The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1889-03-01
TARIFF REFORM CONVENTION.
The american HeIorm A~ssociatiOa Meets u
Chicago With q Large Attendance.

The american ReTorns association Meets Ia
Chicago Win q Large Attendance.
Chicago dispatch: The convention Of
the American Tariff Reform association
opened this afternoon. Secretary John
n. White called the meeting TO order.
He said the object OF the meeting was
to arouse a popular sentiment on the
question of reform in tariffs and read
the following letter from President
Cleveland:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON,
ID. O., Jan. "a, 18S9.-John II. White,
Esq, Secretary, etc-Dear Sir: / have
received the invitation Of the Tariff Re-
form league to be present ut the con-
ventiop of tariff reformers to be held in
the city of Chicago on the 10Th and Goth
of February, 1889. / have also read the
circular of the league accompanying this
invitation in which the objects and pur-
poses of the proposed convention are
specifically set forth.
The scheme of practical and efficient
work therein described meets with my
hearty approval and promises, if hon
estly adhered to, to give the most valu-
able aid in the furtherance of the cause
| which is very near to the interests and
welfare of III people.
The danger which we have t. guard
against is the misleading of our coun-
trymen by s~pecious theories, cunningly
contrived. and falsely offering to the
people relief from the present burdens
and legitimate expense necessary to Sc
cure the benefits of a beneficent rule
under the sanction of free institutions.
The declared purposes of your league
will not be attained until those inter-
ested in the economic question which is
now pressed upon their attention are
freed from all sophistries and cloudy
fallacies, and until the subject of tariff
reform is presented to them as the topic
involving the relief of the plain people
of the land in Gheir homes from useless
and unjust expense.
The question is q simple and plain
one, and needs but to be fairly presented
to be understood. 1t is the positive
duty of your organization to guard peo-
pie against n deception.
My extreme interest in the work which
yonr league has undertaken and in the
expressed objects of the proposed con-
ventiOn would lead me to accept your
invitation If it were possible to do so.
But my public duties here positively
prevent such an acceptance.
Hoping that the convention will be
very successful and with an earnest wish
for the prosperity and success of your
league in its efforts to enlighten and
benefit the people, / Am, yours very
truly, GROVER CLEVELAND.
Great applause greeted the reading
and routine business was then taken up.
Mr.. White nominated for temporary
chairman Edwin b. Smith, which was
! carried unanimously. Mr.. Smith read
an address prepared by him, which was
frequently interrupted by applause
whenever mention was made of Presi-
dent Cleveland, and whenever the great
necessity of reforming the tariff q
mentioned. After the appointment of
committees, q resolution was presented
and adopted, urgently requesting con
gress that if i'll their wisdom they con
slider taxation n blessing, they shall in
crease it as much as possible, but if they
deem it a burden, they shall strive to
make it as light as possible.
Calls for Henry George broke ont
from every part of the house but that
gentleman said he would speak in the
evening and wished to keep what he
had to say until then.
The report of the committee on Or
ganization was read. Ex-Governor j.
Sterling Morton, of Nebraska, being
named for president of the ~organiza-
ton, q committee conducted Governor
Morton to the platform and his appear
ance was the signal for deafeniLg
cheers. Governor Morton spoke en-
tirely without notes. He considered
! the honor OF being chairman of a con-
vention which had the courage and man
hood to promulgate pure, true princi-
pies far greater than IL at which q
mere human being is to be named for
even the highest office in the gift of the
people. He advocated teaching the
people that they are the government
and that it must be conducted for their
interests and not for that of any class
or set of individuals. They must be
taught, he said. that the tariff as it is is
formed for their robbery and it must
be uprooted Or the end will be ruin.