St. Paul daily globe., 1888-04-10
AN INFAMOUS SYSTEM.
The Tariff Will Be the Issue in the
Coming Campaign.
A REDUCTION IS DEMANDED
Hon. E. S. Younlans, Lumber Manu
facturer of Winona, Talks About
the Needed Reform.
Special to the Globe.

Special to the Globe.
WINoNA, Minn., April 9.-Among the
advocates of tariff reform in the North
west there are none more prominent TO-
day than Hon. Earle S. Youmans, OF
Winona. A lifelong Republican, he
belongs to that class of Independents
who voted for Grover Cleveland in 1884
on the ground that principles were
above party politics, and that Blaine'S
protection platform, if made the policy
of the government, meant the further
fostering of monopolieS, and consequent
continuation of an oppressive tax upon
the consumers of the country. Mir. YOU
mans has long been an earnest advocate
for the reformation of system which
was presumably inaugurated as pro-
lection of our ''infant industries"
Senior member of one of the large lum-
Der manufacturing firms of Winona, Mr..
Youmans favors making lumber one of
the free commodities of commerce. One
of the most extensive wool growers in
the state, he would abolish the duty on
wool. He has contributed numerous az
ticles to the newspapers and magazines,
which have elected general discussion
through the state press. He is forcl-
BILE speaker of commanding appearance
and pleasing style, and occasionally
takes the platform. MIR. 1oumans is
representative and ideal business man,
imbued with good amount of public
spirit as well as private enter
prise. He is the president of the
Winona q Southwestern railway, and is
doing much towards pushing the enter
prise through. He is also a practical
farmer, and owns large farm in the
vicinity of Marshall. He is senior mem
Der of the lumber firm of 1oumanS
Bros. e HodginS, president of the West
ern Industrial Fibre company, and is IN
terested in other business enterprises.
Mr.. YOumanS' residence is one of the
most elegant in Winona. and its owner
has an enviable reputation as an enter
tainer. AS the interest in the fall cam
paign is already taking lively turn In
this state, GLOBE reporter called on
Mr. Youmans to-day and questioned
him regarding the issues that would be
prominent. Mr.. YOumanS said: 1.-The
tariff question must be the leading one
in Minnesota politics, but it can hardly
be called an issue, because the parties
are rivaling each other in their en-
thuSiasm and demand for large reduc-
ton of the tariff tax. | look to see the
Republican convention occupy fully as
advanced ground as the Democratic in
favor of this reform. The party that
makes its platform freest from nOnsen-
sical platitudes will find it less difficult
to explain, advocate and defend it be-
fore the people. What do mean? Sim
ply this: If the Democrat platform de-
nOunces protective tax as a burden
that is crushing labor, and in the
same paragraph pledges its effort for the
removal of the burden $50 far as can be
done and not injure labor nor embarrass
our manufacturing industries" it will
require little diScernment to see that its
declaration of principle is the offspring
of ignorance and demagogy. In like
talks about ''adjusting the tariff to meet
adequate revenue, but so as to offer in
cidental protection to our struggling
manufactures" they will
BE PROMPTLY TOLD
that the tariff we now have is just that.
There is not a tax laid on the whole
1900 products weighted by the infamous
system that has not been imposed under
that very preteXt. No; if it is desired
that sound political policy requires
levying import duties beyond the neceS
Sity of the government for revenue, we
shall demand that the claim be made
specific and that the industries that can
not support themselves be itemiZed,
and just the amount of tax necessary
for their maintenance be specified. If
the tax the lumber manufacturers
collect under the present duty is
thought to be excessive, we must be
told just how much must be contributed
to these poor, overworked unfortunates.
So with other leading industries. Since
the people are learning that the tariff is
tax they begin to have an interest in
measuring its burdens. 1t is a govern
ment policy Free trade means revenue
to the government derived from duties
or excise taxes, or any other legitimate
way to which subsidy objects. Pro-
lection means taxation for the profits of
private business, to which some do OBJ
ject, and all object when they under
stand it, except its benefciarieS. How
much for protection does each party
propose to make the people pay? is the
burning question"
"Will you take the stump in Mime
sofa for tariff reform this fall and will
you take an active part in the cam
paign%'
No, it is not my intention to speak
at all, and l shall take no active part in
the campaign. We will soon start up
our mill, and the demands of active
business will absorb all my time be-
yOnd that given to leisure and recrea-
ton. The few feeble utteranceS given
through the press here have only been
inte ded to awaken thought, inquiry
and discussion. l have no candidates
for state offices. | hope my Republican
brethren will nominate ticket of good
Christian free traders, and let us all
enjoy the luxury once more of voting
for a principle. If the Republican poll
ticians, however, will harden their
hearts and refuse, | hope the Demo
Gratis will be wise and the Lord will eX-
pect his people to choose Democratic
administration if its principles are
nearer justice and right than ours. We
made the experiment Of Democratic
national administration in 1854 with no
very disastrous results. If our party
hope to retain control of this state they
of that campaign by avoiding instead of
initiating its blunders.
''WhO is my choice for president?
My preference is of the smallest posi-
BILE consequence. When l vote it is for
the best Republican inviting my suf-
frage, but do not invariably confne
my choice to one party. | thought
Grover Cleveland was a better Republi-
can, as | understood Republican princi-
pies, than James q. Blaine, therefore |
preferred him in 'S4. Unless our Re-
publican bosses offer us better Re-
publican for candidate than Mr..
Cleveland, we may he compelled to re-
mean that eXnerience in NOVember -