Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-03
HIT BY THE FACTS
Mckinley Takes Cleveland TO
Task
FOR JUGGLING THE FIGURES
In Quoting the Effects Of the Mckinley
Bll-His Telling Speech at
Beatrice, Neb-

BEATRICE, Seb., Aug. a.-The largest
audience ever gathered in Nebraska 10
hear = political speech gathered NJ the
Beatrice Chautsuqua grounds to hear
Governor Mckinley. Uniformed re-
publican clubs from southeastern Ne
braska and northeastern Kansas were
out in force. and in the parade they e.
corted Governor Mckinley from the
hotel 70 the Chsutauqua grounns. where
nearly two Thousand members OF
marching clubs congregated. An audi
ence Of $4,000 persons listed to the gov
ernor's speech. which WAS heartily ap-
plsuded 1t all points. When the gov
ernor appeared on the platform the sp-
piause was tremendous and lasted
fifteen minutes. When silence WAS re-
stored Governor Mckinley devoted the
opening portion of MS address 70
criticism of the democratic tariff plank
and TO . defense of the constitutional
ity Of the protective legislation. quoting
Jefferson, Madison, jackson and other
early democratic authorities.
Dead and ThreadbAre.
"The constitutional question 10
Dead" said he. "It 10 the threadbare
objection of the democratic party to
every good MEASURE and il 10 the objec-
ton they offer when every other one
fails"
Governor Mckinley accused Mr..
Cleveland of joining the calamity party
and after quoting Mr.. Cleveland's ut
terances on the recent tariff, made in
ms speech at Madison Square Garden,
idency, the speaker continued - fol-
lows:
''Mr. Cleveland, I fear, has not con-
suited the markets since 1890. He had
in mind the campaign prices then pre-
vailing and seems to have been unad-
vised OF what has occurred since. Mr..
Cleveland had not then read the
report of the senate committee
appointed to investigate the ef-
feet of the new tariff law upon
the consumer and producer and upon
the wages of labor. l commend the
careful reading of that document to
the distinguished gentleman with the
hope that he may correct the error In
which he has fallen and with the
rugged honesty which his friends AS
cribe to him, publicly proclaim the
wrong he has done to truth and the
impression ne has made of the legisls-
ton Of his own country. The result of
that investigation, which has been most
careful and scrutinizing and absolutely
non. partisan. shows the decline In the
retail price Of PA selected articles Of
comfort and necessity 10 be ga OF !
per cent less by one method of CON-
putati0n, and 1.8 per cent less by an
other since September. 1891, than dur
ing the months preceding and covered
by the investigation.
Devoid Of the Truth.
This would seem to dispose of Mr..
Cleveland's assertion that the tariff
has increased prices to the consumer,
and leaves mis- statement devoid OF that
essential element of trength-truth-
after making long argument to prove
the claim that protection increased
wages and lowered the cost of living,
Mckinley turned his attention to the
effect of tariff upon the farmer. Pro-
lection was of as much benefit to the
farmer as TO any other class, he said.
Ii made q home demand for his prod
ucte ana nome consumers were better
than foreign consumers, becsuse they
were nearer the field of production.
Millions of dollars of farm products
were sold in our industrial centers
which would net be raised at all but
for the demand they made. The
American farmer had $1,000, 900
of the most profitable consumers on
the globe. The new tariff law gave
them exclusive control of this market
and encouraged industries which would
increase the number of consumer"
In closing the speaker said: "Tried by
any test, measured by any standard,
we lead the rest of the world. Protec-
ton has indicated itself. IL cannot
be helped by eu!ogy or hurt by defam-
alton. Our experience shows that 1t 10
best for our citizenship and our civili-
zation, and opens higher and better
destiny for our people,"