Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-02-20
FOR TARIFF REFORM.
PRESIDENT CLBYBLAND'S LETTER on THE
SUBJECT.
The National Leagues Big Convention in Chicago
Prominent Men Among the Dslegatss-Its Pur-
poses and Methods -Scandanavians are
Intsresisd-A Slip Of Growers Pen.

CHICAGO. February 1O-The National
Convention of Tariff Reformera, called by
the American Tariff Reform League, open
ed IN this city to-day. The early morning
trains brought large additions to the
numerous delegations that had arrived on
Sunday and Monday, and the rotunda of
the Palmer House, where the headquarters
of the League had been Temporarily
located, had the animated appearance that
tells the stranger that something more
than ordinary is On q tspis. Il was
little sf.er twelve O'Clock when the doors
of the Madison Street Theatre ere thrown
open to the delegates, and for some time
thereaitera steady stream of tariff reform
ers poured in until the theatre was
more than comfortably filled. PrOmi
nent among thoss on the platform
and on the front seats could be recognized
President Charles D Deering, Franklin
McVeagh, Thomas G.. Shearman, the we'll
!Srown New York lawyer and free-trader;
John Goldman, the New York ship5uildeT;
Hon. Frank Hurd, Governor Buckner, Of
Kentucky; Andrew Hull, of Wisconsin;
w r. Rice, ct Boston; Presidence j. Bar
rows, of the Farmers' Alliance of Nebraska;
J. F. Smith and H. s. Thomas of Ohio;
Governor J. Sterling Morton, of Nebraska,
ard other prominent representatives. of the
cause. When at last the convention had
been called to order in q few well chosen
sentences by Hon. Chas. w. Deering,
tbs official call Of the gathering was
read. IL stated that its pur-
pose wss 20 devise was and means for re-
lieviDg the American people of the burden
OF unequal and unjust taxation under
which they now labored, ard especially to
inaugnrate a Systematic campaign that
shal, be continuous, embracing Literary
Buresns and Lecture Bureaus, supple |
mert6d by Correspondence Bureaus TO |
every tate. The call for credentials de- |
veloped the fact that q very large portion |
Of the industries Of the couGtry ware rep |
resented. One feature which drew out ap. |
plause was the announcement that large |
dele CATION was present from the Scandi- |
navian National Tariff Reform Associa-
tion, which vas brought into existence o
few months ago, and embraces in its mem- |
hership the most prominent and learned |
Scaldinayians Of the country.
The seneation Of the meeting was the fol- |
loving letter fron the President ia reply |
to an invitStion to be present at the CON
vantion.
1t is entirely in the Presidents hand |
writing. At one point there is an evident |
omission of some words necessary to the |
sense, ard those suggested by Secretary
White, Of the League, as the probable ones,
are inserted in brackets
EXECUTIVE MANSION, !
WASHINGTON, January "a, 1889 !
John n White, Esq, Secretary, etc:
DEAR SIR bave received the invita-
ton Of the Tariff Reform League TO be
present at the convention Of ta5itf reform
ers to he held in the city of Chicago on the |
1881 Doth and DIST of February, 1889 |
have altO read the circular of the League |
accompanying this invitation, in which |
the objects aud purposes of the proposed |
convention are specifically set forth. The |
scheme OF practical aud efficient work |
therein described meets with my hear,y
approval and promises, if honestly ad
heTed to, the most valuable aid in the |
furtheranCe Of cause which is very near
TO The interests and welfare Of our people |
The danger which ne have to guard
against ia the misleading OF our country
men by specious theories, cunningly con-
trived, aud falsely ofIsring TO the peo Die |
relief from present burdens and the legi;i |
mate expense necessary to secure the
benefits of benefcent rule under the sane
tiOn of free institutions.
The declared purpose Of your League
will not be attained until all thCse inter
ested in the economic question which is
now oppressed upon their attention are
freed from all sopAlslries and clouding fall
lacies ard until the sui ject OF tariff reform
is presented to them ss a topic involving !
the relief o. the plain people Of the land, |
in their homes, from useless and unjust |
expense.
The question is a simple and plain one,
and needs but to be fairly presented to be
understood
1t is the positive duty of your organizl-
tion TO guard the people against deception. |
Ny extreme interest in the work which |
your league has undertaken and in the ex-
pressed objects of the proposed convention,
Would lead mo to Rccept your invitation If
il were possible to do so. But my public
duties here positively prevent such accept
once.
Hoping that the convention will he very
successful, and with an earnest wish for
the prosperity and success Of your league
in it's efforts to ealighten and benefit the
people, 1 am
Yours very truly,
nn.,~r-r, ~ fsrrrrr ~,