Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-10-19
IN FLIGHT ERRATIC.
THE PROTECTION BIRD SEEMS TO
BE IN SORE DISTRESS.

Its Ohio Wing and Its Washington Wing
Do Not Flop ToEether-H the Foreigner
Il Paying tbs Tariff Tar. why the Out
cry Against Its Reduetion9
Are we, the people of this United
States, all fools or children without rea-
soning faculties? Evidently the protec.
honists think we are, or they would not
tell us such fairy stories about the tariff.
Just listen to Mckinley while he is talk
ing tariff tax theory to the Ohio chill
dren: "They say q protective tariff is a
tax and burden upon the people. 1t is
tax upon the foreign producer, and his
welfare is not our first concern" And
the youngsters clap their hands and
shout. They are out for holiday and
want him to tell them more about his
wonderful tariff and about Santa Claus
and Jack the Giant Killer.
Down in Washington some of MeKin-
-ey's compatriots are working the prac-
tical or business end of protection. They
talk in more serious vein than the gov.
ernor and would feel hurt if the mem
bers of the ways and means committee
should clap their hands and laugh after
each lamentation. Do these manufac-
turers talk in Washington as Mckinley
does in Ohio about this tariff tax bus
inessp Listen! Mr.. Leopold Moritz of
Philadelphia is speaking earnestly in
behalf of the retention of the duty on
buttons made Of bone, horn, etc. He
says that in 1889, before the duty was
raised, foreign manufacturers and i'm
porters brought in foreign goods and cut
prices so that the American industry
was on the verge of ruin and extinction.
Would he talk this way if the foreigner
was paying the tax promptly?
Then comes Mr.. William Wilkins of
Baltimore, manufacturer of curled
hair and bristles. He says any further
reduction of the duty on curled hair and
bristles would drive his business to the
wall. But what is the difference if the
foreigner is punctually paying the tax?
Mr.. R. w. Lesley of the American
Cement company now rises to plead
against any reduction of the duty of s
cents per pound on imported cement.
He is chock full of statistics-as are
nearly all Of the manufacturers-to
prove that day wages are higher here
than in Germany, just as if the commit
tee were ready to quarrel with him on
this point. He is wasting his time and
breath, according to Mckinley, who
ought to know. The price of imported
cement must be just the same under
either low or a high duty, because the
duty always comes out Of the foreigner.
Here comes Joseph Wharton, vice
president Of the American Iron and
Steel association, and whole flock of
well fed iron and steel manufacturers
of Pennsylvania, Illinois, Alabama and
Tennessee. Nearly all are millionaires
and very important personages. Time
is precious with them-worth anywhere
from SO to $500 day apiece. They are
sacrificing it, however, in behalf of their
dearly beloved workingmen, and the
committee looks grave while each one
tells how anxious he is to pay high
wages to his employees and how sorry
he will be to reduce wages or close up
his mills, as he will be compelled to do
if the duty be reduced.
Why is the wherefore of this, Governor
Mckinley? Are the foreign manufac-
turers not philanthropic enough to pay
all charges against them if levied in your
name? We know it must be great
strain on their generosity to have to pay
S115 duty when they sell us 800 worth
of window or plate glass, or SAG for ev-
cry 500 worth of pearl buttons they sell
us, or $162 when they sell us only 800
worth of worsted cloth worth less than
30 cents per pound. But we did not
think they would betray your confidence.
If they have not done so, your manufac-
turing friendsare grossly misrepresenting
you at Washington. Or is it only mis-
understanding between the theoretical
or Ohio wing and the business or Wash
ington wing of the great protection bird?
Its wings are not Hopping together. Is
the bird in distress2
BYRON W. HOLT.