St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-24
TORN into FACTIONS.
The Tariff Will Split Repub-
liean Minnesota in
Twain.
Cheap Sugar Shows What
Tariff Reduction Will
Work.
Prices Will Soar Up When the
Settlement Takes.
Place.
Local Ppoteetionists Silenced
by the Stern Logic Of
Events.

ministered the Republican congression-
al ticket in this state at the late election.
the organs of that party, having seem
lngly caught their second wind, are
again bowling and salaaming to the tariff
barons of the East by praising and in
dorslng the Mckinley tariff act. But in
this they are making several bad mis-
takes, not the least of which is the Re-
publican treatment of the sugar ques-
ton The moment anyone mentions
some iniquity of the Mckinley bill the
protectionist will smile bIandly and de-
clare that it is good thing, citing the
fall IN the price of sugar as an example
OF the workings of the law.
But this is so very flimsy that the peo-
pie are few, indeed, who are caught by
IT, FOR moment even. The reduction
IN the price OF sugar which has followed
the removal of the duty on certain
grades OF the raw material is the best
low tariff argument that has been
brought out for a long time. and the far
seeing Repibllcans of this state see it
IN that light. For many years the low
tariff men have talked and talked TO
convince the people that a reduction of
the tariff on various articles would be
followed by reduction in their cost TO
the consumer. In other words, it has
always taken a great deal of argument
TO convince the people that a tariff
Is tax and that it simply
adds so much to the cost
OF all articles upon which it is levied.
This the prOtectiOnistS have ALWAYS
StrenuOuSly denied, and, by citing here
and there an article, the cost of manu-
featuring whichby improved machinery
or other advantages in this country had
been reduced lower than the cost of the
foreign-made product plus the tariff.
contrived to bolster up their side of the
argument.
Argument Useless.
Happily for the low tariff men this
question no longer needs to be argued.
The fall in the price Of sugar following
the removal of the tariif-taX has settled
Tor all time that the tariff is a tax and
SIMPLY increases the price of all goods
or products upon which its whitening
hand IS laid. A question that no adj
mlrer OF the Mckinley act likes to hear
runs about as follows:
If it is good thing for the Mckinley bill
10 la!:e the tariff off of sugar and thus reduce
ITS price why would it not be an equally good
thing 10 take the duty off of wool ana thus
bring down the price of clothing, carpets
ana all other articles into the making of
which wool enters?
A few questions like the following
VIII pretty nearly satisfy the Mckinley
lie that the people cannot be fooled so
easily as they imagine:
II the removal of the tax on sugar is such a
good thing (as it certainly Isl why would not
thing?
If the reduction of the duty on the material
mat enters into the manufacture of binding
tWlne has proved such good thing and re-
uuced tne price or twine greatly would not
the to'al abolition of the duty be much
better thing?
If it is good thing to have cheap sugar
Would II not also be a good thing TO have free
glass. paper. iron and lumber?
If it is good thing TO have chean sugar
why ought IL not also be good thing TO give
Ihe people cheap cotton and wooden goods
Tor clothing?
Cheap Goods and Cheap Men.
The protectionist leader in the late
congress, as well as his lieutenants
were very much afraid of making the
cost of the necessities of life less. for
the reason that they were sure that
"cheap goods would make cheap men,"
NO one OF the grOcerS of st. Paul who
has been selling twenty pounds of gran
ulated sugar for 81 has noticed anv de-
probation in the quality of the men
who nave been buying and consuming
this free sugar. Quite the contrary
eject is noticed, for the money saved by
the reduction in the price of this staple
article being left in the pockets of the |
people gives them just so much more to
spend for other necesSaries. and. in |
stead OF making cheap men, makes in |
dependent and prosperous men.
A tour of the st. Paul dry goods stores |
Will convince the man or woman who is |
beginning to think that the Mckinley
bill is not as bad as it was painted that |
he or she is mistaken. The price of dry
goods went up at the time the law went
INTO effect, but this increase was too
great, for the simple reason that the |
importers rushed all the goods they could |
into the country. To such an extent was
this carried that many of these dealers
were forced to unload. When this sur
plus Is worked off prices will become |
nXed again, and then people will have a |
chance to see just how mucn tribute |
they are paying to the glorious princi-
pie OF protection.
Anything that has wool in it; said drv
goods man yesterday, has advanced in |
price since the passage of the MCKINLEY act.
Stockings underwear and wooden fabrics of |
all kinds, and particularly carpets into the |
composition or which wool enters. Take in |
gram carpet, for example. year ago we |
sold the best quality at SIS cents per yard. |
NOW we can not dispose of it at
Less Than
per yard This due to the Mckinley hill |
and nothing else.''
The attempt of the protectionists to |
persuade the people that the rise in |
prices was due to the cupidity and ras- |
callty OF the merchants is so bold a |
falSeh0od that 1t influences 10 one. and |
simply reacts upon the party that seeks |
to benefit by it. IN speaking of this |
claim yesterday Well-knoWn merchant |
said:
'AIl man has to do to become convinced |
as to what is To blame for the rise i'm Drices |
that followed the going into effect of the NC
hlnley act is TO take that law and carefully |
go over the increased duties on wool wooden |
goods. etc. If this man desires to know lust |
per year, let him keep acconnt |
OF his purchasers for that period figuring ont |
the tax on EACH
rs it not fact that the tendency of this |
bill IS to force people to purchase cheaper |
goods:'
ITO certain extent that will be the re-
suit, was the answer. IF people cannot |
afford good, substantial goods thew will. of |
course, be obliged TO take something else |
Vast amounts of cheap domestic goods are |
being thrown on the market now, but any |
protectionist who claims that this cheap |
stuff at the former price of good goods is all |
night, deserves medal
The fact that the Republican party of |
Minnesota is divided into high and low |
tariff wings is becoming more and more |
apparent every day. The high tariff |
men are principally Eastern men who, |
while they have lived for many years |
In this state, have never become |
really naturalized, and are still |
filled with Eastern ideas and sympa- |
thles., 10 this faction belong that large |
crowd of carDet-baggers who are now |
holding great many important federal |
offices in this state, as we'll as that young |
and fiery element that neither reckons |
nor thinks. The other element is made |
up OF thinking men who are tired |
OF Eastern denomination in the |
party and believe that the |
interests of the West. as well as of the |
whole country, would be best promoted |
by wise and careful reform of the tar
if. To this element belong such men
as Gen. John B. Sanborn, ex-Congress-
man l. Z Wakefaid EarIo 9 VI.