
cause it made my wages high. Now l
am rich. l don't labor. and tell you
frankly that 1 don't want labor pro-
tected. ] don't want high-priced labor"
Then you are for free trade nOw?'
said.
Yes, I am. Protection is all right
for the laboring man. but don't want
1t for myself"
..Can you give me special reasons
why "a rich man does not want protec-
tion?" I asked.
Certainly" he said. elf we had
free trade, wages would go down and
l would not have to pay such high
wages to my servants. With free
trade l could get good house girls for
two dollars week. In England.
where they have free trade, l can get
ncoachnan for twelve dollars month.
I pay mine thirty-tive dollars a month.
Protection is for the poor laboring
man, say, not for the wealthy, re-
tired man.
why, SIR" continued my rich
friend. lit costs me personally seven
thousand dollars year to have protec-
ton in the United States"
.'How is thatp" asked.
"In the first place, it is the luxuries
of the rich that are taxed. My wife
buys all her dresses at WOrth's. in
Paris. l pay 40 per cent duty on them
about $4,000 a year. My wines.
cigars. champagnes and Irish and
Scotch whiskys cost me 60 per cent.
more than they would with free trade.
These are luxuries for the rich. There
Is 40 duty on pork. flour, potatoes.
paint nor any necessity which l used
TO buy when l was poor. Our dia-
monds, porcelain, cut glass, gloves,
silk stockings, velvets and laces cost
AIS 80 per cent. more with protection.
When l was laboring man l did not
use diamonds and cut glass. Now.
when | am rich, | eat Irish bacon,
Swiss cheese, Russian caviare. French
pate de tcie gras, English Albert crack
ers, Westphalia hams, Scotch oatmeal
and marmalade, Bologna sausage, and
drink Bavarian beer. They are luxu-
ries. and pay a big duty on them.
When was a laboring man | escaped
these duties. The poor man can
pillow a good furrow or lay good stone
His wife can make good butter or
make shirt without rich laces.
His bread and cheese and meat
come from America and he gets them
cheaper than they do in England and
Germany. The fact is" continued my
rich friend, 1.-THE wealthy live on for
eign luxuries and pay big duties. while
the poor live on substantial American
necessities which are not taxed. One
party now proposes to take OFF the tax
ON tobacco. the poor mans friend. If
L were poor. say, as used to be, I'd
vote for protection on luxuries. but
necessities should come in free, as
khey do now. In a word" continued
my friend. ga man wants protection
10 labor when he is poor and striving
~ get rich, but, when he gets rich and
b living on his interest money, then he
wants free trade"
.'Bus there are many rich poll
ficiaEs and wealthy editors who are
continually telling our poor laboring
men that free trade will not reduce
the wages" said.
Yes, and many ignorant laboring
men will believe them; but l say to
these poor men now that the only
difference between the poor mechanic
In Germany who works for fifty cents
per day and our thriving mechanic
who earns two dollars day in Amer
ica is this same protective tariff. The
rich don's need protection, but The
poor laborer does need il, and the
party that protects his labor and
keeps up his high wages is his true
friend. III were laboring man, rs
once was, would despise the dema-
gogue or bad party which would re
siuce my wages and harm my family
Ell Perkins. IN N 7. Mail and En-
S2TesS.