St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-11-05
WAS THE ISSUE.

Republican organs are reluctant to
admit that the contest in Massachusetts,
was made on the tariff as the chief and
controlling issue. Those who are famil-
lar with the situation, however. know
that such is the fact. The speeches of
the Democrats were almost exclusively
confined to the discussion of that Ques-
ton, and no other was given definite
place in the Democratic papers. There
was no difference between the parties in
regard to coinage. and that the temper.
ance question did not figure materially
is evident in the fact that the liquor
interests of Boston were friendly to
the Republican ticket. 1t is fair in
ference, then, from the result that on the
tariff issue Massachusetts will be
doubtful state in the presidential con-
test next year. Its manufacturing in
tereStS need free raw materials in many
cases where they are at a disadvantage
with other localities, and the consumers
were pOintedly and specifically shown
that the MCKINLEY duties do materially
increase the cost of living. This point
the Republicans have been very reluc-
tary FOSTER, in his Ohio speeches.
went so far as to assert that
he had caused "a search to be
made of all the manufactured ar
ticles upon which the duty has been
raised by the MCKINLEY bill. and so
far found but two articles increased in
price," The secretary was possibly I'M
fortunate in his selection OF parties to
gather the facts. Gov. RUSSELL. of
Massachusetts, was more successful.
His source of information was some of
the largest retail establishments in Bos-
ton. The statements he gathered were
not vague, nor the data anonymous.
In twenty-five out of twenty-four de-
partmentS, embracing 122 kinds of
goods. goods are sold at retail at about
% per cent advance, Oh the average,
over the retail price of September,
1890" These were all named, and
the prices at the former and pres
ent date given. Among them were up
holstery goods, dress goods, gents and
ladies underwear, blankets, shaWls.
hosiery, and great variety of articles
in common family use. On some that
have been widely used the increase is
enormous. Pearl buttons have gone I'D
several hundred per cent. A class of
wOrsted goods that has been used i'm
most households has had duties
amounting to - cents per yard put upon
goods that cost only Sc cents at the
place of production. At retail the con-
sumer will pay nearly 81 per yard for
goods that sell in England for Sc cents.
This is not a theory advanced for use in a
campaign merely. 1t is as true after
as before the election. The persons who
make the family purchases discover
that the little sums do not go as far as
they did before the MCKINLEY era. If
they get goods at the same price they
take inferior qualities that do less serv-
ice. While the cost OF SO many of the
neceSSarieS of life has been increased to
the consumer, the question where has
the tariff raised the wages of the laborer
meets no response. 1t is such practical.
economic considerations that have dissi-
pated the old 10000 Republican major
1ty i'll Massachusetts. They are coming
to be more painfully realized, and will
be at the front in that state still more
notably next year, and render it unsafe
for the Republicans to place in their
tables.