Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-09-07

The amazing and superlstive ignorance OF
many free trade legislators and journ alists Is
the one thing which they are successfully
demonstrating In this their campaign of In
tellect." That the world should know II is
desirable, but there was hardly need Of a ma
tionAl disturbance OF Industry and trade for
the sake OF proving that MIR. Cleveland, Mr.
Mills and 1.-The New-York Tipies1 do not
know what they are talking about The men
tai darkness OF Mr.. Cleveland IN regard TO
woolgrowers, their number and their profits,
or OF Mr.. Mills Ia regard to seamless stock.
ings, or the cost OF wooden suits OF clothing,
mixes the campaign amusing, and yet be-
hind the laughter there are tears. Not even
the funniest display OF foolIshness can make
thoughtful citizens forget that every one Of
these ignorant raids upon home industry
means loss OF employment TO thousands OF
workers. suffering and want In thousands OF
homes, temptations and sin for some, disease
and bereavement for others, and losses for
millions.
One cause OF this Amazing ignorance is the
intense prejudic zee which leads free trade yea.
lets o disregard all ordinary and accepted
rales In receiving or rejecting evidence. II
Congressman Scott had asserted that the
profits of Thurber ~ Co. I'm their grocery bust
because Mr.. Thurber had admitted In con YER
satlon that he had drawn 81, 5 5000 in dIvi-
dends In one wear from the concern-and IL
Mr.. Thurber had himself publicly stated tina I
he said no such thing, there would have been
an end OF the matter Tor reasonable men.
Mr.. Scotts witness having repudiated the
evidence said 10 have been given, The sup
posed evidence would have counted for moth
Ing at all. But 'The New York Times" and
other free trade journals and speakers con
etsaNsA x.ft g..
the profits and dividends OF Mr.. Carnesie's
works based upon supposed remark OF Mr..
Carnegie; just as II that gentleman had not
publicly stated that be never made such a re.
mark, and that IL was destitute of truth.
When hearsay evidence Is received in court
as more valuable than the testimony OF the
witness supposed TO have been heard say
something, the free trade rules OF evidence
will prevail.
An exceedingly common form OF this amaz
Ing ignorance Is the belief that all branches
OF an industry covered by a common name
are alike In conditions profits prices, wages
and needs. This particular stupidity Is really
at the bottom of the traditional free-trade
fondness for level al vaiorem duties, OF a
certain percentage on all products OF partic.
ular class. The ignorant man who has no
idea that there are many q Ifferent kinds OF
iron or OF steel manufacture, or that they
differ greatly In conditions, cries out I'm the
New York Times 1.-The tariff rates on the
products OF the iron aud steel work OF the
country might be reduced nesrly.if not quite
so per cent" Yet the fact is that some es
Establishments In this country are closed al
ready, and others are bankrupt or on the
verge OF bankrupcy, and Others struggling
with great difficulty, because Of foreign con-
petition In their special products even at
present rates OF duty. These, and there are
msnv. as every practical man knows, certain
" could not live with reduction Of duties,
and vet there are others which are In no way
affected, with the markets In their present
state, by the rates OF duty enforced, the sell
ing price In this country being fixed exelu-
sively by home competition.
Turning bull loose In china shop IL a
ssgsclous aud economical performance com
pared with intrustng the work OF tariff re-
vision 10 ignorant blunderers who believe all
the untrutbs that suit their theories. and do
not know the difference In conditions or
needs between those kinds OF manufacture
which are barely kept alive at present rates
OF dutv and those which existing
duties defend Only against rare and extreme