St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-13

necessary for the government economi-
eally administered. We
urge the organization in every town in
the state of local clubs for this purpose,
and invite the cooperation of all citi-
Zens who are ready to demand the re-
duction of surplus taxation. The con-
stitution of your league referred to says:
''This association shall be known as
the Authoritative Tariff League of
Minnesota. and its object shall be. by
every laudable means, to advance free
trade sentiment, and to labor to secure
the nomination and election to congress
and the state Legislature those who
favor the gradual reduction and lltl-
mate abolition of all tariff rates levied
for purposes of protection"
Well, cur club sprang into existence
at this invitation of your league, and an
important part of our work has been to
circulate your constitution and your ap-
peal to the people, thinking that such
able and leading Republicans being I'M
compensatory opposed to the SO-calIed
American system of protection, would
have great weight with the people, IN
favor OF oar cause.
The other day, however, the press in
forms us that, as chairman Of the COM
mittee on resolutions, you reported TO
the Republican state convention, IN
which Gen. Baker, Mr.. Hodgson and
other members of your league were also
delegates, this tariff plank:
1T Ghe Republican party of Mime
sota) is uncOmpIOmiSingly in favor or
the American system of protection"
This plank, together with the whole
platform, was adopted, it seems, with
only one dissenting vote-namely, that
of Gen. Barrett, of Grant county. The
newspapers say that when Gordon Il.
Cole read the platform ''the cheering
was of the widest character" but
whether the members OF the Antl-Pro-
tective Tariff league joined III does not
appear.
The drafting, reporting and adoption
of this tariff plank is so at variance
with the sentiment in the constitution
and address to the people OF your
league, that you will pardon me for
inquiring whether the press report is
correct, and, if correct, you will also
pardon me for in9uiring whether you
can reconcile the action of yourself and
the other delegates and members OF the
league with the pledge "by every laudl-
bic means to advance free trade sentl-
ment, and whether, in ratlfylng the
nomination of Harrison and Morton,
You can reconcile your action with the
pledge to elect "thoSe who favor the
gradual reduction and ultimate aboll-
ton of all tariff rates levied for pur-
poses of protectlon?"
L would like also like to ask whether
if we shall seek to realize what your
league recommends in its address to the
people of Minnesota, viz: duties lev
led for revenue only" and the collec-
ton of only so much revenue las Is nee
eSSary for the support OF the govern
ment economically administered"
Whether we shall vote for Cleveland or
Harrison, with the president OF the
Authoritative Tariff league and It's
second vice president, Hon. B. b. Her
bert, of Red Wing, or with its first vice
PRESIDENT, Eugene NJ. Wilson, of Min
neapoliS? And if your time should be
too much occupied for answering these
questions. | would suggest that you
refer the whole matter to Tams BiXby,
as secretary of the Republican league
for this state, for it would be interesting
to hear in that connection whether 1T IS
in order Ito advance free trade Sentl-
ment' that he is now flooding the state
with protection pamphlets IN the inter
est of the Republican national and state
ticket. He might kindly give us COM,
parison of the merits OF the Mills bill
and the Morrison bill, which latter, he
told the people of Minnesota, was but
"a slight reduction Things are get
ting so mixed that it is time some one
representing the Anti-Pr0tective Tariff
league threw light upon the subject for
the benefit of local clubs. Awaiting
your reply, remain yours very respect
fully, A. UELAND,
President Minneapolis Free Trade Club.