The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1892-05-28
SOME TALK ON TARIFF.
THE M'KINLEY LAW GAINING
GROUND,
Our Relations WIN the CeIestiais-A
Quotation from the Congregational Rec
ord-i"urbon Economy-A Birds Ey.
View.
Ho" the New Thrift Law Is Gainiu
Ground.

How The New Tariff Law Is Gaining
Ground.
Here are some items of fact and s,Ir,
gcstlOn from the New York Tribune
that deserve attention and study:
Casual remarks often disclose very
correctly the drift Of public opinion. In
an elevated car few days ago q busi-
ness man remarked to his Republican
acquaintance: This tariff is going to
pull us through the election next iall. |
verify believe Probably he did not
then remember. nor his friend. that he
was one of those who publicly and hotlv
denounced this new tariff eighteen
months ago as lone which ought to bury
the party In his first rush Of inisin-
formation AMI prejudice he thought
badly OF MAJ. Mckinley, but has since
seen something of the workings of the
tariff.
Next came Democratic working
man, discussing the nomination with
his friend. Il thought that tariff ques-
ton would elect hlm, but it didn't, and
now don't believe in nominating Il
beaten man" This Democrat was evil
IDENTIFY referring 10 Mr.. Cleveland. and
ne presently added: "Navbe il taxes
other folks; can't find where this new
tariff taxes me anything, or any other
man | know" One thing he does
know; what he pays for sugar
When the new tariff was completed
the Tribune spoke warmly OF its wis
dom, and called 1t the bravest tariff
ever framed. Some thought that re-
mark rather laughable. But il takes
not little courage 10 do the right
thing When il IS certain to be misunder-
stood by friends and lied about by foes,
"a 1t ~ .-f.1t. r -f..,
which nothing but years OF experience
can remove. Men there are by the
hundred thousand in this country who
really believed eighteen months ago
that they were going to be obliged to
pay Il great deal more for their woolen
clothing, their tin pals and pans, and
for nearly everything else. They have
learned that trec-trade newspapers and
politicians do not always tell the truth.
If the new tariff has anywhere added Il
cent 10 their burden they cannot detect
it. but they do know right well that it
| has made some things cheaper.
1t was astonishing in the latter part
of 1896 how many business men there
were, including many engaged in in
dustries which owe their existence to
protection. who thought that the new
tariff had gone too far" and "wouli
make materials and living more costly, =
and was mot according to the prom
ISes OF the party Allowance must be
made fer these men, for they have
lived twenty years III an atmosphere OF
MISREPRESENTATION and misunderstand-
ing, and clanIor for reduction of
duties" until they had become to i'm
agine that reducing duties would always
make things cheaper and was always
good, but rising duties would always
make things dearer and always bad.
| When practical experience under the
| Mckinley bill began TO educate them
| their eyes were opened to such things
as these:
| Immediately after the new duties
| went into effect agents of German man
| Il acturers were offering worStrd and
Woollen goods here ut exactly the same
| prices lis before, the foreign manu!uc-
/ tuIsrs pavIn- the entire increase in
! duty out of their profits.
English cutlery was reduced in price,
many kinds at once, so that ii was Of
| fered here ut no higher prices than be-
| fore the duties were raised. American
| makers sGld better goods ut the old
prices. aud seized the market
III retail, tlnWare, clothing and other
articles almost innumcrabiC, which
were expected to advance largely, re-
manned at exactly the same prlce.
Then men learned that wholesale prices
often had little or nothing to do with
the prices actually paid by consumers.
It takes courage for men who foresee
such things calmly TO face personal de-
feat at elections close at hand, because
the change made Is the right thing for
the country. The men who framed
and PASSED the new tariff staked every
thing on their faith that the people
How fast they have been learning il
Senator Aldrch and GOV. Mckinley
can explain, bat the votes next fall will
answer more fully.