The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-24
ruy MAIN GREAT ISSUE.

CONGRESSMAN Mills announces the position
of tho Democracy very aptly when be Pays:
Tho Democracy IL not at all ayerse to the
settlement Of the coinage question. and 1t does
not propose either 10 dodge that issue or to
run away from it; but IL insists that that ques-
ton is not the paramount ISSUE before the
people at this time and that the tarih ques-
ton must be met and answered now" Moth
ing could be moro tersely or truly stated. IL
is conceded on ell sides that reform OF the
tariff will not only 10 the great issue upon
which the battle Of 80 must DO
fought but that il will be the main subject
of legislation by the Fifty second Congress.
The Republicans are naturally anxious 70
force the tariff aside for the silver question,
and In this they are being largely assisted by
the anti-Cleveland Democrats. AZ has
frequently been shown. however. free
silver is not, and cannot be, political issue
between the parties. aimee both are seriously
divided upon it. and therefore neither can
afford to adopt il as party plank Iho Do
mocracy do not desire to shirk what
ever responsibility may rest upon them
for its settlement. and will no doubt do what
ever may be done in that direction without
detriment 10 the public welfare.
The tariff question, on the other hand, IL
one upon which issue has been distinctly
made. and when Congress meets the Demo
cratic members Of that body viii address
themselves at once to afording such relief as
il possible 10 q tax-ridden people. AS two
thirds Of the House is Democratic there Will
be no difficulty in passing any measure which
may be agreed upon by tie Ways and Means
Committee. but the great difficulty will be to
pass bill which will secure favorable consid-
alton by the Senate Arguing on the adyisa-
bility Of such a practical measure as
will meet with tho approval Of both
tho House and Senate. a contemporary,
who has given careful thought to this subject
suggests that the first thing TO be considered
will be the extension Of tho free lst to oil raw
materials Of industry and 10 finished pro-
ducts that constitute the raw materials of I'M
portant manufactures. The increased duty
on tn-plate in the Mckinley tariff should not
only DO repealed, but as there IS not tho
slightest prospect of the domesticati0n OF the
manufacture Of this important raw material
Of 90 many American industries Congress
should entirely remove the tax from It.
Already American Industries using tin-pla.e
as q raw material arc suffering from its en-
HANGED cost BY the removal Of the tin-plats
to tho free list the manufactures of which it
is q raw material would be greatly benefited.
while no other industries would DO iuluri-
ously affected by the change.
Tho next matter upon which both houses
will be likely the mofe readily to agree IS the
wool tariff. The increased taxation on wool
by the Mckinley bill has bad most disas-
trous effect. having caused IN increased price
in ali articles in which wool enters in whole
OF in part. while the price Of the raw mate
rial has decidedly declined. Here is clearly
shown how the Mckinley law operates only
to the benefit Of the manufacturers, while
weighing heavily on all other classes, and this
fact has added largely TO the unpopularity Of
the measure. 1t has been truly said that the
great body Of wooden manufacturers. "a well
as the producers in some of the wool-grow-
ing States, are Ia favor of free wool. While
American manufacturers cannot successfully
compete with their European rivals in
either the home or foreign markets without
free raw materials, the wool-growers have
come to recognize that the high duties 10 not
afford them tho protection" which they had
anticipated Tho same policy which prohibits
importations of the best foreign woods also
checks consumption Of the domestic product
With the pressure Of American consumers for
diminished taxes upon their clothing of the
manufacturers for the raw materials, and Of
the producers in some Of the most important
wool-growing States, it will not be difficult to
put wool on the free list in tho next Tariff
bill.
1t is relief bill such as is herein briefly out
lined, which will command popular favor,
and If measure OF that sort is passed by
both houses and is then vetoed by the Presi-
dent the result will be only to make still
more clear cut and distinct the position Of
the two parties on the absorbing question OF
tariff reform. With such a winning issue
on which to make the fight the Democrats
would be exceedingly foolish to permit them
selves to be diverted therefrom by the Re-
publicans and anti-Cleyeland men with free