The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-26
EASTERN VERSUS WESTERN CAPT.
TALISTS.
To the Editor OF the Eagle.


Do you think it display of good
judgment for western editors in dis
cussing important questions like the
tariff, to antagonize western capitalists
against eastern capitalists, as your edi
torial on my letter published in EAGLE
of Oct. 10, has done? Is not an eastern
capitalist just as capable of taking COR
rect view of the tariff question, as
western capitalist or non-capitalist?
In your comments you say, in speak
ing of me:
HE is of that section and be-
lOnbs to that pampered belt lying
between the Allegheny noun
TINS and the Atlantic whose rich
manufacturers and merchants believe that
the people of the west are their legitimate
meat and that we are only permitted to
exist that we may contribute TO their
purses and comfort"
You could hardly make a statement
that would convey to your readers
more incorrect idea of the motives of
myself and others in advocating pro-
tective tariff than the above.
While my home is in New York City,
nearly half of my capital is invested in
Kansas farms, and / spend several
months every year on those farms and
in every sentence | speak in favor of
protective tariff | utter two in behalf of
nv Kansas farms to one in behalf of my
eastern investments. | believe that the
farmers of Kansas will derive more
benefit in proportion to the capital in
vested from a protective tariff than will
the eastern capitalist.
But why DO you draw the line between
the rich manufacturers and merchants
of the east and the people of the west
along the Allegheny mountains: Ohio,
Michigan, Illinois, yes, Wisconsin, Iowa
and Missouri already have as extensive
manufacturing industries, that need pro-
lection as most of the states east of the
Allegheny mountains. All new states
must of necessity be largely agricultural
during the early years of their settle
ment, but as they increased in population
and wealth. manufacturing inevitably
follows. and a protective tariff is the
one thing most needed 10 en-
courage that. Nothing would add
more TO the prosperity of Kansas now
than 10 have manufacturing establish
ments started in all her principal cities,
and under the Mckinley bill she will
surely get them. But why, NAV | ask.
do the people of the west contribute TO
the purses and comforts of the manufac-
turer and merchants of the east, more
than the manufacturers and merchants
of the east and their employees contribute
to the purses and comforts of the people
of the west: Are not he manufacturing
cities of the east the largest consumers of
the wheat, beef, pork and other products
of the farms of Kansas? Ninety-two per
cent of the products of the farms of this
country are consumed at home. Canad-
ian farmers consider New York
and Boston a far better market
for their products than Europe
Now let me give YOU a fact or two as a
Kansas farmer. You say:
The trouble with Mr.. Miller's theory
is that his eastern man Is protected at
the expense of a thousand western men
who are Just as good and Just as deserv-
ing as the pet Of the Mckinley mon
strosity.' | have been farming in Kan
Sas since 1888, and have derived more
profit from the same farms during the
year past which closed just after the
bill passed than | did during
the whole four years of Cleveland tariff
reform administration, which you 50
much admire That is not all. During
Cleveland. Morrison and Mills tariff re-
form hallucination. could not get an
offer of 30 cents on dollar for any farm !
own. while within the last
six weeks it refused an offer of more J
than 20 per cent advance on the cost Of |
one Of nv farms. Now. what makes the /
Ii Is this: confidence in 4
business was destroyed by the tariff re- I
form OF Cleveland and the Morrison and I
Mills tariff bill. Confidence has been /
restored by Harrison administration and 4
a congress that mas passed the Mckinley /
bill.
Our manufacturing industries send /
out products annually amounting TO /
about 5000. OO0. 600 There are tens Of
thousands Of factories all over the land 4
What but destruction Of confidence
could follow If congress held over the
heads OF thss-. manufacturers the
threat 10 take - Per cent Of
from The duties 90 goods
they are making. How soon confidence
: restored when suck grand bIll as
lat OF William Mckinley passes both
houses OF congress and becomes a law Of
he land. Under Il n viii see factories
'prlng up all over Kansas Business has
improved y per cent. already, prlces Of
arm products have advanced. Every
where I 80, II Kansas. see tue evil /