The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-09-28
New ENGLAND and the Tariff.

The Washington correspondent of the Bal
timore Sun had a talk with Senator Butler OF
South Carolina, few days ago, in regard to
the feeling in New England on closer trade
with Canada, and on the tariff Senator
Butler is a member of the select committee
of the Senate on the trade relations OF the
United States and Canada.
Senator Butler said The disclosures
made BY the witnesses before the committee
at its recent session in Boston in regard to the
condition of the iron and glass manufacturers
and some other lines of business in New Eng,
land was surprising to me, and instructive. l
believe, without exception, every witness ad-
vocated free trade intercourse with Canada as
indispensable to the prosperity OF those man
ufactures in New England. Some witnesses
went so far as to say that without free coal
and iron ore and greatly reduced rate OF
duty on pig iron the iron manufacturers otNew
England must perish; that the competition OF
Pennsylvania, Maryland and the South, where
the factories were located near the raw ma
terial was ruinous, and this was true OF the
glass factories also"
''What was the feeling as to cotton manu-
factories and lumber"
"Well, large majority of the witnesses
urged the removal of the duty on lumber IN
the interest of New England trade, and most
of them thought that cotton manufacturers
could hold their own against southern com
petition in the finer goods, but appeared TO
conrede that in the coarser fabrics the South
had very largely the advantage. Some SAID
that with sharp reduction IN the duty on
cotton goods the South could continue manu-
featuring and make money while the New
England mills would have to stop.
ssDid YOU observe that tariff reform was
making progress in New England
Yes, very perceptibly, and have no
doubt that it Is. Many ofthe witnesses, how
ever, declared themselves protecuonists IN
everything except those articles that would
HELM New England. As to these, they were
free traders.
.sIu what form did the witnesses advocate
bringing about freer trade with Canada p
Some favored annexation, others pre-
ferred commercial union, and others again
wanted reciprocity treaty. You see tree
coal and free iron ore and a reduced duty on
pip iron would enable the New England man
ufacturer to get coal and iron ore from the
maritime provinces and pig iron from Eng
land and Scotland. There's where the shoe
pinches closest, and they clamor for free
trade in these articles and protection IN every
thing else. Of course | do not include tarlt
reiormers who want tair ana equitable
reimbursement all along the line. Now the
most curious ttlft ABOUT thAs WtlNit utHittS9T
IS that the statement was made before our
committee that so disastrous has been the
Pennsylvania and Southern competition in
the iron industries that those that were lett
had been sustained by the degradation OF
American labor: that there had been mere
change Of masters from England to Penn.
sylvania This was most astonishing ad-
mission, especially from that quarter.
Did You take any testimony ON the fishing
question. Senator
.'Oh, yes. and incidentally on the transpor-
,aiion problem. One most intelligent wit
ness spoke earnestly in favor Of free fish tor
the workingman in the boot and shoe iaeto-
ries. and for free potatoes. The potato bug
has ruined their Irish potato crop, aad conse
gueutly they wanted free Canada potatoes,
and the master builders wanted free lumber,
and SO they went Read that testimony when
it Is printed Il is instructive, interesting,
suggestive, some Of 1t bordering on the
cheeky other parts on the frontier OF de-
spair--alI instructive. You have heard Of
waiting to see how the cat will jump
Watch that tariff cat IN New England. lie
i going to give trouble