Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-02-02

ity of the employer to pay. In the alb
sence of a precedent in our own country,
l may be permitted to cite the condition
and pay of the laborer of Europe, and
claim that with free trade like cOndi-
ton is in store for the laborer of this
country.
We can to-day cite with just pride to
the labOrer of our own country as the
best paid of any under the sun: their
families better clothed and fed: with
better houses and better educational IA
cilities: in short, the son Of the poor la
borer can join issue with the son of the
rich man and contest step by step the
race of life onward and upward, by dint
of perseverance and genius to the very
tOpmOSt round of renown and ever en-
during fame.
Let me call the attention of the grow
er to feature of the tariff in which they
can aid in its adjustment, and at the
same time add to the wealth of the Ma
tion. | refer to class of the law of
1885, carpet woods and other similar
woods. The production of carpets at
home within the past few years has
largely supplied the demand; to do this
the larger part of the raw material had
to be imported, because of a short sup
ply of home grown. This fact has crea-
ted in the minds of the manufacturers
doubt as to the adaptability of our
climate to growing carpet woods, and
for this reason urge the inconsistency of
imposing a duty to foster that which We
4 taI
woods are largely the product of warm
countries. Why not grow this supply
in our southern and southwestern States
Tennessee, Georgia, the Carolinas,
Texas, ETC.? l claim that there is no
reason why it cannot be done; that it
should be done is not debatable. The
Nation would be enhanced, not only by
the value of the wool, but also by the
mutton, an item of no small moment.
While the carpet product has been al
most entirely mOnOpolized by home
manufacturers, yet prices have steadily
declined under sharp competition. An
additional reason why We should grow
our own carpet woods is the difficulty of
forcinG the duty on woods coming in un
der class 3-carpet woods and other like
woods, the improvement in manutactur-
ing machinery and the changing demand
for goods, especially of the worsted sorts,
that are made from woods that can be
combed, and are susceptible of taking
high colors, similar to our delaineS and
double Y woods.
BY reason of the wording Of class 3,
"carpet woods and other similar woods"
it is claimed that the enormous quantity
of one hundred and twenty millions of
the s'simiIar woods" have been imported
and used for other than carpet making
purposes. You must bear in mind that
under class the duties on woods costing
twelve cents or less is two and half
cents per pound; if exceeding twelve
cents per pound, the cost in foreign ports
is five cents per pound duty. With pro-
lection what is the remedy! First, stim-
ulate carpet production; second, amend
the classification under the law by Strik-
ing out of class 3 the phrase land other
similar wooIs," leaving the law to read
under class 3 "carpet woods" third, as an
additional safeguard, elevate by your
ballots only those who will cOnstrue your
laws in the interest of protection to
American products and American in
duStrieS.