The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-10-30


ern road, this side Of Council Bluffs.
1t repudiates the Mckinley tariff bill,
that adds SO much to the expenses OF
Iowa people, and wants men sent to
congress who will work for Iowa in
terests. Its article is 50 strong and
we'll put that we reproduce it in full:
For over twenty years the Re-
porter has advocated and defended
the protective tariff theory. 1t has
argued the question with all the logic
at its command. 1t has furnished
columns OF facts and figures in sup
port OF protection against free trade.
Sincere in the belief that the only
true economic policy OF this country
was protection to American indus
tries,' it has neglected no opportun-
ity to set forth its advantages and to
combat what it invariably designated
the free trade heresy. Being re-
publican journal, it has specially en-
phasized the republican doctrine.
Recently, however, the Reporter
has discovered certain reasons for
very materially changing it's mind on
this subject, and it has no hesitancy
in declaring that, all sentiment and
bias aside, while a high protective
tariff is a decided and almost indis-
pensable benefit to the east, the great
manufacturing and financial strong
hold Of the country, for the west, the
great agricultural area Of our land,
it is positive injury, barrier to its
progress, an insurmountable hinder
ance to its development and effect
ual estoppel to its material prosper
ity.
What has led the Reporter to this
conclusion, this radical charge in its
economic opinions. Briefly this; 1t
has found that under the dominance
OF the protective idea the east has
steadily grown in wealth ut the ex-
pense and to the detriment of the
west. In other words that eastern
manufacturers and capitalists have
increased their accumulations enor-
mously, while the farmers of the west
have, during the same period, made
no proportionate gain, but, on the
contrary, have been reduced to a
condition of vassalage Of tribute pay
ing serfs.
To put it in still another form. The
capitalists and manufacturers, in the
east, aided and abetted by a high
protective tariff, have made money
in fabulous sums, while the farmers
of the west have been scarcely able
to maintain themselves respectfully.
Not only SO, but eastern manufacture
ers have, by reason OF this protective
tariff. been placed in position where
their financial power gives them
practical control of our government
in all it's departments, despite the
votes and wishes Of the people of the
western states-who by reason OF be-
ing large creditors, of necessity Dor.
rowers of and dependents upon thu
east and virtually politically disfran-
chised.
These facts have induced the Re-
porter at this time to make public its
conviction that high protective
tariff is one Of the many things the
west does not want and cannot sus-
tain, and that the passage of the
measure known as the Mckinley bill,
will work incalculable ruin to the
agricultural districts, embodying
practically all the western states.
The western farmer has no interest
whatever in protective tariff. His
interest rather lies in the direction ol
free trade of access to all markets
wherever his products may be in de.
mand. 1t is for his interest to sell
what he raises wherever in all the
wide world he can find purchaser
and thus provide himself with the
means of disposing Of his surplus
crops. Not only is he vitality inter.
ested in securing all possible markets
but also in buying what he needs al
cheaply as possible. Sell where he
may and buy at the lowest figure
this, selfish as it may seem, Is what
concerns the western farmer,
Incidental protection will give the
west the markets of the world, and
an opportunity to buy what it re.
quires at less than half it now pays
for these same articles,
Lumber, hardware, furniture, cloth.
ing, groceries and agricultural nipple
ments-these the west needs princi
pally. Lower tariff will bring these
things to us at figures far below pres
ent prices.
In all this the Reporter speaks sole
~ from the standpoint Of self inter
est. 1t is with states and sections ri
with individual citizens-self preser
walton is the first obligation. A due
regard to our sectional preservation
our territorial interest, demands the
adoption Of q lower tariff-comlner
cial reciprocity with all nations. The
east, as we have stated, has grown
dangerously -:ch by means Of a pro
tective tariff Now let the west as
sert itself and use the means at it,
command to change it's economic
policy to one more conducive to sec
tional warfare.
The question is broader than party
lines. 1t is more vitt than mere
formal political organization and
more ESSENTIAL than the dominance Of
any particular set of politicians, fol
it touches our life and is indissolubly
interviewer with our existence.
High protection continued twenty
years longer and the west with it.
large agricultural possibilities would
be pauper, bound hand and foot
Let us who live here in the west be
fools M longer hut let llS exercise