St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-09
The THIRD WARD RALLY.
Hon. E. M. Wilson Talks on the Tariff to
Large Audience.
FAIR TRADE,NOT FREE TRADE
Some Republican Fallacies and Incon-
sistencies Shown
Up.


voters greeted Hon. E. NJ. Wilson at the
Washington rink last evening. Mr..
Wilson spoke over an hour, chiefly
upon the tariff question, and in his
logical way made apparent many OF the
Inconsistencies of the Republican party
in its pretenSes to desire the prosperity
of the masses by continuing the present
system of protection. His auditors
were chiefly wOrkingmen, and the
keen attention with which they listened
to him showed the deep personal inter-
est that was felt. After reviewing the
Republican platform briefly, he pro-
ceeded to point out
SOME OF IT'S ABSURDITIES.
"How are you going to tell that liquor
is to be used for the mechanics and the
arts?' he asked, concerning the Tree
whisky plank. IN. the grand benef,
cence of this party, ice has been placed
on the free list also: L wonder what
Cant. Babb would think of this? While
taxes have been lowered or removed
upon many enterprises conducted by
organized capital, the people have been
compelled to keep on paying war
prices and have long been demanding
a reduction of taxes, but have they got
it? In 1870 a bill was introduced III
congress making a larger reduction
than is contemplated by the Mills Dill,
but it was fought and defeated by the
protection states of the East"
MIR. Wilson depressed to show up the
fallaciOus argument of X. u. Horr, OF
Michigan, against the putting of salt
and lumber upon the free list. A re-
Guction of the tariff upon lumber, he
said, INJURIES the pine land owners, not
the workingmen. We should not be SO
tender of the lumber kings, but should
take care of the men who are Obliged 10
build their houses, or to rent them'
Sugar is reduced 20 per cent by the
Mills bill. That's right. The Repub-
Iicans say they would reduce it 80 per
cent, but they won't. If they did, 1t
would break up the sugar industry.
When we can reduce the price OF build
ing railroads we reduce the frelghts 10
the East. and that is of vast Importance
to the West. Why should we pay high
duty for the protection of iron manu-
facturers? We have plenty of iron ore
and coal, and should be able to make
iron as cheap as in any country. A
reduction of % per cent on wool Will
save
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
clothing alone and are not raising half
the wool we are. The duty was taken
off of hides a few years ago, and see the
proportions to which the boot and shoe
trade has grown. We compete with the
world without trouble i'll this line of
manufacturing. Up to this year the
Republicans of this state have always
advocated a reduction of the tariff, and
their congressman have voted for it.
The mention of Knute Nelson was re-
ceived with cheers at the point when
the speaker quoted from the little Nor
wegian's" speech, in which he
declared that free tobacco and
rum were not the articles with
which the poor man clothes and
feeds his children. Continuing, the
speaker said: The Republican state
platform endorses the Chicago platform
and then goes on to say that the tariff
should be reduced on articles which ell
ter into the necessities of life. That is
consistent. isn't it? One of the direct
effects of the protective tariff has been
the formation of gigantic trusts that
Cypress the people. The Minneapolis
Tribune, this morning, wanted to know
whether | meant the American work.
ingman, or the foreign workingman,
when | said the Democratic party was
the friend of the wOrkingman. Now,
what did say was that the Democratic
party is, of necessity,
THE MOST FRIENDLY TO wORKINGAIEN
because it is largely composed of work
ingmen. The wages of our carpenters,
maSOns, millers and farmers are not
raised by high tariff, but the cost of
living is. There is great mistake in
surprising that because the labOrer of
this country is getting more than the
laborer of the old country simply be-
cause wages are higher here. We are
not fighting for free trade. but
for fair trade. The profits should
country between employer and EN-
ploye. manufacturer and customer,
The protective system has curtailed
labor instead of helping it. 1t has bro
ken down our commercial marine that
we went to war in 1872 to perserve;
when our privateers went to battle
bearing aloft the banner free trade and
sailors rights" What the English
could do in two wars, and the rebels
could not do in one we have done our
selves by our cruel and unjust protect
i've tariff system. Referring to the de-
mand of a reduction OF the tariff, Mr..
Wilson said: "Why c. A. Piilsbury
wrote Congressman Nelson that
IS PER CENT OF THE REPUBLICANS
of Minnesota are in favor of it, and
Gordon f. Cole in his speeches before
the Free Trade club of this city, said
that the tariff should come off necessi-
ties of life first and from whisky and
tobacco last, as is advocated by the
Democrats. This was before tide Chi
cagO convention, however. In conclud-
ing the speaker said he could not vote
on the tariff question himself, because
he is not going to congress, but he
hoped that for the sake of Minnesota
and the Northwest Edmund Rice will
be returned, and then proceeded to give
the Democratic ticket warm endorse
ment. "As for myself" he added, eff
elected will try to average up with the
governors before me-" Judging from
the outburst of applause that followed
it was apparent the audience was quite
confident that Mr.. Wilson will 'aver-
agen with McGill and Hubbard.
+. d. Comstock next sang ''Wilson
will be governor, l really do believe"
creating great deal of amusement and
enthusiasm.
j. +. WILLIAMSON
was the next speaker, and made brief,
but ringing address. He said among
other things, that this election means
more than fight for supremacy be-
tween two political parties: 1t is the
question of justice. The high protect
i've tariff he denouncedas nothing more
than legalized robbery. Two million and
ahalf of men are employed by protected
industries, while 100000 workingmen
in other walks of life are compelled to
pay for this protection (?) that robs
them. 1t is not to the tariff but to the
wonderful resources of our great coun-
try and the enterprise of our people
that our prosperity is due. The mo-
nopolies and the trusts know that they
are fighting for existence, and any party
that upholds them, waves the bloody
shirt, and depends upon somebody's
grandson to right the wrongs of the
people, cannot be looked to for reform
measures. Judge j. B. Quinn made the
closing address in response to a call.