The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-06
A NnInpIe Cnsc.

From the New YORK Ioinuercihl AuNcrtiAcr'
Cotton bagging is the jute fabric used TO
cover cotton bales. Any advance in its
price adds TO the cost OF cotton goods, and
any reduction in lis price lowers the cost
OF cotton goods. Every man, woman and
child in the United States is interested.
therefore, in keeping its price at a reason
able figure.
Under the existing tariff duty there is a
duty Of | cents pound on cotton bag
ging, and duty Of s. on the raw material,
jule, used by the manufacturers in max
ing It. The Mills bill proposed to re-
duce the duty on the bagging to I Of
cent pound. and give TO tho manu-
iacturcn the raw material free. That .
would have enabled the makers 10 sell
cotton bagging good deal cheaper with
out selling ii for any less profit than now.
/ would have cheapened cotton goods TO
all the people without lessenng the profits
Of the cotton manufacturers. II would
have created a large market for cotton
| bagging and cotton goods, given em-
| ployment 10 more workmen. and bcne-
fitted everybody without injuring any
body.
But the Republican leaders In Congress
had resolved upon a policy Of opposition
10 tariff reform, and 80 the Republican
Senate refused 10 permit the measure TO
become law.
Now the men who are protected" by
the tariff on cotton bagging want 10 make
all the money they can for themselves,
and are wholly indifferent 10 the means.
They organized themselves into trust"
for the purpose Of limiting the production
Of this necessary article aud artiiicially ad-
vanccd lis price. They shut up fifteen
mills and put the others on short time.
thereby throwing n great many working
men out 81 work. not because there was
no demand for the product Of their work,
but simply in oplcr that the couspirators
might levy backmal upon the cotton
goods consumers -that Is 10 say upon all
the people Of the country.
by turning their wOrkmen out Of doors
10 siarye OF live on charity, these greedy,
rich conspiaiors have 80 limitel the sup
! ply Of cotton bag-ing that they have been
able 30 double H. price, and now threaten
q still further advance. II the tariff duty
Of u cents pound had been reduced 10
thrce-cghths Of a cent, as the Mills bill
proposed, this plain robbery would not
have been possible, because cotton bag
ging OF foreign manufacture would have
come In 10 compete and keep tho
price nj reasonable figure. II ju,o
had been free, as the Mills bill proposed,
the game could not have been played, be.
cause, with free jutc, other men would
! have set up bagging mills and hired tho
: workmcn discharged by the conspira,ors
In either case there would have been
cheaper cotton goods for all the people
and abundant work and wages for the OPP
, craiiycs whom the trust people have wan.
, tonly turned out Of doou.
Here Is sample Oi protection" Whom
: does Il prolcci9 Not The workingmen in
. the bagging mills, for il CLOSES fifteen Of
those mills aud puts the others on half
, time. Not the plain people or any class
! OF people, for Il simply makes them pay
I moro Tor their cotton goods than they
: would Otherwise have done. without
giving even pcnny's additional profit 90
? the makers OF cotton GOODS. ID projects
. nobody except the small company of
shutps who take advantage oi II 10
7 form trust and levy tribute upon
the American people. II IL any
wonder that all such combines" are con.
trbuiing heavily 10 the Republican cam
, plign fund and furnishing the money with
which 10 hire penny papers 10 persuade
Norkugmcn that this oppressive system of
class legislation il q system OF protection
n - American lnb0r3' IL itany wonder that
4 the misslatcsman OF Maine iclls il 10 bc
A due 10 hs party's masters tho trusts
20 argue tina, they arc "mainly private
!. Affairs" with which the law.making power
= las no night 10 inlcrierel