The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-03-09

freely and spent his time energetically
10 elect The ticket which stood upo
a free trade platform IL is well
understood. think, by every mem
brr of your Boaro that he paid his
money and welded his great in
fluence TO secure the election of a
gentleman &c represent lis district
here, who heartily approves the de
claraton made by the President in
his message to Congress. which de
clsralion is wholly adverse to the
sentiment expressed in your memo.
rial We certainly have the right to
Judge the sentiment Of the associa
ton upon this question by the acts
and doings of IT'S Official head. And
if we do that then the sentiment ex
pressed inyour memorial does not
represent the sentiment of those en-.
gagged in the salt industry. Or is il
a fact, as has '.een suggested, that
the head of the Salt Association, as
we'll as many members of your body,
are free traders one day in the year
(the day they vote) and protection.
isis every other day in the year? I
read in the papers but a few days ago
hat the President of the Salt Asso
Grafton sacrificed recently the plea.
sures OF home, and spent his time
Sadirg through the SHOWS of Northern
Michigan. appealing with voice, it
no, with purse, to the voters TO elect
manto come here who, had he been
>u' Ces,ful must have acted with the
,'arty which has declared for free raw
maieiiI and revenue tariff only.
Had the candidate RI ferred to been
lected, does not the President of the
Sab Association as well as yourself
KIN, W it would have been proclaimed
an endorsement Of the Presidents
Tree trade policy? Does not the
gentleman who is authorized TO speak
for the Sal, Association know that
he press Of the party TO which ne be
longs does nS70 proclaim the result
IN approva! Of the Presidents free
trade polic,?
Friend E>tabrook, you know very
well am firm believer in the
policy of protection. l have watched
with pride the building up of the
great industries ~ the Saginaw
Valley and have i ne, when here
what I could to foster and assist them
by legislation. l havr lone this. no,
olely for the good Z" the Saginaw
Valley, but for tie :" Il OF the PEG
pie of our whole s ,te, who have
brought millions of collars into our
State and given employment to many
thousands of men; who have, while
thus employed, consumed many thor.
sand dollars worth of food produced
IN my own and adjoining districts. l
wish the salt industry TO continue to
thrive as in the past. Its tendency
has all the time been to cheaper sal,
TO those who consume it. This has
been the tendency with all those
things which have been produced in
our grea, industries, and wish to
have them continue to grow and pros
per until this blessed land shall be
self sustaining in all those things
which can be successfully produced
here. 1t is in the Interest of the
producer, the laborer and tie con
sumner that our home market shall be
supplied by the productions of our
own American labor. Do l under
stand the Association of which you
are the henored president, comedies
with these views? Are these senti-
ments in your opinion held by the
majority Of the men engaged in the
salt and lumber business? Do a ma
iority Of the men employed in these
| industries hold TO the views thus ex-
pressed? If they do then did not they
| fail to manifest their wishes at the
election in November, 1886? In 9th I
words, "did they vote as they shot?''
Did they, after mature reflection, be.
lieve in protection and yet vote in
favor of free trade? Is that the posi-
ton held by the gentleman who is al
the head Of the great industry which
your Association is praying Congress
to protect from destruction at the
hands Of the men whom the people
Of the Saginaw Valley elected 10 re
present them here, and their party
associates? Is This prayer from the
people Of the Saginaw Valley 10 be
saved from the friends Of their own
choosing!
These questions may net seem inn
portant to you or your association,
but we here are compelled to act and
to vote upon the principles involved
and we do not wish TO he held guilty
by the majority of your people, by
the president of your salt association
and others of having compelled them
to manufacture salt under a protec.
tive tariff system against their will
In conclusion, l wish to say that ]
shall do what can TO preserve al
the great industries of Michigan, a: