Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-03-26
MIR. Horr on The Tariff.

uty aittthuoh W tdih pii thV 'diiii, oiN
was greeted by an audience of between
two and three hundred adults. The
audience would have been larger with
better roads and weather. AS it was
however, hearers and speaker were on
splendid terms from the beginning
The national reputation of Mr.. lIorr
had created the ideal of rather an
gust parsonage, but his conversational
and familiar manner secured his popu-
larity, while his arguments were so
sound and unanswerablc, and such
"clinchers' that his effort was acbnowl
edged to be the best exposition of the
tariff subject ever heard. The speaker
was introduced by Mr., A. ii. Edwards.
Mr.. Horr stated that il was his pur.
pose to discuss the question from an
economic rather than partisan stand
point, and that he proposed TO present
1t fairly without regard to whom it
might reflect credit or discredit, as a
supporter and advocate of the Ameri-
can protective plan. 1t is one of the
oldest of the problems before the peo-
pie, the second bill signed by Prest,
Washington having been areyenue bill.
There Is no nation that is absolutely n
free trade nation. Great Britain is
cited as such, but the truth is that she
leyies duties to the extent of 100000.
900 every year. But her plan is directly
opposite our own, because she places n
tariff upon articles she cannot produce,
while we levy them upon articles we
can produce or manufacture in order TO
stimulate the home production, and in
this we have been successful rs history
has proven. The memory of the oldest
citizen was called into requisition rs he
compared the prices Of articles fur,
nishcd MS from abroad with the prices
prevailing after home manufacturers
had been established Here Mr.. llorr
recalled an instance in joint debate
with noted free trader The latter
stated to the audience that llorr would
appeal to their memories, which should
be regarded rs unreliable. Horr re.
piled that the free trade theory was
weak IL man must forget all that he
ever knew before becoming eligible 10
membership, Tho Mouell tariff bill,
passed in 81, was then taken up, and
the prices of many articles placed on its
schedule, was compared with tho pres.
ent prices on the same articles, showing
Enthusiastically that home manufacture
has resulted in reduction in every case,
Salt was free up to 60. II then sold
for from 50 to ~ per barrel. A duty
of 4 cents per pound was levied In 81,
In 70 the tariff was reduced to 80 cents.
The home product has been encouraged
and developed until last year salt sold
at the works for 30 cents barrel, and
the barrel cost 20 cents. According to
the democratic theory the duty and the
cost would make 1t 50 cents per barrel,
but by the reverse view the consumer is
given 2 cents to take 1t away. A scythe
blade which cost In 1885 $40 and up
wards, now goes for 90 cents, and II Is
the same with hardware, the whole In
voice through. In 1883 wire nails were
sold for 80 per keg Manufacturers
asked for protection; they were en-.
couragcd and wire nails came gradual.
ly down TO sl.2o. Every man in the
light Of his own experience knows these
facts to be true. Imported paper In 81
sold for II and II cents per pound.
Protection was asked for; publishers
protested fearing n rise. Delegations
went 70 Washington to demonstrate.
The duty was levied the home industry
was developed, and prices have gone
down until today paper Is selling at 81
to 4 cents per pound in large quantities.
Mr.. Marat IIalstcad, of Cincinnati, was
opposed to the duty, but acknowledged
to lIorr recently that the result was a
happy disappointment and that paper
was now SO cheap that he was ashamed
to look paper maker in the face.
silk has been reduced more than one.
half under protective duty, and in
1890 $68y000,OO0 worth was manufac-
tured In the U. s., giving employment
to $4,000 people.
Prints which sold in 80 for 3 cents
may now bp had ior b and as low rs
three.
An inquirer, remembering the cam
paign cartoons, representing duty
that made the laborer carry his dinner
in his pocket and drink from q gourd,
asked allow about tinf' 1t seemed to
be matter of satisfaction to the speak
er that lie had been reminded OF tin.
1t was apparently one of his leading
points that had thus far been forgotten,
for he produced samples of tin plate
manufactured at home since the pass
ago of the Mckinley bill. He then pro-
ceeded to show that in hundred
pouiho VI .iii pihtC tiitIc ot2 pbUIluS VI
tin and 061s pounds of steel. So that
it cuts very small figure In tin goods
after all. But since the Mckinley bill
was passed, tin is being made in large
quantities at home, and with absolute
promise that the industry will DO sue
cesRful aud that tho cost will be less
than when bought abroad.
Speaking of wooden goods he remem-
bered Of having paid 500 for q suit of
clothes manufactured In England that
he could duplicate at any retail store
today for $40. lie said that he had
been told that he could buy the same
suit in England today for ~. This he
lid not believe, but If it were true he
would buy the American suit, knowing
that the difference represented the bet
ter pay which American toilers receive.
MIR. Horr stopped here to shed few
ears with the free trader who becomes
30 eloquent when speaking of "raw
and to discover what is in
'act raw material. Abram S. Hewitt !
yanta6 nior iron admitted fraa bnoo,,a, h