Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1888-09-29
CAN'T GO FREE TRAE.

our correspondent IcCcutiy uct Il
NJ. Chalfant, ex-Mayor of Weston,
and ex-Chairman of the Democratic
| County Executive Committee, in this
place. After the usual salutation
and hand shake, / asked him this
pertinent question:
"How is it that you are not fgur-
ing as heretofore in Democratic con-
yentions, caucusses and Democratic
prints?"
"Well, to tell the truth, | am not
mastering with the boys in this cam
paign."
"Mr. Chalfant, will you be SO kind
as to explain your political position
in this campaign 2"
Certainly. have no objections
| to state some of the causes which
have determined my course in the
campaign which lays before us. Gen.
Hancock, during his candidacy for
President, said that the question of
the tariff was local question and
that States would vote on this issue
as their local interests demanded.
Well, upon that principle, which l
am willing to act upon, | am body
and soul in this canvass for that
which will rebound to the best inter
ests of our infant State, which needs
the fostering care of Protective
tariff. | regard the attitude of the
Democratic party's platform on the
tariff question as in enmity to the
best interests..of our State. The pas
sage of the Mills bill, so-called, with
out doubt would strike such blow
as to paralyze every industry of a
productive nature in the State. Be-
lievlng as / do that States, like indi-
viduals, should first cara for their
own interests, / cannot be true to my
State by favoring a system which |
am persuaded in it's workings will
rob our State and permanently check
its prosperity"
"But ought you not to view this
question of tariff in it's broader light
the good or evil to all the States
as whole ?" asked the correspon-
dent.
"That may be and doubtless is
true" he responded, "yet | desire
you particularly understand that a
mans home is dearer to him, or
should be, than another mans home.
"Have you read the Mills bill In
jury and injustice to West Virginia
bristles all through, and is fully man
ifest to the careful reader. Accord
ing to the census of 1880, West Vir-
ginia was then producing four mil
lion pounds of wool. The Mills bill
would put this on the free list, thus
destroying product of the farm that
is now protected by tariff. The
5000 spindles of West Virginia in
1879 produced $4,000 yards of
wooden cloth of various grades, 1851
900 pounds of yarn andl04, 900
pounds in rolls. The Mills bill would
stop the hum of these spindles and
thereby cripple or destroy this grow
ing industry of our State. In 1879
we sold for export from the State
100000 worth of wool at fair
profit to the growers.
THE LUMBER TTADE.
SIN 1879, we of West Virginia pro-
duced, sawed, etc, lumber to the
amount of six million dollars, and at
present over fifteen millions worth
per annum. The Mills bill places
this product on the free list, thus
virtually inviting the destruction of
one of our greatest sources of wealth.
"In 1879 the State of West Vir-
ginia produced about twenty-three
million dollars worth of manufacture
ed articles. Yet the Democratic tar
if policy strikes a blow at these
great interests. 1t would drive to
the wall enterprise and rob honest
labor. No, / can't longer muster
with the party that would impover-
ish West Virginia and enrich Lousi-
ana sugar growers and the rice grow
ers of Carolina"
RAW EATERIALs.
Continuing, Mr.. Chalfant said |:
81 received yesterday from David
7. Day, Chief of mining Statistics
and Technology, advanced sheets Of
the United States Geological Survey
for 1887. By Mr. Days report l
find that in the year 1887 Jig, 100000
tons of coal were mined in the Unit
ed States, valued at $l72,000,000;
G,417,l48 tons Of pig iron were pro-
duced. The raw metallic produc-
tions Of the United States for 1887
amounted to the enormous sum of
$250,4I9,2S3. The non-metallic min
erals amounted to 1891 ,637, 063, max