Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-23
ON THE TARIFF.
Melbourne H. Ford, NJ. c.. from
Michigan, Addresses the Reform
Club of New York City.
The Hon. IL. ID. Harter Gives 0hie's
Ideas OF Tariff Reduction from
Democratic Standpoint.
President Clev.IRnd's TsrifI Message Unar
imous'y Endorssd-Henry Watterson
Among the Speakers.

NEW YORK, Jan. 22.-The Tariff Re
form Club gave dinner last night to $50
guests at the Metropolitan opera house.
After the dinner half score of guests
discussed the issue of tariff reform. An
son Phelps Stokes presided. The speak
ers were Hon. W. c. P. Breckenridge OF
Kentucky, Hon. Melbourne 81. Ford Of
Michigan, Henry Watterson of Kentucky,
NJ. D. Harter of Ohio, and a number CT
local speakers.
President Stokes WAS the first speaker.
He said that never before had the people
shown such general and intellectual in
terest in the discussion OF an economic
question. The Presidential election OF
this year turned upon tariff reform. The
large surplus in the Treasury had alarmed
ali honest people. A wise, prudent,
practical patriotic message had sounded
tue note Of warning. The coal miners OF
Pennsylvania, the wool manufacturers OF
New Englsnd, the farmers in the south
and west had come 20 doubt, ST
least, the advantages Of protection.
The Tariff r form Clue welcomed tariff
reformers generally, including those who
would lessen the duty on q single raw
material, and those who would lift some
tariff burdens from consumers, those
who do away with protection, and those
who would abolish all custom houses.
J. P. Townsend, president Of the Mari
time Exchange, offered the following
We, members Of the Reform CLUB, en-
dorse the recent message Of President
Cleveland TO Congress concerning re-
duction OF tariff taxation.
1t was unanimously adopted.
Congressman Breckinrjdge then re-
spunded to TIE toast, "Tarf Reform, "
and was followed by Henry Watterson
and other speakers. 1t was sitter md
night when the speech making concluded.
NEW YORK, jar. % -Melbo1rne Ford,
member Of Congress from Michigan, spoke
at thetarif meeting last night, snd said ne
| .was1af rmed that this CLUB was OF reCe ut
f'organiZau u. He congratulated the
me mbers upon the success OF the
affair. 1t had deep meaning.
II signified that the Reform club of the
city OF New York had come to stay
"Loeated as you sre," said the speaker,
"in the metropolis OF this country, the
iIfuerce which you will exert on this
question is to be greater than manV OF
you suppose. | believe that no more
important problem is presented TO US to-
day than thst of the reduction Of t. Xl-
ton. The accumulation of late years had
resulted in a colossal surplus in the
treasury, which was something appalling.
10 1860 the national taxation averaged
81 .07 per capita. To-day 1t was over Sc.
II was mstter Of wonder that the peo-
pie submitted to this state CT things.
Tee situation had become critical. What
was the meaning OF the increased taxs-
tionf Did the government need money?
No. 1t wss accommodating surplus 81
the rate OF 500, 600, 900 year. Nor was
the surplus accumulated for the purpose
of paying the country's debt. 1t was so
that the few mapufacturers might be
paid pre- MUM for earning their living.
Why had the people submitted? For
on their shoulders the bur tens rested.
It vas very simple. They had paid the
taxes Indirectly and had not realized the
effect 1t had upon them. Il nsd come to
them in the shape Il increased prices Of
necessaries Of life. Suppose the money
had been collected by direct taxation, the
people would never have submitted TO il.
There would have been revolution in
less tbsn thirty days. The tariff edvo
Gates would never dare 70 change the
system to direct taxation. The reduction
Of taxation should be largely upon
the necesssries Ct life. Is it not strange
that IS soon as the message for free trade
came out that the newspapers very soon
called the attention of the farmers to the
fac. that the war tariff vas the great bull
wark Of their prosperity ard the mails
were loaded down with circulars and
documents showing the great improve
ment to be d rived from the tariff This
wool tariff IS the piece de resistance Of
the tariff question. They say that the
tariff must be reduced. The farm
er may be saved from utter de-
struction by the reduction Of
the tariff on wool. I doubt the sincerity
of these men from the farmers inter
ests."
The Hon. NJ. b H4rter, general mana
ger of the Msnsh Id manu'ac uiing ia
dustry, responded to "Oaio and the
Tsriff He said that the OHIO idea wss
TO limit tsxation to the smallest possible
proportions. Ohio had not yet fallen SO
low that sh subscribed to the doctrine
that she could become rich bY taxing
herself. II the people OF OHIO could *
press their ideas ct the ballot box sur
prisiDg vote would be cast for moderate
tariff reduction.
Local speakers followed until late
hour.