The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-10-22
ANOTHER EXPRESSION FROM snNA-
TOR PLUhB.

SENATOR PRESTON b. PLUM, IRE
publican,) of Kansas, has written the
following letter to Il prominent NAM
facturer of Germantown, Pa, in re-
Spouse to a query. We find it in the
columns of the Philadelphia Press. a
high tariff and subsidized organ
of the administration, and partly
from wonder that the Press would
be fair enough to it's readers TO publish
an honest statement from a tariff re-
former, and partly because the letter is
a remarkably good ching we reproduce it
in full. Senator PLUME is q Republican
and has, therefore, fought the Mckinley
iniquity in the United States Senate.
not for political reasons, but from a cor
viction that it is an outrage on the peo-
pie. Here is PLUMB's letter and sxpla-
nation of his course:
UNITED STATES SENATE,
WASHINGTON, d. c., August IA, 1890.
DEAR SIR:-I have yours of the 3D. De
not give yourself any concern about my re-
latons to the Republican party. Did you
never before hear of a Republican who was
such Notwithstanding he did not believe in
the highest possible protective tariff, and
IL giving 70 Tue manufacturers everything
they asked forl If all those who believe
with me were driven out of the Republican
party, beg you to take notice that IL would
not De very powerful organization. It
'ccgertainly would not carry many Of the
western States. How do you account fer
the TACT that majority of the farmers of
New Jersey, Delaware Connecticut
and large proportion of those of
are Democrats, notwithstanding they
I'VE In the shadow of the very chimneys for
which extreme protection is invitedi De
you think the tariff is of more beneft TO the
people of Kansas than il is to those of
pennsylvania and Connecticut How does
IL happen that majority of the farmers of
1ndtana-a great manufacturing State-aro
Democratst l am myself in favor of pro-
lection, but believe we have gone far
enough, and whether we have gone far
enough or not l insist that II a manufac-
turer wants more protection he most dem
onstrate the necessity for it This has not
even been attempted to be DONE but with
an insolence which in itself calls for re-
Duke, the manufacturers and those Uhe
represent them have simply said, we want
1t and that is enough. There has not been
offered TO show that higher protection We
needed. IL is rather poor comment
on the American manufacturer that after
having been given the local field for
more than thirty years by high duties, he
is not only still too weak to stand alone. but
TOO weak to even exist unless he gets still
higher protection than he has ever had /
am open to conviction upon this as upon
everything else, but cannot be driven.
and 1t happens at the present time. IN the
indications which multiply on every hand
can be relied upon, that very largo ma
lority OF the people of Kansas are with me.
L get letters and kilograms from there by
the hundreds endorsing my course and ali
from Republicans, and also get scores of
similar letters from Republicans in the
IsaSs;a,a ana Middle States. Isn't it quite
possible now that man may be a GOOD
Republican and a good protectionist with
out taxing the same view of a particular
duty which the manufacturers doc Isn't n
possible that manufacturer who is TO get
the cash in his pocket direct
as the result of the imposition of
duty is liable to be warned
somewhat by his seIf-interest' and isn't II
Ialr Tor the consumers of the United State
10 say In given case that even the duty
may be necessary, the burden ON them L
greater than they think they ought to beart
My Judgment is the manufacturers are
making an issue which is going TO be hurt
I Iul 70 them, as also sincerely believe that
the imposition OF the duties which theV
are asking for will be hurtful to the coun
try. If this sincere belief makes me other
than a Republican, then have never known
what the Republican party was. You
quote Messrs. Mckinley and Reed TO me.
Ihey are two very eminent men, but hu
man beings and liable to be mistaken. Nav
not, In opposition to that, quote Mr.
Blaine TO yonl May also not quote 10 Won
the thousands of Republicans in the Stata
OF Iowa who have left the party on account
OF its position on the tariff, whereby that
state, instead of giving GO, 600 majority. as
u did In 1850, is now in the doubtful col
umn' Respectfully yours,
P.B. PLUME.