St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-28
CERTAIN TARIFF PROBLEMS.

One-half the population of the United
States. In 1888 the New York Tribune,
having interviewed several thousand of
them, editOrially announced that 1.-The
farmers were in favor of a protective
tariff and favorably inclined TO having
its provisions extended.
There is no evidence at hand to show
that the Tribune's effort was other than
an attempt to create false impression
that the agriculturists as a body are
prOtectioniStS.
The GLOBE,with just as much reason,
might interview the half dozen manu-
facturerS in the East who favor free
trade and then announce that the en-
tire $4,000 in the country had incon-
tinently bOlted government support and
declared for unrestricted trade.
The farmers in Minnesota, who raise
50,000,0OO bushels of wheat annually,
and who have seen the price of that
staple steadily decline to price less
than the cost of raising, know better
than TO accept as true any statement
that they support the Republican pro-
tectiye system.
The farmer of the Red river valley,
standing between the ScylIa of trans
pOrtation and the Charybdis of the
cost of living, can find in the tariff no
consolation, no promise of succOr from
distress that threatens his very exist
ence.
The slightest research will place at
his disposal certain tariff problems,
whose explanation gives him a key to
the cause of his financial misery.
In 1880 the United States supplied IS
per cent of all the wheat imported into
Great Britain. In 1881 this was reduced
to 69per cent; i'll 1882 to 80 per cent, and
i'll 1888 to rs per cent. From 1881 to
1881 our impOrtati0nS of wheat to Great
Britain decreased 100000 bushels.
Yet England'S impertations of wheat
during that time increased 24O00, 600
bushels.
From 1860 to 1880 the total wealth of
the agricultural community of the
United States increased $1,000, O0O. 600:
all other wealth in the country in
creased $4,000, 100000.
The tariff tax upon the diamonds of
the capitalist is 10 per cent; upon the
iron OF the manufacturer Is per cent,and
upon the WOODEN goods of the farmer
from 80 to lis per cent.
The rich mans champagne is taxed
So per cent, and the farmers cotton
goods 40 per cent.
The absurdity of the whole arrange
ment is made more manifest if out of
all this interminable taxation the farmer
saves enough to indulge in the luxury
Of piano. He would pay for a first
class instrument only 133 per cent more
than his neighbor across the water
would eXpend for the same instrument.
He is cribbed, cabined and confined
by a wall of taxation whose sole pur-
pose is to prevent him from buying
either the necesSarieS or the Injuries of
life where he wishes to and at his own
price.
But he is told that the system which
brings this about is to benefit and en-
noble American labor. At the same
time he is forced to the conclusion that
he in no sense represents American
labor, since the system beggars and de-
grades him.
Where. then, is American labor to be
found?
The state in the Union best protected
by the tariff is Pennsylvania. Taking
the protectionist at his word, there
should the ideal state Of American labor
be found. is it?
This is the answer given to q congress
siOnal investigating committee within a
fortnight:
d. NJ. EVANS. member of the Legislature
from Luzerne county (Pcnnsylvania) and a
practical miner, said The condition of the
men in the region was pitiable They could
not, under this store system and The rates
paid, get enough TO eat and wear. Some of
the miners never saw dollar in cash. The
men who lived right at the mines were
charged $40 a ton for stove coal, and were
compelled to pay for so much a year whether
they used it or not: The company stores
charged from 10 TO - per cent more than
the individual stores, and many OF the
miners we're practically compelled by ncces-
slty to buy their supplies at these stores. Of
The 10000 miners and miners laborcrs WHO
had worked in shc Lehigh region. 5000
were being fed by contributions frcm tho
Knights of Labor. or these. so per cent
were married and have families.
Or If that is not strong enough, the
resolutions CT Local Assembly $500, X.
Of L., Philadelphia, are worthy of
1crusal:
Whereas, The Philadelphia & Reading Rail.
road company, i'll the present difficulties
which they have forced upoI thor employees
arc engaging Immigrants 10 fill ;he places
they have caused US 10 vacate; and whereas
The company is protected from foreign com.
petition by protective tariff OH coal. whiel,
&c have fondly believed FOR wears was in
tended 10 benefit American labor: and
WHEREAS. we as citizens of this republic be.
licye the laws should DC impartial AID that