St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-08-01
WHO Is CONSISTENT?
Editor Noyby Asks Republican
Tariff KefOrmers of Six Years

Editor Noyby Asks Republican
Tariff Keformers OF Six Years
Ago a Few Questions.
Under the heading "Who is Con-
sistent?' editor j. c. Noyby, of the Nor
man County Herald, gives the Republi-
cans who have taken back tracks On the
tariff question a turning over that com-
pletely exposes their hypocrisy of their
position on the tariff question. Mr..
Noyby was formerly a Republican, and
during the winter of 1SS7-S was Instru-
mental in organizing Republican club
i'll Ada. In the constitution of the club
was the following declaration on the
tariff question::
I'VE believe that one of the most vital and
important questions before the American
people today is the proper adjustment of our
tariff laws: we believe that our present tariff
laws are oppressive and unnecesSary-op-
presslve to the producing classes and pro-
ductlve OF the creation of vast monopolies
and maintained only in the interests of the
few to the detriment of the many, End we
therefore believe that the existing rate of
taxation OH imported goods should be ma
terlaiiy but gradually and Systematically re-
duced until the lowest point of taxation CON
slStent with the proper support of the gov
ernment and not directly antagonistic To
vested interests is reached r We
congress only men who have pledged them
selves to support tariff legislation tending to
gradual and substantial reduction from the
present unreasonable and oppressive rates. ~
In discussing the change of front Of
the Republican leaders who belonged to
this club, and who are now Mckinley
ties. Mr. Norby says:
In the winter of lSS7-SS Republican cluh
was organized in Ada. Among It's members
we could name the most prominent RepubIi-
cans of the village today. The writer was
charter member. political campaign was
approaching and these clubs were organized
all over the country as q means to strengthen
the cause. In many sections of the country
and particularly III the West, the people had
begun to grow uneasy under the burden of
war taxes and many threatened 10 leave the
party then unless 1T changed its policy
True, the party in its platform in 1881. had
pledged itself ito correct the Inequalities of
the tariff" but nothing had been done
and when the Mills bill was introduced
1t met the almost unanimous opposition of
the Republican side OF congress. An eXcep-
ton was our representative, Hon. Knute Mel
son. He proposed to carry out the pledges of
his party and correct the Inequalities of the
tariff" and he was konored by his constit-
uents, but it early became apparent that this
was not the purpose of the majority and the
meaningless phraseology of platform utter
ances Was again exemplitied. Still twas said
the work or correcting inequalities of the tar
if could more safely be left i'll the hands of
the friends of protection than with its enc
miles, and the party would without doubt
take proper stand Oh this question in the
next campaign. AS stated Republican club
was started in Ada. The club at one Of its
first meetings adopted set of resolutions
expressive Of the political belief of the mem
bers.
These resolutions are given above.
Mr.. Norby concludes as follows:
If our recollection is right, the drafting of
this part of the resolution was assigned 10
our fellow townsman. II. H. Phelps. and the
writer, but whoever drafted the same it was
subscribed to without a dissenting voice.
The next Republican national convention in
its platform declared repeatedly in favor of
high protection, denounced the Mills bill
that Nelson had voted for, and for which we
honored him, aud said. rather than surrender
any part of our protective system we favor
the repeal of the internal revenue tax on
whisky and tobacco. at the next election
man was elected from this district for CON
gress who was known To be high protec-
ZIONIST and whose pledge was neither asked
nor offered, III accordance with the resolu-
tons adopted cy our club. We ask, who was
consistent. the men who stood BY the party
or those who left it?