The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-20


free to make its own bargains. But
il the market DO 80 restricted that the
supply Of labor exceeds the demand, or II
capital is enabled TO combine TO prevent
competition, then labor must be sold at
the price fixed by the employer.
Now our present system does both-it
restricts the market TO be supplied by our
labor and IL enables the manufactur-
ers to fix the price they will pay
10 labor. Whenever the duty Is
high enough to prevent foreign COM
petition, then the operative making and the
consumer purchasing those protected"
fabrics, are in the power OF the manufac-
turers. mo organization OF labor, no
Knights OF labor can break such shackles,
the Strikes" giving only assistance TO the
trust who own the market. The only
relief is in Congress, by the reduction OF
duty TO the competitive point We are in
rendered possible by the tariff. Whoever
support this bill; and per contra" those
who wish the trusts" TO continue willop-
pose any amendment or revision OF the
present law which could endanger their
perpetuation. II is contest between the
revenue reform and the tariff trust party.
Turning TO a consideration Of the bill, he
said: The bill now reported is incomplete
in that II does not remove all burdens.
The whole extent 10 which II does not re-
lieve by putting upon the free list the arti-
Giles which are on the dutiable list IL 3d.
100000. IL does, however, reduce the
burdens as TO the Sl7,000000 30 far
Ms the committee felt that il could
do 80 mt present; for some OF
these articles which are imported and
are put under the classification have in.
dicaed, come into competition with
articles manufactured in America. And
the committee has left duties in some
cases unaltered, and some altered, as in
their best judgment the interests Of each
individual case required, giving the doubt
always TO the industry which claimed that
II could not survive unless duty was left.
The principal items upon the free list
have been wool and timed plate, and the
real issue between us aud our opponents
cannot be better illustrated than by the
different propositions concerning duty on
timed plates. Not one pound Of this il
made in America; not one pound Of IL can
be used except in helping some other in.
dustry II enters into many Of the most
important OF our native industries. Our
fruits, our fish, our vegetables, our
meats, our milk, are canned in these
timed plates; II enters into the domestic
economy Of every housewife. There is
hardly any material Of which the dislribu.
ton IL 80 wide and the use 50 various, and
the burden imposed by the tax levied on
IL 10 heavy. Ii will relieve in more ways,
aud 10 greater extent more ui the minor
industries of the country than almost any
repeal OF tax upon our whole schedule.
Its repeal does not injurc a single human
being; II affects no interest, no industry.
Passing 10 u consideration OF the wool
schedule, he referred 10 meeting Of the
Wool Growers association and the Wool
Manufacturers association aud 10 the res
olutions adopted 10y them.
Their idea Of n WAYS and means com
mttec was one. he said, composed Of gen.
tlemon who represented such associations,
which belief seems 10 DO shared by repre-.
sentaiiycs ON this floor, whose Indignation
ut the spectacle Of n committee framed 10
represent the taxpayers and the consul
mcrs struggles with the propricties Of life
10 find utteranco. Yet the same fierce
charge was made in the foriy-cighth and
forty.ninih Congresses
This kentucky speaker seems 10 be
possessed with the absurd idea that the
people who pay taxes aud purchase goods,
who raise wheat and cotton, Who live ON
farms and I'm the soil, really ought 90 have
some voice In legislation concerning the
weight Of the burden Of taxation which
they are 10 bear, and some representation
ON the committee whose duty Il IL 90 re-
port bills for raising revenue.
The idea may be absurd, but. gentle.
men, Il is growing In popularity, aud we
are ready 10 joint issue with You in your
clamorous plea that the tariff must not be-
revised except by tho friends Of the In
dusirics protected by Il, and | assert that
II must be revised 10y the Representatives
OF all the people who arc taxed by Il |
do not hesitate to declare that the schedule
agreed upon ut that meeting Is simply in
iquitous. II will he borne In mind that we
raise In America about Pos, 000, 900 pounds
OF wool; that Il requires mor than CO.,.
OOO,uO pounds for the use 90 which Il u
put In our country under our climate By
reason Of climatic influences over which
Congress has no control, the hair necessary
10 hc used In certain manufactures can bc
grown only outside Of our territory: and
also certain woods not produced In America
nrc absolutely needed 10 bo mixed with
our woods 10 produce the fabric. required.
Therefore, 10 utilize the EOS, 200. 600
pounds Of American wool and 10 produce
the amount OF wool aud foods absolutely
necessary, there must be imported, either
In It's raw state or in ila manufactured
state, over 3OO,OO1,OD pounds OF wool.
The duty on wool has, by the experience
Of the last twcniy-scycn years, been dem.
onsintcd not 20 be 81 advantage 10 the
woolgrowcu, because u has not given 10
him, q constant, profitable and permanent
manufacturer has had apparently the
largest protection anl the hardest struggle
for existence. lie has had 10 produce his
goods NJ ~ largc n cost Of production that
he has been constantly on the verge OF be.
ing unable 10 dispose " these goods nj
price which rendered their manufacture
rmuncntiyc. lie has had to compete
With ionrign manufacturers who had an
absolutely untaXcd material, In the usr Of
which by the vrry necessity Of the case,
selection of different sorts " wool was nee.
cssary. No duty could be made IN high M
10 pay tho American farmer for raising the
sheep whose woods are necessary To
he mixed with our woods, aud by
no law could relieve the manufacturer from
the Necessity Of using these woods. II has
been n hopeless fght against the elements.
Some men have mnlc large fortunes under
u ny making the cheaper fabrics, which,
under The pruhibiiory operation ot specific
duties, has given b. them the absolute con.
irol OF the American markets, which
cheaper fabrics arc made not out OF wool,
but ont of Wool and adnlterunts LA ali 49,,