West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-10-30
= READ AND REFLECT
-(o)--
A STIRRING APPEAL.
To the Voters Of Preston County.

! ~ mas peCoUe so 1ashlOnaDlc to
doubt the statements of politicians
that the veriest truths coming from
the lips of political speaker are
seldom believed, except by those of
his own political faith.
Under the circumstances. it may
then be pardonable in one who is
not n politician to say a few words
to the people of his native county.
wish to write as briefly as may
be of a few questions OF vital inter
est to you; and | hope that my re-
marks will give offence TO none.
The great burning question in
American politics is that of the
tariff. Tho idea of "protection"
has been carried to such n ruinous
length that 1t is now high time for
every voter to give the question
calm and lispassionate thought,
and ascertain If he can whether the
protection he receives is not that
(Which the vulture gives to the
lamb. " Let us examine the matter
on small scale that we may the
more readily discern its workings.
Suppose, for example, that you good
people of Preston were allowed to
have u protective tariff in your own
county. Now half-dozen of your
own citizens go to Kingwood and
begin to manufacture shoes. Pret-
ty soon they tell you that they are
not able to compete with those who
are engaged in the same business i'm
other counties and other states.
Consequently they ask You to vote
tariff of 60 per cent, on all shoes
imported into Preston county. IL
YOU are good-natured enough to
grant the request, you then pay
1880 for shoes which now cost you
$500. How many of you would
vote for such tariff
But this is not all. In the course
OF time, your tanners sec the man
ufactures of shoes growing rich
from the advantage of the tariff /;
and they demand similar duty on
ali leather imported into the coun-
ty. We will suppose that you good
naturedly impose this duty also.
It's effect is to diminish the profits
OF the manufacturers Of shoes to
some extent but it does not bene-
fit the people at all. They still
pay 81 so for their $500 shoes, and
the elimination Of the manufac-
turer's profits goes to the tanner.
In the course of time, the man
ufacturers grow rich from the ac-
emulation OF your good money ;
and they tell you that they are able
to make more shoes than are ncces-
sary to supply the demands Of your
county. They now have the unpar-
allelled impudenee to ask you for o
drawback" In other words, they
tell you that they have a surplus
left after supplying the demands Of
your county; and if you will re-
fund to them the duty which they
have. paid on the leather used in
the manufacture Of this surplus,
they can export their shoes and sell
them in the markets Of the world at
$500 pair. This again you arc
good natured enough to do and
so they go on selling you shoes al
$4.80 a pair, and sending the same
grade Of shoes out Of the county to
be sold at $500 a pair. Now this,
from the manufacturer point ol
view, is o marvel Of statesmanship
but how do you, who wear shoes
and desire to pay for them nC
more than they are worth, rogarC
the matter?
Absurd as this all seems to an,
reasonable being, it is really th,
principle which lies at the founda
tion Of protection" so-caIled
Those who manufacture the neces
saries Of civilized people are "pro
tectcd !" and those who consum,
the same necessaries are robbed o
a large portion Of their hard -gotter
gain.
Under our present laws, q dut.
Of 115 per cent, is charged on man
ufacturcd shot-guns and undc
the same laws, shotgun barrels or
imported duty-frco.
According to what principle o
,.to.f.f o,T fr.tt0, sI,c.ttIF o,,e... 81, ..,