Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-01

were in any manner interested in
the welfare of the burg. Well, I
didn't "join the gang" and I am
happy to say, have no disposition
to do so now.
The issues now being presented
are of such vital importance to
our national prosperity, to the
very foundations of our moral
and financial success, that we
must, if we desire the advance
ment of American citizenship cast
our ballots 0nLy after sober
thought and careful consideration.
The present administration has, in
the presidents message and the
bill introduced by the Democratic
majority in the house of represen-
tatives, given US their plan for
managing our national finances.
They tell US that they would make
imports pay only such tributes as
is necessary to pay the actual
running expenses of the govern
ment and give no thought to the
idea of protection to American
labor and American industries.
This plan is not new nor is it
an untned one in this country.
Three times our government has
said: We will tax imports only
to the extent necessary to raise
the amount needed to carry on the
nations business and pay its
legitimate debts. And what has
been the result each time? Simply
this-the national treasury was
depleted, farm products, factory
products and labor commanded
the lowest prices at these times
that were ever known or exper-
fenced in this country. This one
fact, it seems to me, should be
enough to convince any man that
his vote ought to go to those
candidates whose party and their
principles are favorable for Amer
lean markets and American labor.
| It's often said by our opponents
that a protective tariff increases
the cost of the article to the
| consumer to the amount of the
duty exacted for its importation.
This we all know is not the case,
for many articles are sold for less
than the duty exacted or put on
by the present tariff. Take the
one item of calico, the duty is SC
per yard and yet we can buy
calico from any Of your merchants
for that or a less price, and |
might go on and name you num-
berless articles in the same posi-
ton.
A peddler comes into our little
city and we make him pay into
our city treasury ten Or twenty
dollars day for the privilege of
selling his wares. Why do we do
this7 Simply to protect our
merchants who pay taxes and
assist us in keeping up our free
schools, churches and throwing
safeguards around our lives and
property. And none of you will
contend for a minute that the
consumer is the loser by the
reason of the protection furnished
by the city ordinance. Another
proof that the Democratic party is
not DESTROYS of making just and
equitable tariff laws is given in the
Mills bill, which the Cleveland
administration endorses. In this
bill we find that cotton ties are
admitted free Of duty and pay
nothing into our treasury. Where
are these cotton ties used? Why,
they are used by the cotton
growers who live only in the
south, they are made of iron and
are used in tying up bales of
cotton. The Democratic south
wish their needs supplied by
England at reduced price, but
say that we in the north must pay
duty if we import an iron hoop
for our oil barrel Is this an
honest and fair policyP This same
bill says that rice, a southern
production, must pay a duty of
about one-thiTd its value, while
raisins, northern product, need
only pay a duty of about one
fifteenth of its value. In other
words, they would tax imports
only to the extent necessary to
meet the demands the of govern
ment and these duties they would
place almost entirely upon south
ern productions. Can we in the
north sit calmly by and permit such
an outrage? Should we adopt the
policy advocated by the Demo
cratic party, would not our
laborers be brought into a direct
competition with foreign labor,
with its rented cabins, bare walls
and scanty fare? How many of
you realize to what extent the
cost of labor enters into the value
of nearly every article we use.
Why, the raw material in wagon