Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-11-30
LABORERS ATTENTION!
Read M'Kiniey's Exposition OF the
Wage Question in his Speech,
at Boston Nov. 24th.


that tariff could not affect business
is little heard now. Free trade or
a revenue tariff is the remedy
offered by those who differ from
us on this question. More foreign
goods, more easily to be obtained,
is the prescription offered by our
political opponents as sure to
reopen our idle mills. Will it
help? Will it do it? Free trade
cannot rekindle the fires in our
factories. Free trade cannot
increase our production at home.
Nobody advocates it with any
such view. It's whole aim is to
increase foreign importations which
increase must Of necessity dinin-
lsh like domestic production.
There can be but one of two
results to follow the introduction
Of free trade or a revenue tariff.
Either domestic production will be
diminished Or the wages of labor
will be diminished, or both, and
either or both are results which
should meet with prompt condem-
nation from the great body of the
American people. Is there any
body any longer in doubt about
the real trouble in the country
to-day? The president Of the
United States, in his August
message, announced a great fact.
He said: at may be true that the
embarrassment from which the
business of the country is suffering
arises as much from the evils
apprehended as from those actually
existing" This is true. Remove
the apprehension Of the threatened
tariff legislation, remove the scare
of the promised free trade bill,
remove the fear which has settled
upon every business interest, and
confidence will return. 1t was this
fear which found expression in the
recent elections of the people, and
these, however they may be
regarded in certain quarters, were
an impressive protest against the
party which created the fear. We
have everything this year we had
last, but good times. If a free
and full expression could be had
there is scarcely a state of the
Union which would record its
majority vote in favor of free trade
or purely revenue tariff.
THE COUNTRY FAvORS PROTECTION.
| am firm in the conviction that
the preponderating sentiment Of
the country is for a protective
tariff, was in 90, and is now. The
verdict of last year was not
against the protective system, and
if the party in power SO interprets
it, it will do so at its own peril as
a party, and at the peril of the
vast invested interests of the
country. There is not ! state, if
its real sentiment could be had
to-day, but would advise congress
to keep its hands off the present
tariff, and leave revision which
may prove to be neces-
sary to the friends of the protective
system; not a Democratic repre-
sentative from an industrial state,
who, if he would voice the true
sentiments of his constituents
to-day, but would vote against the
proposed raid against our indus
tries. What would be more
welcome to the business interests
OF the country, to the wage
workers of the country and the
very true American interests than
assurance that this congress would
adjourn without meddling with
our industrial legislation? The
free trade congress is a fearful
to the industrial interests
of the country; business is now
waiting on the uncertainty of the
500 n to convene, or, to
be more exa ct, upon the certainty
of unfriendly legislation when it
does convene, and while business
is waiting the laborer is waiting
outside with nothing to do.
I sound the note of WARMING