The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-08-31
THE TARIFF UP TO DATE.
What Protection Has Done to
Promote American Indus
tries.

ther topic one can hardly imagine any
thing more appalling 70 the ordinary
mind, unless perhaps it should be the
census up 10 date" And yet this IS ex-
actly what the editor Of the Nsss has re-
quested me to furnish that most enter
prising journal Of the great Western me-
tropoliS It Is true that during the last
hoErs Of Congress, and with the ther-
mOmeter ranging in the -nineties," Con-
gressmen and Senators have been shak-
ing tabulated statements Of prices at
each other and dumping into thar Will
ing and lasting receptacle, the C0Hgres-
| ioual Record, whole books on the subject
under discussion. Indeed, some desper-
ate member did me the honor TO thus
reproduce q little book Of which am
the author, and 1 was somewhat startled
one morning TO find myself occupying 20
or 30 pages Of the Record When 1 re-
ezll the thousands Of exhibits, and Ia
bles, and tabulated statements, and bull
letins that have gone forth in the last
AMEAHN AAAlAAA--1 nun A--l Aa-4-1e-1 AAAAA@ ~
supply statesmen and orators and PAM
phleteers and editors and the public gen
orally with the basis for tariff arguments,
pro and con, il makes one doubt your
ability to say or write thing on the sub
ject that IS terse and fresh and crisp
enough for the columns Of a popular dai
| ly newspaper ike the Nors- shall,
therefore, deal as lightly as possible with
statistics.
The tariff question as now presented
for the decision Of the American people
next November is more clearly defined
than it has been since the war. Il did
not enter into the campaigns Of 1865 and
1872 Il was hardly discussed in 1876
II was brought in during the closing
weeks OF the campaign in certain locah-
ties in 1880, but the appointment Of the
tariff commission in lSs2 shows that the
Republican leaders wanted more light on
the subject. The report Of that commits
sion did much 70 strengthen the protec-
ton sentiment Of the country, and had
the tariff commission bill been passed
without amendment the tin plate indus
try would now have been as firmly es-
tabIished and as gratifying an illustration
Of the benefits Of protection as the wire
Z nail industry. In the instance referred
to the tariff commission rate OF duty
OF cents per pound was a. lowed to stay
On-wire nails, but Congress defeated the
recommendation TO increase the duty on
tin plate. Although the duty on nails
was increased in 1SS3 from 70 { cents
per pound, the price Of nails went stead
/ ily down from SIS cents per pound in
ISIS to 2-25 cents per pound in 1892, ami
the production Of nails increased from
less than 100000 kegs to nearly $780,
goo kegs in 1891. The knowledge Of
these and similar facts, together with
revelations as to how European work
men were paid and live as compared
with American workmen, still further
strengthened protectionists, and the cam
paign Of 1854 was more decidedly fought
oct on tariff liGes, though the Democrats
II strong protection districts and States
kept the question in the background to a
considerable extent, and the record Of
the late samuel J. Randall was extoIled
and pointed 10 as a shining example Of a
tariff Democrat The message Of Mr.
/ Cleveland, the Mills bill and the over
throw Of the little band Of tariff Demo
crats in the House Of Representatives,
brought the real issue TO the front in 1855
and the yht vas a square one, though
the Republicans were not as We'll equip
ped for It as they are az the present time.
On that issue the Republicans Won, and
unless all signs fail they viii score an
other victory for the cause Of American
industry and labor in 1892.
The question Of a tariff for revenue or
a tariff for protection IS clearly drawn,
both in the platforms and the candidates
Of the two parties In the Mckinley
bill the Republican party has taken the
stand on the tariff question, which its
leaders failed to do in 1888, when Re
publican Congress modified the tariff
commission bill. In the Watterson plat
form the Democrats have taken the stand
which It's leaders failed to do in 1854 and
| ISSS in the national platform. Both par
ties at last seem to have the courage Of
their convictions and are ready to win or
lOss on this issue. At last it may be
truthfullY said that economic questions
divide the two great Politicel parties.
! Another good sign Is thst both sides are
getting nearer than ever 70 the point Of
agreeing as to the facts. The figures Of
the eleventh census stand unqusstioned.
They may have been prepared by ex-
perts Of all shades Of political faith and
are accepted IS the most complete and
accurate returns thus far Obtained. The
elaborate investigation conducted By the
Senate Finance Committee into prices Of
/ commodities and wages before and after
the passage Of the McKinly bill came to
/ the Senate signed by Senator Aldrieh Of
Rhode leland and Senator Carlisle Of
Kentucky by Senator Hiscoek Of New
York and Senator Harris Of Tennessee
by Senator Allison CT Iowa and Senator
Blackburn Of Kentucky.
4 substantial agreement as to facts
What are those facts? I shall in this Sc
ries Of articles endeavor 70 point out the
/ most important facts brought to light BY
the eleventh census and by this Senate
investigation, which appears TO bear
directly on the present phase Of the tar
/ if question. This question will und0ubt-
edly be debated with more vigor and
more ability during this campaign than
ever before in the history Of the country
The keenest minds have been al work
on the question. The facts will be ana
! lived more thoroughly than ever before.
I There viii be less personality and more
political economy; less fistian and more
sensible argument; less theory and moTe
solid facts I. has been truly said that
i among honest and intelligent men long
/ approach Is made to the end Of eontrO-
versy when the facts underlying the Is
sue are placed beyond dispute.
And for all this let Us be truly thank
Z ful