Omaha daily bee., 1889-02-20
THE TARIFF REFORM LEAGUE.
Cleveland Sends His Regrets and
Applauds Its Aims.
HENRY GEORGE WAS THERE.
He Holds a Little Lcvcc with a Small
Group Of Admircrs-Hon. j.
Sterling Morton Explains
His Faith.


The BEE. The opening session Of the MAJ
tional Tariff Reform league which was held
this afternoon, was very SHINY attended.
Mr.. Il. Buritt Smith, of Chicago, called the
few delegates to order, and after n few
words read tho following letter from Presi-
dent Cleveland:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WAsutNGToN, Jan.
"a, lSS9. John Il. White, Secretary, Etc
Dear Sir; | have received the invitation of
the Tariff Reform league to be present at the
convention of tariff r~oformors TO be held In
the city of Chicago on the 10th and Goth
of February, 1850, | have also
read the circular of the league accom- pany-
ing this invitation in which the objects and
purposes of the proposed convention are
specifically set forth. The scheme of practi-
cal and efficient work therein described
meets with my hearty approval and promises.
if honestly adhered to, IA most valuable aid
in the furtherance of the cause which ia
very near to the interests and welfare of our
people. The danger which we have to guard
against is the misleading of our countryfpen
by spccious theories, cunningly Contrived
and falsely Offering to the people relief
from the present burdens and legitimate ex,
pense necessary to secure the benefits Of
IA beneiicient rule under the sane
ton of free institutions, The de-
clared purposes of your league
will not be attained until those interested in
the economic question which IS now pressed
upon their attention are free from all sophis-
tries and cloudy fallacies, and until the sub
iect of tariff reform is presented to them rs Il
topic involving the relief of the plain people
of the land in their homes from useless and
unjust expense. The question is Il simple
and PLAN one, and needs but to be fairly
presented to be understood. 1t is the posi-
tive duty of your organization to guard
the people against deception. My extreme
interest in the work which your league has
undertaken, and in the expressed objects of
the proposed convention, would lead me to
accept your invitation if 1t were possible to
do so. But my public duties here positively
prevent such acceptance. HoDing that the
convention will be very successful, and with
an earnest wish for the prosperity and sue
cess of your league in Its efforts to enlighten
and benefit the people, am yours very truly,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
The letter was loudly applauded and the
convention then went on with the proceed5
ings. Before the convention was called to
order some very funny discussions occurred
among the delegates in the hall. The ques-
ton seemed to be, "Shall we cut the dogs
tail off inch by inch, or shall we chop it Off
right behind the ears!" One one side were
those who thought it a good thing if the
whole thing could be done at once, but
doubted its practicability, while the others
insisted that the way to get converts was to
go the whole figure.
Hon. j.. Sterling Morton, of Nebraska.
leaned back, smiled, closed his eyes, and
said, when asked if he was a conservative:
"Well, it all depends upon what you call q
conservative. 1t is generally conceded to
represent the man who believes in a tariff
for revenue with incidental protection, or, in
other words, They advocate honesty, with
incidental stealing | am not that kind of O
conservative. I'll tell you that"
You are a curiosity, are you not, Judges"
asked a young man of Judge james ID. Han
cock. of Franklin, Pa.
"Nhy! Because Pm from Pennsylvania"
retorted the tall, slim, smooth-shaven law
yer. 'Well, let me tell you, sir, there's just
as strong a free trade sentiment in our state
as there is in Illinois. Mr.. Singorly's paper,
the Philadelphia Record, which doesn't
hedge a cents worth on free trade, is up and
away the best and most influential paper in
the state. OF course the ignorant and uniu-
formed are still bowling for protection, but
the workingmcn who read are rapidly get
ting out of such notions"
"What class of tariff reformers do you be-
long tot'
"Well, I should like to see the tariff en-
tirely abolished. But the sun doesn't pop
up to the zenith all at once. Abolish the
robbery and then it will come to the ques-
ton as to which is the best method for rails
ing governmental revenues. The direct tax,
to my mind, is the only legitimate way, and
while | can't say that ! am an adherent OF
Henry George, nevertheless ! think he puts
his position very strongly. l am not sure
whether his plan would work in case of a
war, for instance.n
Henry George was in the hall himself. He
said to a little group of admirers: 1.-The
cause will gain more by an open advocacy of
pure and simple free trade between this na-
ton and others, as it is between our own
states, than it will by fussIng and fixing q
tariff so that II WON'T be too much or too
little. The simplest person could enact q
free trade measure that would harm no one:
Resolved, That all the tariff legislation be
and is hereby abolished; that would settle
it. Everybody would have just as good q
chance as another, and there wouldn't be
any favoritism shown by the governments
But where would you get the federal revs
~cuucs2n
'Let each state pay its quota from the
taxes, ana let the taxes be levied on the
value of the bare land, the location, not the
improvements it bears, being the basis Of
valuation
Would you abolish the internal revenue}'
81 certainly am opposed TO Indirect taxa
ton, but perhaps it is as well not to say
much about the internal revenue on account
of the liquor question"
'But what would you say should take its
placei' persisted the gray bearded old gen
tloman who had been catcchising Mr..
George.
when we get the tariff taken away wen
have thought of something replied MIR
George. Sufficient unto the day Is the
evil thereof We haven't got 10 the bridge
YETI
j. Sterling Morton was made permanent
chairman, ana A. w. Thomas secretary.
Mr.. Morton sounded the keynote of his
remarks in a declaration that "ths
tariff IS for robbery i it should bs
reformed for revenue or repealed for JUS
Tonight at Central Music hall
speeches were made by Governor Buakner,
of Kentucky, Charles K. Ladd and Mr..
in advocacy Of the purposes of the
convention.