The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-13
GENERAL OR PARTICULAR.

Considerable discussion was Occas-
Toned by the determination Of the ways
and means committee OF the house Of
representatives at Washington not to
introduce a bill covering the whole sub
ject of tariff revision. To most people
Mr.. Springer's plan of attacking the
evil of protection in particularly vulner-
able points was a new theory Of econo-
mic warfare, and to a great many it ap-
peared to offer few advantages. But
the more it isstudied the more admir-
able features it is seen to possess. These
were forcibly set forth some weeks
after Mr.. Springer had made public his
line of action by that high authority on
economics and tariff reform, David A.
Wells. Since then many other gentle
men Of high standing in the democratic
party and out of it have added the
weight of their endorsement and ap-
proval to the Springer plan. Certain it
is that a general tariff bill would. have
started up party discussions, long and
acrimonious discussions and would have
inevitably delayed and hindered the
work of the house, aud when finally
passed would have been pigeonholed in
the senate.
In a recent discussion OF this subject
Of the best line of attack in the battle
for tariff reform, the new York Times
editorially said: "Whatever may be
thought Of the expediency of introduce
ing an elaborate and complete revision
of the tariff in the present congress,
this, at least, may be said of the wool
bill OF the committee Of ways and
means, that it presented IN a clear and
concise fashion the principle on which
any larger revision of the tariff must
proceed and thus opened the way for
an instructive debate, and gave the
country a substantial evidence of what
may be expected from the democratic
party.
"ln another way, also,the issue involved
in the whole range of tariff reform is
brought forward in the free-wool bill,
The bill has the ardent support of q
considerable body of manufacturers
of the very class in whose interest pro
lection was proposed at first sincerely
and lately with great emphasis, but with
hypocrisy. Accompanied as it was by
a reduction of the tax on the manufac.
tured goods, it was, nevertheless. upheld
by the manufacturers, and tho specta-
cle-of fatal Significance to the cause of
protection-was afforded of manufac.
tnrers declaring not merely that they
needed no protection in order to hole
the homo market, but that they needed
the abolition of tariff taxes on raw ma.
terial in order to compete with foreign
rivals in the markets of the world. re
the old-fashioned protectionists like
Mr.. Edmunds Of Vermont, and Mr.
Dawes of Massachusetts, this mus
seem like a sign OF the falling of the
heavens. 1t is IN reality the beginning O.
the end that is surely coming. The
senate will reject the free-wool bill. II
its lnsensate devotion to McKinleyisn
it cannt help doing SC. But that rejec
ton will only bring nearer the day wher
the reform of the tariff will be realized
becaute it will give the people a definit,
issue to vote upon, and make that yot,
/ decisive. The free-wool bill. is the deman,
< OF the industry of America for a fai
held and no favor, It's assertion of it
confident purpose to face the world il
4 honest and open competition, it's shed
ding of the swaddling clothes of protec
ton, and it's assumption of complete,
t manhood"