Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-07-13
CRYING FREE TRADE" WON'T DC

CRYING FREE TRADE" WON'T DO.
Our esteemed neighbor, the Ohio vditey
Netrs, of Martins Ferry, comes to the front
again with free trade" whoopin answer
to polite request that it go around among
the industries of Martins Ferry and apply
the MILLS bill to them, in a calm and
practical way, for the purpose Of ascertain
ing whether or not any Of them would be
hurt by that measure. We made the pre-
diction, if we remember rightly, that the
Eeirs would find no industry there that
would be hurt one penny's worth by the
MILLS bill.
We confidently expected that our e.
teemed neighbor would 90 around among
the nail mills, glass factories, etc, as we
requested, and that we should find him in
his nt1t issue nationally discussing the
Democratic tariff reform measure, but, we
grieve to say, such is not the case. We
grieye to say he does not mention any OF
Martins Ferry's industries, which, we be-
lieve, he began by declaring would be
ruined by the MILLS bill. On the contrary
the Ne1rs bursts forth into flaming declar-
alton that
We have read the Presidents message, the
MILLS bill and the platform Of the party 10
which our friend owes allegiance, till we have
become convinced that itthere is a free trade
party in the United States, that party is headed
by GROVER CLEVELAND, and takes its inspiration
on the subject which is agitating the whole
country, from centre to circumference, from the
message Of President CLEVELAND. That there
are free traders in the country, the REGIsras
will not deny, in the face Of the declarations OF
HuED, MILLS, CARLISLE, MORRISON aud many
others who might be named, and in the face OF
the declaration of men who are daily leaving the
party TO which the REGISTER belongs because,
as they assert, of It's free trade tendencies.
We believe we requested arguments,
facts and figures and recognized our neigh
Dor over the river under the impression
that it was not q political organ but an
independent newspaper, with only the
good of an industrial community at heart,
who would discuss this matter in a practi-
cal way, but we find it dipping into the
buucombe trough of the Republican party
to its elbows.
If the Nevs has been convinced by read
ing the Presidents message, the MILLS
bill and the Democratic platform that the
Democratic party is possessed Of free
trade tendencies" possibly the Ness may
recall the portion of either of those docu-
uents wherein the conviction lay. BY
quoting it in cold type the Nerrs will lift
the Republican party out Of q hole and save
the necessity of an election next Novem-
Der. Ifthe Meas will point out the pass
age the REGISTER will guarantee to give
the same national publicity and to de-
nounce it to the American people as vigor-
ously rs it can, for, though our neighbor
does not seem to be aware of it, the REGIS
TER is protection newspaper.
Now, we, also, have read the Presidents
message, the MILLS bill and the Democratic
platform. OF the subject under discussion
we find the Democratic platform says:
A fair and careful revision Of our tax laws
with due allowance for the difference between
the wages Of American and foreigr labor must
permit and encourage every branch of such in
dustry and enterprise by giving them assurance
of an extended market and steady aud continu-
GUS operation in the interest Of Americans.
Does this show any free trade tenden-
dencies?"
We have also very thoroughly dissected
the MILLS bill and we find that it makes
the very Insignificant reduction in the
dutiable schedules Of per cent, leaving
the duty 40 per cent all arornd, or higher
than it ever was before the war. For
Heavens sake is this free trade'2 The |
Necs finding nothing else to object to
luarrels with the additions to the free list
Why not quarrel with the present war
tariff, for it has an extensive free list |
The Nesrs wants to know land right here
e where the suspicion entered that our
neighbor had not read the MILLS bilD i'll
Dur coal and iron ore miners are to be
placed on level with the pauper miners
Of Europe. We should judge that they were
pretty nearly on alevel with the psuper
miners Of Europe already for the paupers