Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-07-26
!. WEST YIRGISIAN'S VIEW.

A Pointed aud Lucid Essay Upon the Tariff
and the Treasury Surplus, by Protec-
Zionist Manufacturer and Farmer.
The writer Of the following interesting
article is Mr. Robt. II. Browse, one of the
largest manufacturers and most extensive
farmers in Peasants county, this State.
He informs rs that the spirit of reform is
wide awake in his portion of the State and
that the Democracy never had brighter
prospects Of success. Ssye he: There
ia no wsveriDg in our ranks, and nothing
stands in the way of a largely increased
majority, if the great issue Of the day
Tariff Reform be fairly and squsrely laid
before the people. Investigation and
thought is all we want"
Mr.. Browse's article, which follows, is
one of the best expeditions Of the high tariff
iniquity we have yet seen and coming from
protectionist is extremely significant:
TARIFF AND TREASURY SURPLUS
The prevention Of the accumulation Of
a surplus in the National Treasury, as far
as the tariff is concerned, strangely enough,
could be accomplished by two extreme
measures, Numerically opposed to each
other, yet tending exactly 70 the same re-
suits, either Of which would be inimical
to the interests of the people at large.
One, the imposition of q tariff 10 high
that it becomes prohibitOry, the other alb
solute free trade. The former enabling
the manufacturers TO name their own prices
which the great majority, the consumers,
would be compelled to pay, the latter en-
abling the consumer to the purchase in the
cheapest market, which, however,
would be an injustice to
the minority, the manufacturers,
inasmuch "a 10 would in some instances
prevent them from successfully competing
with those employing cheaper labor. Be-
tween these two extremes lies the field Of
Tariff Reform, in which the interests Ofall
classes can be studied and adjusted in a
spirit of fairness, az is contemplated and
advocated in the message of President
Cleveland. Could we divest ourselves of
all selfshness, and be willing to make
small individual sacrifices for the sake Of
the pablic good, all would be easy, and
that end soon attained.
The writer believes, that with very few
exceptions, the admission Of raw material
free Of duty would result in the greatest
good to the greatest number, stimulating
trade, and q benefit to manufacturers,
without corresponding loss to the con-
sumner, who would in the reduced price Of
the manufactured article be greatly bene-
fted with little or no loss to the producers
Of the like material Why has wool COM
manded the best prices when the tariff was
low? Why were 400 600 sheep slsught-
cred when the tariff on
wool was the highest? Why has
the hemp growing industry steadily
decreased in spite of tariff of $25 per ton,
and the same duty on MANILA which we
do not grow? Why does not the sugar in
dustry largely increase with tariff rang.
ing from 2-5 to 81 cents per pound, in
oreasipg the price to the consumer TO that
extent and collecting revenue on import
cd sugars that would amount to about 25
cents per pound on all that is grown in the
South. The farmer and lsborer could well
dispense with this kind of protection if he
were not robbed by the Unsuitable greed Of
the manufacturers, who have controlled
this government for over twenty years. At
last, alter the promise of both parties Of
tariff reform, as set forth in their plat
forms of 1880 and 1884, the farmers and
advocates of the Mills bill are endeavoring
TO remedy these crying evils, and carry out
their pledges made TO the people, but are
meeting with the most bitter opposition
from the advocates of so-called protection
to American labor. Why not tell the
truth, and call il protection of American
manufacturers in whose pockets stop nine
tenths of this vast sum wrung from the
consumer?
The sum of $50, 600, 900 annually raised
above the needs of the government, which
we Americans in our patriotism might
willingly pay into the treasury as tariff. is
u small sum compared to the sum paid as
tribute to the manufacturers in the name
of protection, and made possible only by
that protection. In addition to the in
creased price of the goods which are put
up Just below the price on which they can
come in including the tariff, it enables
them to combine with each other, run
when they please aud shut down when
they please, resulting in occupation to the
employee little more than half the time,
who would in that case need nearly double
wages to make both ends meet.
The writer is in favor of tariff for pro-
lection first, but would jealousiy guard
the interests Of the consumer, by seeing
that the protection is only sufficient 70
give the manufacturers fair profit. The
writer is nOminally farmer, but has fully
AZ much invested in manufacturing and
other enterprises as in farming; in one
branch Of which he has made profit of 80
per cent per annum for five years, while in
the farming business he has realized or 5
per cent. Is it not then the bounden duty
of all voters TO call halt, and without re-
spect to party lines or party prejudices,
look into this matter, and draw q line be-
tween simple protection of American in.
dustry and labor, and tribute to manu-
factnrers, with oil its Concomitant evils of
trusts, Rings and monOpolies, outgrowths
of this insane, selfish policy, which is rapid
ly cutting US off from all foreign markets
in which to sell our surplus products, and
has in 25 years almost wiped out our mer-
chant marine.
The tariff question is largely a question
of locality and not strictly party princi
Pile; therefore all prejudices should be laid
aside, and every vote cast for reform of
these evils IN spirit of fairness to all
classes.
Let no one be scared by the epithet,
Mugwuup. They will form very strong
and respectable party In the coming cam
paign Il. II. B.
"Wished- to- God" too Much.
Brooklyn Eagle.
81 wish to God every voter In the land
could have copy of these veto messages"
nh.;Al-oI 0onn4A- un..l.u A. aLl... L..