Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-10-25

{, Tarisf Reform tho Main Question
what the iiemocrnss Expect.

THE rum 4 I'M HlChL6AAa
E; Tarisf Reform tlhc Main Question
what the nemocFnts Expect.
A Philadelphia Times correspondent,
: in the course Of letter describing the
political situation in Michigan, and the
great battle the Democrats are vaging
with hopes of success In that former Re-
publican stronghold, says:
The Democrats are confidently expect
ing decided gains in Wayne county, which
is the city Of Detroit. They are well
organised. Clubs have been formed in all
the wards and according to the reports
made TO headquarters every one of them
Includes men in Its ranks who voted for
Blaine. One Of the converts to Demo-
cracy is ''HAnk" Robinson, who ran for
Congress in this district two years ago as
. Republican. Cleveland carried the
county In 1884 by 8, 800 plurality. May
bury, Democrat, was elected TO Congress
that year by 6,124. And yet so popular
was Robinson among the workingmen
that he pulled this plurality down to
1866. He is now stumplng the state for
tariff reform. So confident are the Dem
oorats that the laborer is with them that
they are figuring on 5000 plurality in
Detroit.
Another point from which much is sx-
pectad is the Upper Peninsula. This has
been tremendous Republican strong
hold. Blaine carried that Congressional
distriot-the Elevanth-by 7,400. Mine
owners up that way were in the habit of
voting their men In droyes. Knights of
Labor assemblies were organized two
years ago, and with organization came
S.I e. t.,
Republicans carried the district for Con-
gress by only 2 24S majority, and when
Moffat, their Congressman, died and en-
election was held last sprIng the majority
F.. dwindled to about 800. Still, that was
not q fair test, for the Republicans were
taken Oft their guard but II Is interest
: Ing as showing what its possibilities are
In thst direction. The deoihion opening
up large tract Of uppsrpeninsula land to
settlers has also helped the Democrats in
that region. There was rush of 5000
settlers. In fact, the town of L'Ause, in
Baraba county, was almost depopulated.
Some were Democrats, others Republi-
cans, but the Republicans among these
settlers are now as scarce as well.pRyed
streets In Philadelphia. The Republicans
have good cause to fear this district, for
il Blaine's majority OF 2, 405 con be kept
down to anything like the figures Of
1862, 2l3- the loss would undoubtedly
be fatal. 1t was for this battle-ground in
the north that Blaine was heading when
the sore throat episode occurred.
THE BATTLE m THE STATE.
But how is the tariff reform question
working in the state st large That is q
question which both sides woIld like to
have answered definitely. The Republi.
can claim is that the free wool clause In
the Mills bill is losing the Democrats
votes. This Is admitted, but, on the
other hand, the Democratic claim Is that
for every wool-growers vote lost there
are two farmers votes gained. In the
absence Of anything like reliable polls
these opinions are given for Whist they ore
worth. But II Is pretty certain that the
cry Of free trade Is carrying no scare
with II. That was long ago discounted,
for Michigan has been pretty thoroughly
educated In tariff reform doctrine for the
past two years. The explanatory stage
is over, and far ss the Democrats are con.
cerned this campaign Is one Of bold Bg.
gressiyeness. And they have Just struck
mine which has put the other side in
something of q tremor. This is the
enormous tnnreese in atatA taYas nnnnled
with Dickinson 8 ,a-l / Ne sril
is growing rioh Al the expense o. 10 ven.
80 rslas.ns presses aIs lulniug oui
Thousands Of four-page pamphlets. One
page calls attention to the startling
facts" contained inside. Another sho rs
that while taxable properly in Michigan
increased so per cent from 1880 to 1887
the state taxes increased li2 per csnt.
The third page is devoted to individual
counties For instance, here ID Bay
county, with the figures taken from the
records and summed up in this way:
While your properly valuation Increases
2l4 per cent 10 seven years your state tax
has increased 405 per cent ia the same time.
Then follows o statement which reads
In 10 towns in this county there are .35i
farms. OF these 55l are mortgaged fol
$3.50. 500 az n per cent interest Anuue
interest Rccruing over s22 $50, or Sl.at pei
acre on improved land mortsaged. Nun,
Der OF farm MORTGAGE ioreclosed last year
i6; redemption, none. The tariff is cover
ting your farms with mortgages. How ions
van you carry this enormous burden O.
interest and taxes.
on THE DEFENSIVE.
The attack on the administrations o.
Alger into the field to defend himself anc
has turned the battle Of the Republic IN,
into one defence in great measure. III,
idea Of applying figures to counties wa.
Tilden'E, when he made his great ieht il
the canal ring in New York. In Michigan
the speakers will chalk the figures upor
the blaokbosrds OF every platform. Can
didAte Burt ia making soud deal Of 3
stir with them in his campai "a for gov.
srnor.
Coupled with this state issne on state
taxes is the national issue on tariff taxes,
and the fourth page OF each pamphlet
contains this statement
In 1850 wealth wls distributed as follows
the nine Misunderstanding states had s54s
per capita. The agricultural SAFES had
sosi. In lSSl, after ~ years OF high pro
tesfton, the nine manuiacutine states hat
si,35j par capita, AID the agrsclituru
states Sb1S, The 10 granger states IF sat
Rrsat northwest are nnortcNSsd for e3 500
O09,ei0 nsatly al owned in New England
ia 1887 the wealth WIS. therefore, di-td
gnted: Ia New England, stGlg Per capita
10 the great northwest, s47j. Ths tariff /.
smoking the lie tloot from the northwest
ant New England IS iast becoming 70; ,eA
How long car the west stsntitt
It can be readily understood how. Il
states leaning strongly 10 tltff reform
IDEAS, such declarations must have nor
or less influence, sud, taking mo cor
s.deration all these facts, it is iulpossih Il,
not 70 be impressed with the belle. tha
the Democratic claim upon this state b
some foundation to Il.
-
"Por there was never ret q Pailoso~ner. ms
eou q endase lis t16fhGfss patt.ntlyt Par
hsps no,-bu t1ers's iitt'e wit IA .nGur & n !
I'll. when one b q e Of SaiYatisu on t.lLl 81 /