Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-27
CHAPTER III.
senatorsherman Talks Politics.

SenatOrS rSneTm3n talks FO1ClcSs
The following is my interview with Sen
ator Sherman on political mattets. The
questions were written out for Senator
Sherman, and his replies were revised be-
fore being returned to me. The first ques-
tion was as to the political issues of the day.
Said Senator Sherman:
The chief issues In national politics are no
doubt the tariff question and the free coin
age of silver. Upon these have expressed
my opinion so fully in public speeches that
it is hardly worth while to make them the
subject of an interview. The Mckinley tar
III is no doubt the most comprehensive and
carefully prepared revenue Law We have
ever had on the statute books. It provides
the largest measure of free trade ever con-
tanned in q tariff law. 1t increases the pro-
tective rates on articles which come Into
tSnPsS0a tSe farm and % WorRshon. and tends INC more re-
than any previous law to build up industries
not heretofore existing in the United States.
Some of its details will be the subject OF
may be changed, but believe the prtnci-
pies Of the bill will be maintained. AS our
industries are developed mates will befe-
duced, and free trade WIN be extended as
rapidlyas our needs for revenue-will per-
init.
rHBlkEC1RRoCITT suHEMES
I asked about reciprocity and Senator
Sherman wrote:
Reciprocity is spoken Of as If there was
something novel In it. This is not true, as
we have had several examples of reciproe-
ity, most Of which have turned out very
badly. The two reciprocity treaties with
Canada were put an END to by the United
States as soon as the treaties permitted.
The Hawaiian treaty is monument of folly,
which cost US great many millions Of dol
lars without any substantial benefit Other
reciprocity treaties were either rejected py
the Senate, or the House of Representatives
refused to pass laws to carry them into
effect. The reciprocity provided by the Nc
Kinley bill is extremely limited in its scope.
The third section provides that whenever
any country producing and exporting
sugars, molasses, coffee, tea and hides i'm
poses unreasonable duties on agricultural
and other products of the United states, the
tion into the United States of such articles
from such country, and that during
such suspension these articles shall be
subject to the old duties provided by the
former law. Reciprocity is confined to the
five articles named, and, as they are suoh as
cannot be produced at all or only in limited
a very simple question Of fair trade on which
the President could exercise his discretion
without the Intervention Of Congress. l see
no objection to such reciprocity, and 1t ts to
Harrison that he has been able to make very
satisfactory arrangements with Brazil and
Cuba which will be benefit to all the coun-
tries affected; Our trade with the countries
roads and ship lines, which believe, with
out the aid of the Government, will in time
be established, but which think ought to
be favored and encouraged by such as
sistance as we can render.
OUR UNION WITH CANADA
As for reciprocity with Canada, It presents
a much more difficult problem. The pro-
ductions of Canada are substantially similar
to those OF the United States, as to which
weere natural competitors. Both countries
would be benefited by limiting reciprocity,
and the difficulties In the way are in the de-
tails. The natural drift of events is for
Canada and the United States to become
parts Of one country, and believe such is
their ultimate destiny, but l hope twill
never OCCUR except by the free consent not
only Of the people Of the United States and
Canada, but Of the Government of Great
Britain. This opens such a wide field of con.
lecture, involving the future of the Anglo
Saxon race, that 1t is hardly worth while to
talk of what we hope may be.
Asked as TO the imitation ideas of to-day
and the remedy; Senator Sherman wrote:
IfIam correct in my view of the past, It
will be perceived that great loss occurred
by two ideas in conflict with each other
one that the greenback should be retired by
god and svee sna STATE BANK papsr
hind, aud the other, a wild and unreasoning
demand for substantially unlimited cir
culation of United States notes without re-
gard to their redemption or their specie
value. One was in favor of resumption by
contraction. The other was Indifferent to
resumption and was in favor OF frredeem-
able paper money, bearing the stamp Of the
Government without care for its value IN
coin
THE SAFE MIDDLEGRoUND.
These opposing ideas prevail among large
masses Of people at the present time. Now
the inflationists demand an unlimited
amount of Treasury notes, without any basis
at all, or based upon silver at more than its
market value, and the other party are op-
posed to, or reluctantly acquiesce in, the
bullion at its gold value. believe that the
present volume Of United States notes ought
to be supplemented by Treasury notes linn
tied in amount to the production of the
precious metals in the United States at gold
value deposited in the Treasury, repre-
sented in circulation by an equal amount of
paper money. This is the middle and safe
ground between undue contraction and un-
due expansion.
AS to the farmers and their troubles Sen
ator Sherman says:
Undoubtedly there has been much dis
content among farmers during the last few
years as to crops and prices. This year they
are blessed with bounteous crop of all
with a very poor crop in competing coun-
ries. This fuctuation in quantity and price
of the products of the farm is an unavoid.
able incident to this industry which de-
pends 80 largely upon causes beyond hu-
man control The industry of the farmer,
however intelligent and constant, may be
defeated by want of rain, by frosts, or many
causes which no care or foresight can guard
against. He has the wide world for his COM
petitors. His productions, being perishable,
must be marketed within the year or are OF
no value. Favorable circumstances NAV add
to his crop in the United States and the fail
ure of crops in other countries may add to
his profits. The condition of our currency
and of other industries also effect their
value.
THE FARMERS ADVANTAGES,
I do not see how these conditions can be
changed. Farmers are entirely justified,
like all other producers, in making any
to promote their mutual in
terests, but the number of farmers is so
great that protection in this way almost
always fails. With these drawbacks they
have many advantages not possessed by
others. The farmer Produces from his own
soil and by his own labor all the food neces-
sary for existence, and, with a convenient
home market, can supply other articles
to life. He cannot be affected by
hostile legislation. FRANK G. CARPENTER.