Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-10-13
TALKS BACK.
The Tariff Reform League Scores
Boss Wells, and shows the Weak
ness of His Position.

Boss Wells, and shows the weak
ness of His Position.
Editor ARGUS.
CHICAGO, Oct. 10.-In the Union of
October there appears an article over
the name of Howard Wells, chairman of
the republican county committee of Rock
Island county, relating to the challenge
issued by the American Tariff Reform
League. The free admission by Mr..
Wells that a debate on the tariff issue
would be of no benefit to the republican
party is commendable; his misstatements
as to facts deserves condemnation. Free
trade is not advocated by the democratic
party, but 1t fsvers reduction of the
tariff taxes which are now inflicting upon
the people an onerous and oppressive.
burden. The gross ignorance manifested
by Mr.. Wells in regard to the law relat-
ing to the importation of contract labor
is surprising in view of the position he
occupies in the republican party. The
ignorance characterising the article is
rendered particularly conspicuous by his
reference to the Golden club"
1t is not to be wondered at that in
cased in such dense ignorance he should
entertain a well grounded fear of the eff
feet upon the community of joint dis
cussion of the question OF tariff taxas
| ton.
The present average rate of tariff taxes
| is At 10 per cent. The reduction by the
Mills bill would bring this down to 42.7s
per cent, reducing the average rate of
tariff taxes only 432 per cent To speak
Of this as being free trade measure can
only be done by mind too ignorant to
| perceive truth, or too insincere to &C.
| knowledge 1t.
As far as the effect of this reduction
upon the laboring men is concerned there
need be no fear. We have the authority
of MIR. James G. Blaine, Mr.. William N.
Everts, and of Mr., j B. Sargent of New
Haven. Conn, the largest light hardware
manufacturer of the world, for the state
ment that labor in England employed in
the manufacturing industries is better
paid, in proportion to the work per-
formed, than in America.
The American Tariff Reform League il
an entirely independent organization
| dhu HOS nv NOuhCSliOu vi hobONluliOL
whatever with any other body; and its
object is to aid as far as it can in placing
the tariff taxes in the most equitable man
ner practicable, SO that the burden o
taxation shall rest as lightly as possible
upon the people.
By the absurd tax on raw materials oul
manufacturers are shut out from fOreigl
markets. and are confined chiefly to tn
limited demand of home markets. Wit
| the tariff taxes removed from raw mate
, rails our manufacturers would be place
, in position to compete with the manu-
facturers of the world for the markets @
the world; and with the greater efficienc
I of American laborers and their improve
: machinery our manufacturers would 500
q have control of the markets Of the world
Why the republican party has been in
sane enough to thus handicap our manu-
r facturers is difficult to understand; sue
: a policy could only have found birth
e brains incapable of approaching tru
craftsmanship.
Believing that the intelligence of th
i people can be relied upon to spprecia'
y the real effect of the present tariff taxt
e upon the welfare of the nation the 'lanC
Slide" of which Mr.. Wells speaks. WI
undoubtedly sweep the party that
+ represents into well merited oblivion.
AMERICAN TARIFF REFORM LEAGUE.