Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-10-11
PLUMB ON THE TARIFF.

Tho Senator Writes n LSttcr which VIII BE
Read with Interest, Although OF Not
Very Recent Date.
WASHINGTON, Dot THE following
letter, written by Senator Plumb, one
OF the Republican Senator'S from Kan
sas, to q Germantown tra.) manufact-
urer. has been published in the Phila-
delphia Press:
UNITED sTATEs SENATE, WASHINGTON, ID.
C., Aug II, ls90.-Dear Sir: have yours
of the Sd. Do not give yourself any con.
Germ about my relations to the Republican
party. Did you never before hear OF Rc'
publican who was such Notwithstanding he
did not believe In tho highest possible pro-
tcctlve tariff, and In giving TO the manu-.
facturers every thing they asked for? II
nil those who believe with me were driven
out OF the Republican party, beg you to
take notice that II would not be very
powerful organ lzation. 1t certainly would
not carry many of the Western States. How
do You account for the fact that majority
Of tho farmers Of New Jersey. Delaware,
Connecticut and largo proportion OF those
OF New York and Ohio are Democrats, not.
withstandlng they live in the shadow OF
the very chimncys for which extreme pro-
lection Is invited? Doyou think the tnrin Is
OF more benefit to the people OF kans's than
1t Is to those OF Pennsylvania and C1nnec'
tlcut?
How docs II happen that a majority Of tho
farmers OF Indlana-a great mnnufs cturing
state-are Democrats? am myself in favor
of protection, but / believe we have gone far
enough; and, whether we hnvo g"nc far
enough or not insist that II man ufactuTcr
wants more prot ection he must demonstrate
the necessity for IL. This has not
even been attempted, but with nm inso-
lence which In itself calls for rebukc, tho
manufacturers and those who represent
them have simply sail We want It, and that
is enough. There has not been an argu'
ment which was worth the name offered to
show that higher protection was needed IL
10 rather poor commentary on the Amer
lean manufacturer that. after having been
given the local field for more than thirty
years, he Is still too weak to stand alone,
but too weak 10 even exist unless he gets
still higher protection than he has ever had.
! am open to conviction upon this as upon
every thing else, but can not be driven, and
It happens at tho present time. II the indi'
cations which multiply on every hand can
be relied on. that very large majority oil
the people OF Kansas are with me. get let
ters and kilograms from there by the hun
dreds indorsing my course, anu Ill from
Republicans, and u $50 get scores OF similar
letters from Republ cans In the Eastern and
Middle Statos.
I@n't It quite possible, now, that man
may be good Republican and good pro-
lection LIST without taking tho same view OF
a partic duty which the manufacturers
do? Isn't II possible that n manufacturer,
who Is to get the cash In his pocket direct
us the result OF the imposition OF duty, Is
liable to be warped somewhat by his self
interest, and isn't 1t fair for the consumers
OF the United States to say In given case
that even II the duty may be necessary the
burden Is greater on them than they think
they ought to bear!
MY Judgment IA the manufacturers arc
making an issue which Is going TO he hurtful
tothem, as also sincerely believe that the
imposition OF the duties which they arc
asking Tor will be hurtful to the country. II
this sincere belief makes me other than
Republican, then have never known what
the Republican party was. You quote
Messrs. Mckinley and Reed to me. They are
two very eminent men, but human leings.
and liable to be mistaken. May not, In op.
position TO thai, quote Mr.. Blaine to your
May also not quote 10 you the thousands
of Republicans In the state OF Iowa who
have left the party on account Of it' posi-
ton on the tariff, whereby that State, in.
stead Of giving 10000 majority. as 1t did in
$780, IL now In the doubtful column.
Respectfully yours. L. PLuMB'