Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-11-02
THE OHIO SITUATION.
Old Republican Tricks StM Being En
ployed by McKfnfeyites.

THE OHIO SITUATION.
Old Republican Tricks stn Being Em-
ployed by McKinieyites.
We observe. from the Ohio papers
that the republicans are still busy try
ing to pull wool over the eyes Of the
farmers of the Buckeye state It real
~ reads like chapter of ancient his
tory, this reiteration of the old state
ments that free trade will put down
the price of wool and ruin the farmer
unless he is vigilant enough to get q
protectionist elected governor of Ohio,
a position that has nothing to do with
the tariff whatever. This is the same
old dreary stuff which may have been
current in those prehistoric times when
the megalosaurus was in the waters,
the megatherium in the fields and the
mylodon browsing on tree-tops in the
forests. At all events, the memory of
man runs not. back to the time when
it was not a part of political discus
sion.
There is much rational entertainment
in hearing republican discuss the
wool tariff before an audience of farm
ers. 1t is study in psychology. The
orator has to forget all that he and his
party have contended for in other mat
tiers; he has to put out of view both the
lessons of the past and the facts of the
existing situation. He feels bound to
lay the low price of wool on the demo-
Gratis, because that is necessary to the
success of his scheme to get votes; but
as this is directly in conflict with all
the facts of the case, so much the worse
for the facts There is no case re-
ported in the books where facts ever
seriously impeded the duency of a re-
publican spellbinder.
In holding the democrats responsible
for the decline of wool the republican
has first to forget what he has always
said is the object and effect of protec-
ton, namely, to make commodities
cheaper. AS soon as he gets before an
audience of Ohio farmers the SPELL
binder tells them that the tariff on
wool was put there to protect the
farmer, and that it has kept up the
price. All that has ever been said
about the tariff making prices lower is
carefully forgotten.
There are several other things that
have equally to be forgotten. A very
is still in force, and that new tariff
bill has not even yet been framed. If
it be said, as it has been said, that the
bare prospect of a change in the tariff
disturbs business. the speaker is
troubled with another lapse of men,
DRY. If changing the tariff is bad for
business, how can anyone see his way
clear to vote for Mr.. Mckinley, who
spent all of the summer and half of the
fall of 1890 in that same process of
tariff tinkerlng," which is always con-
sidered as immoral when undertaken
by democrats.
The psychologist object lesson, how
ever, does not end here. The gentle
man engaged in pulling the wool over
the eyes of the Ohio farmers also finds
his memory paralyzed with reference
to the history of the wool industry
since 1867, the year when the policy of
high duties on foreign wool may be
said to have been inaugurated. 1t was
devised for the avowed purpose of
done it. The price continued going
down until 1883, when there was q
slight reduction in the rates. 1t kept
on declining. Protectionists went to
the farmers and told them that the de-
cline after 1888 was due to the reduc
ton of the duties, though they had
made the reduction themselves. In
1890, the Mckinley bill increased the
rates, but the fall of prices of wool
went on. This worried the SPELL
binders a good deal, but when Mr..
Cleveland was elected president they
saw their opportunity, and have since
been saying that the low price of wool
is due to democratic ascendency.
Wool has declined from sixty cents
pound in 1867 to less than half that
price now for the corresponding grade.
The free trader does not assert that the
high tariff has caused the decline of
price; but logically the protectionist is
bound to take the responsibility, since
he contends for the general principle
that protection always cheapens COM
modities-" 1t is just as logical to con-
tend that protection has cheapened
wool as that it has cheapened woolens,
or steel rails, or any other articles
which, under the memorable law of
supply and demand. have suffered
great decline in price. But when q
pTOGeCC1OnlSG CdlkS TO a 1dIIl0r aOOut
wool he always forgets all about the
theory that protection causes the fall
of prices.
There have been symptoms in recent
years that the Ohio farmer, so far as
wool is concerned, has reached the
limit of his credulity. In one or two
elections lately the democratic gains
have been heaviest in the wool-growing
counties. 1t remains to be proved that
the old wool-pulling device retains any
of its potency as a vote-winner in Ohio.
louisville Courier-Journal.
CLEVELAND UNCHANGED.
The President Adheres Firmly to His
Democratic Principles.
A great deal has been made of Mr..
letter to the governor of
Georgia.
Mr.. Cleveland wrote that he opposed
free coinage unless it could attend an
international agreement He began
saying that years ago, and nothing has
been known of him better than his adj
herence to the opinion.
When he said that he was surprised
at the opposition to repeal in the SEN
ate, he was undiplomatic. Etiquette
assumes that one branch of government
does not intimate disapproval of an
L.~ nAal p,H& kH,.c