The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1890-03-13
THn QUESTION oLuBa And THE
TAhIHF,

1 nhlhuNl VI NhN AF"thA AN'ssffH y"
yiew oOniaina q striking contribution
by Samuel w, Mendum, II may or may
not be significant that II Immediately
followa a labored and tiTeaome attempt
| In the same number, by Senator Nor
rill, 10 answer by means OF puerile aud
oft refuted arguments, the previous
paper by Mr.. Gladstone on Free Trade
One point must be noted In passing
win II be believed that tho SOLEMN Sen
Ator really wrItesY
"PrOteetioniats claim, as Bismarck
claims, that Protection puts the chlel
burden on the foreigner, who IL com
pslled 10 pay the duty or give an equiv
Alent, by reducing the price of his pro
ducts"
II has heretofore been generally sup
posed that Mckinley was the only
prominent PrOteotlOniat who had
reached that dizzy height OF sublime
and awful stupidity, aud that he had
monopoly on "the foreigner pays The
duty" gag, The explanation commonly
made and accepted was, that the Major
actually knew no better, and didn't be
| lleye that aay ono else did, However
no will have 10 look out for tho halo on
| his Ounce cap. Morrill, Ia after II. But
Morrill, is 70 years old, and Is known u
be demented,
hut II 10 something 10 be remarked
how quickly the tarlffitea ny 10 Ble
marek for protection, and 10 free trade
England for aubaidlea,
10 return TO the Question Clubs, the
origin OF which Mr.. Mendum describes
aa follows;
"Among the changes proposed In the
Senate Tariff Bill, which passed the
Senate on January as, 1889, was an In
crease In the duty on tin plates from
one cent, the present rate, to two centa
per pound. While the bill was still
pending, the Massachusetts consumers
and workers OF tin plate, 10 the mum
ber OF over three hundred signed
and forwarded 10 the Hon, IL. Dawes
and the Hon, Geo. II, Hoar, q com
municatIon In which the following
specific questions we're aaked'
1. Why double the tax on tin plate0Y
3, Why not lot them enter free OF
duty9
3, Who are TO be benefited by taxing
us on the tin plates we consumer
4, TO whom do you expect the pro-
posed Increase OF tax will bo paid-to
the United States Treasury or TO prl'
yato persons, 10 induce them TO manu-
faoture tin platep
3. II 10 the latter, what chance do you
think any workmen, now idle In this
country, win stand In getting such prl'
vatO persons 10 employ them, In prefer
ence 10 the especially wellAtted Welsh
men, who would at once seek such en-
plOyment herep
II will readily be admitted that these
consumers and workers Of TIN plate had
as good ground for consideration 40 the
representative Of the Iron aud Steel
Association. But the two Senators
paid no attention whatever 10 the ques'
tIouo, and the attempt OF the tln'work'
ers and consumers % obtain the justiA'
cation for change 30 vitality concern
Ing their interest was Intellectual"
The idea, however, Of asking specific
questions with regard TO the effects OF
our present tariffs upon special branch
es Of industry appeared, says Mr., Men
dun, 10 find favor with some Of the
young men who had become interested
In economic questions. by the method
Of question and answer or question and
refusal 10 answer, or question and neg
lect 10 answer II was thought that the
whole subject Of taxation might be
overhauled, Questions should be sent
TO those representing both sides, and
answers from protectionlSts and Tariff.
reformers should be equally welcome
As these young men had no special In
terests nj stake, and therefore could |
not afford 10 Invest large sums Of |
money with the hope Of return, a cheap |
method of spreading their information
was desired. "Why not make the peo.
pie the questionersp" The idea deyel.
oped and soon clubs consisting Of FIVE
or more members each, were organized
In various towns and citles of the State.
In order TO facilitate the circulation Of
the questions and the publication of the
answers In the press, q general secre.
tary was elected and the consolidated
organizations became known as the
United Question Clubs Of Massachu.
Betts, with q postoGice box as their OK.
pensiye headquarters,
The first set Of questions related 10
the taxes on fish, coal, iron ore, ETC.,
and were addressed and forwarded TO
senator's Dawes and Hoar, and Repre-
ientattYee Andrew ana Candler. Kep'
Andrews alone made speci.
10 replies 10 the questions, expressing
himself as opposed TO duties on the
articles named and giving his reasons
II length. The publication Of his re.
plies brought forth a storm Of rldicule
rom the protectionist papers. The
Boston Journal warned Republicans TO
gnore Question clubs aud declared
hat the shortest way to extinguish
hem was mot TO notice them"
The Advertiser insinuated that the
questions would not warrant replies
rom public men, as they we're largely
igned by working men, and columns
II rldicule were hurled At the clubs.
The Boston Advertiser declared II