The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-05-04
ILLINOIS TARIFF REFORM LEAeUg.
training


Shortly after the last November election
the Chicago tariff reform leaders called {
convention, which met last February, auC
was largely attended, nearly thirty state!
being represented. There was a general
sentiment In favor of an immediate re,
sumption of the cOmpaign of economic
education which was so effective in Chi
cago and vicinity. II was evident TO all
that the last election was carried, not by
the judgment of the people IN regard to
tariff reform, but by appeals to old.time
prejudices and by INSCRIPTIONS use of
money. 1t was universally true that advo.
Gates of high protection avoided joint dis
cussion of the protective system. II was
also true that they utterly failed to convince
the workmen In the protected industries
that the capitalists who employed them
we're diligently seeking the highest inter-
ests of the workingmen, and benevolenty
waving their own interests for the sake of
their employees. II is also true that the
failure of the Senate TO offer decent
scheme of relief from the burdens of
oppressive taxation and needless surplus
has convinced many who were looking to
the Republican party for fulflment of
Its promises of adequate reform, has dis
gusted many who were duped into sup
posing that campaign pledges mean some
thing binding to monopolist. The bind
Ing Irvine trust, the copper trust and the
sugar trust are doing something to open
the eyes of the public to the encourage.
ment which the protection idea-which is,
in brief, to tax the many for the benefit of
the few-gives TO all schemes by which
organized capital contrives to prey upon
unOrganiZed industry.
In view of these and other facts, the
Illinois Tariff Reform League is again in
the field, II proposes to organize branch
leagues all over the state, to furnish lItera-
ture, TO supply competent lecturers and
debaters wherever they are needed, and to
keep the vital question fresh In the minds
of the people.
A permanent organization WAS made
Tuesday evening, April 23d. II. l.. BolN
tund, of Evanston, presided. Franklin
MacVeagh was made president of the
league, Among the vice presidents and
upon the Executive Committee are seven
men who were Republicans until the last
and who would still be Repub-
leans if they saw the party honestly en-
deavoring to carry out its own promises of
reform. Three hundred and fifty members
were enrolled to begin with, each paying
annual dues of So. This number will be
largely increased. A permanent secretary
will be employed by the Executive Com
mittee, who will give his whole time and
energy to the work of reform.
The platform adopted declares uncom-
hostility to the whole protective
system as a perpetual and ever growing
burden on the consumers, and especially
upon the workingmen and farmers. 1t
calls for free salt, free wool, free iron and
no restrictive duty on anything which the
uses as raw material.
The meeting was we'll attended, and the
spirit manifested showed that the campaign
against monopoly, which is to be al once
will be no dull and listless
one.
IL is hoped and expected that at no re-
mote date a branch league will be organ
lied In Ottawa and in every township in
La Sale county. b.