Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-09-08

volved." Here we have an admission that many
OF our Industries depend upon protective duties
for their successful continuance and declar
alton that tariff changes should be regardful of
the workmen in such industries and of the in
vested capital.
The Democratic Position.
The overwhelming rejection of these propo-
Bltlons, which had before received the sanction
OF Democratic national conventions, was not
more indicative of the new and more cour-
ageous leadership to which the party has now
committed itself than the substitute which
was adopted. This substitute declares that
protective duties are unconstitutional-hgh
protection, low protection-all unconstitu-
tlonal- Democratic congress holding this
view cannot enact, nor Democratic president
approve, any tariff schedule the purpose OF Of
fect OF which rs to limit importations or to give
any advantage to an American workman or
producer.
IhlS destructive un-American doctrine was
not held or taught by the historic Democratic
statesmen, whose fame as American patriots
has reached this generation certainly not by
Jefferson or jackson. This mad crusade against
American shops the bitter epithets applied to
American manufacturers, the persistent disbe
lief OF every report of the opening of tin plate
mill, or of an increase of our foreign trade by
reciprocity are as surprising they are dis
credltable. There is not a thoughtful business
man IN the country who does not know that
the enactment into law of the declaration of
the Chicago convention upon the subject of the
tariff would at once plunge the country into a
business convulsion such as it has never seen
and there is not thoughtful workingman who
does not know that it would at once enormous
ly reduce the amount sf work to be done in
this country by the increase of importations
that would follow, and necessitate n reduction
OF his wages to the European standard
If any one suggests that this radical policy
will not be executed if the Democratic party
Eat, -lnN. IL.
that is capable of thus tritiing with great inter
estsS The threat of such legislation would be
only less hurtful than the fact.
The Existing Tariff.
And now few words in regard to the exist
ing tariff law. We are fortunately able to
judge of its influence upon production and
prices by the market reports The day of the
prophet of calamity has been succeeded by that
of the trade reporter An examination into
the effect of the law upon the prices of pro
tected products, and of the cost of such articles
as enter into the living of people Of small
means, has been made by senate committee
composed of leading senators of both parties,
with the aid of the best statstcians, and the
report, signed by all the members of the com
mittee, has been given to the public. No such
wide and careful inquiry has ever before been
made. These facts appear from the report:
First-The cost of articles entering into the
use of those earning less than Sl,00 per annum
HAS uecTeaSeu, up 10 may, 1917, "a per cent,
while in farm products there has been an in
crease in prices, owing in part to an increased
foreign demand and the opening OF new mar
kets. In England during the same period the
cost of living increased 10 per cent. Tested by
their power to purchase articles of necessity,
the earnings of our working people have never
been as great as they are now.
Second-There has been an average advance
in the rate of wages of 75.10O of per cent
Third-There has been an adyaSc ce in the price
of all farm products of 1857 per cent, and of
all cereals 33.59 per cent.
Mr.. Harrison then quotes the report of
Commissioner Peck, of New York, in sup
port of his arguments, and proceeds to dis
cuss tin plate production in this country
He says:
But in spite of the doubts raised by the cleo
tions of 1890 and of the Vaccinations of foreign
producers to maintain their monopoly, the tin
plate industry has been established in the
United States, and the alliance between the
Welsh producers and the Democratic party for
its destruction will not succeed.
The official returns to the treasury depart
ment of the production of tin and terne plates
i'll the United States during the last fiscal year
show total production of 13,240,S3J pounds,
and a comparison of the first quarter (S26 922
pounds) with the last 0S000,0O0 pounds shows
the rapid development of the industry. Over
5,OOO,0O0 pounds during the last quarter were
der from foreign plates.
The Tariff and Wages.
This tariff law has given employment to
many thousands of American men and women
and will each year give employment to increas-
ing thousands Its repeal would throw thou
sands out of employment and give work to
others only at reduced wages The appeals of
the free trader to the workingman are largely
addressed to HIS prejudices or to his passions,
and not infreuuently nrpnnunce1
nistic. The new Democratic leadership RACES
at the employer and seeks to communicate his
rage to the employed l regret that all en-
ployers Of labor are not just and consderate
and that capital sometimes takes too large
share of the profits. But / do not see that
these evils will be ameliorated by tariff policy
the first necessary effect of which is severe
wage cut and the second large diminution of
the aggregate amount of work to be done in
this country.
Shrewdly, but not quite fairly, our adver.
saries speak only of the increased duties i'm.
posed on linen, pearl buttons and other articles
by the Mckinley bill, and omit altogether any
reference to the great and beneficial enlarge.
ment Of the free list. During the last fiscal
year S45S, 900 772 worth of merchandise, or 95 35
per cent. of our total imports. came in free (the
largest percentage in our history) while in 1889
the percentage of our importations was only
"a. AZ per cent. The placing of sugar upon tho
free list has saved to the consumer in duties in
fifteen months, after paying the bounties pro-
vided for, SS7,0O0,00O.
This relief has been substantially felt in
every household upon every Saturdays pur-
chase of the workingman.
The resolution of the convention In favor of
bimetallism declares, l think, the true and
necessary conditions of movement that has
upon these lines my cordial adherence and sup
port. am thoroughly convinced that the free
coinage of silver at such a ratio to gold as will
maintain the equality in their commercial uses
of the two coined dollars would conduce to the
prosperity of all the great producing and com.
mercial nations Of the world. The one essen
tial condition is that these dollars shall have
and retain equal acceptability and value in
all commercial transactions.
"a Free Ballot and Fair Count"
In my last annual message to congress said:
II must entertain the hope that it is possible to
secure calm, patriotic consideration of such
constitutional or statutory changes as may be
necessary to secure the choice of the officers of
the government to the people by fair appor-
tionments and free elections. believe 1t would
be possible to constitute commission, non
partisas in its membership and composed of
patriotic, wise and impartial men, to whom
consideration of the questions of the evils con-