The advocate., 1891-02-04
THE AMERICAN PROTECTIVE TARIFF
LEAGUE.

At the annual meeting OF the
American Protective Tariff League
at its rooms in New York, on January
Is, the president Of the league made
some statements in his report that
are worthy OF reproduction. Oul
readers will not fail to discover great
significance in that part Of the re-
port in which he enumerates the
sources Of encouragement" to the
purposes OF the league. He says;
have not prepared a formal report but have
here the reports OF the secretaries OF the diner
ont departments. which, l think, will take up "a
much time as you have 30 spare.
Iwlll only say In a very general way That We
have had q peculiar year. We started INTO tue
year very enthusiastic In the support OF the NC
Kinley bill, which was then before the House
The attention and efforts OF the league we're
particularly directed 10 the encouragement oI
public opinion In favor OF the passage or That
bill. We followed the matter up and met every
issue that came before tho people under the
management OF the opponents OF the bill, who
sought TO develop an opposition 10 IT, In many
cases think that our efforts we're effective.
We ielt very happy when the bill was passed,
but soon we began TO hnd strong undercurreni
affecting not only public opinion but our own In
come, whichAmmediately declined II may be
described as a feeling Of disappointment on the
part OF some who had not received what they
considered due consideration In the bill and on
the part OF Others who thought that their for
tunes we're made by the bill, and they had moth
ing further to do. These two causes Of the cur.
talment Of our resources we're nc a later point
supplemented by what might be called feeling
Of Ofhopelessness. Some said when they saw the
result Of the elections In November, I'VE have
been beaten badly, and we won't pay out any
more money"
These three sources OF dlsCouragement 10 ua
were exhibited In the results Of our applications
for the payment OF the regular annual COntrlbu-
tlOns. / may say, however, that the feeling
which sprung out of those views is disappearing.
find that the latest sentiment evidenced In the
correspondence which comes into this Ofiice is
that there Is no reason TO doubt that The people
are becoming more enlightened and more favor
able TO protection, although their minds for a
time may be diverted by some more urgent CON
tngency For instance the farmers are now
diverted by the question oicurrency, so that II Is
the engrOsslng subject which occupies their NJ.
tention.
i am confident, however, that as time goes on
we shall find that this question Of currency shall
lose some Of its present Importance, AMI the
farmers will recognize that IL is to protection
they must look for prosperity. The strongest
sentiment In the letters which come into this
Oiiice is that we must buckle on our armor and
20 ahead, and the result cannot fail to be salts
factory Jus.
During the course OF the year, In meeting the
various questions that have come up, we have
Issued special documents from time TO time; one
OF which was called export Discounts" sent
out 70 meet the assertions that we're circulated
In all the agricultural and weekly papers TO the
effect that che farmers In this country were
obliged 10 pay more than foreign farmers for
agricultural implements The argument made
In this Office TO dlscredit that statement was
successful, and was published In full In the Con-
OressiOnGl Record as part Of speech Of Major
Mckinley on that subject.
II the latter assertions made against the Nc
Kinley bill could have been treated In the SAme
way we believe that the elections would have
been other than they we're. But with the adrlot-
ness that the enemy has shown all along, they
waited until the elections were upon us and then
began their crusade when they knew we would
have but little or no time 10 rsiute their state
ments. Their assertion that the Mckinley bill
augmented the cost OF living had great In
fiuence, and think no other reason can be given
for the result OF the November elections. Now
the country is becoming aware Of the ialseness
OF this statement, and chat we and our friends