Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-09-19
THE TARIFF QUESTION.
The Issue Stated by an En-
pIOyer Of Labor
WHO JOINED THB REPUBLICAN, PARTY
Because He Retu ses to Assist
England BY Being DEM
Ocrat.

The determin ltiOn Of the ways and
means committee of congress, to pre-
pare general tariff bill throws open
the whole gu sstion o. protection and
free trade for the discussion of Amer
Jean citizens. The election of legisla
ture 10 Oregon in June next, that has
the choosing of AN United States sen
ator to succeed D Ilph, and the election
OF two members Of the national house
OF representatives will throw the tariff
question in the foreground in what
would other wise be merely state cam
paign.
There Is reason to believe that the al
llgnment OF parties will be made most
markedly between the Republicans
and Democrats of Oregon on the ques-
ton Of modifying the Mckinley tariff
ia the direction of free trade. Oregon
is intensely interested in the tariff
question. Primarily the wool industry,
dried fruits, hops, lumber, fisheries and
mining interests are at stake. Follow
ing wool is the low price of mutton
and horses, hay aud grains that comes
In the wake of business depression
growing out of fear Of tariff tinkering
and general commercial uncertainty in
the manufacturing centers of the East.
Mills closed, workingmen discharged,
payrolls reduced In Pennsylvania and
New England may not effect Oregon
directly, as does stagnation in the wool
market, but the interests of our coun-
try are so closely connected that blow
to any great industry in one state is felt
by all.
SOURCES OF AN OPINION.
In view of the struggle impending
over protection in Oregon the opinion
Of a gentleman who was all his life a
Democrat and a large employer of
labor may not be devoid of interest.
Col. John Fitzpatrick, formerly of Ska
mokawa, Wash, passed through Salem
yesterday enroute for Portland. He
has become citizen of Oregon aud last
November cast his vote for Harrison.
He owns several miles of Columbia river
water front and one of the most valu
able salmon fisheries on the Pacific
coast. For many years he operated a
cannery but now sells his products In
the raw state by the shipIoad, and EN-
ploys cold storage, or ships direct on
Ice to Chicago. He employs good
many people the year around, paying
$500 day and board. His annual pay
roll amounts TO $4,000 and his annual
catch from $4,000 to $4,000. He has
a good deal of capital invested In his
plant. Coming in direct contact with
labor as an employer at one end, and
being In touch with the prosperity of
the country as producer at the other
end, few men are better situated TO
form an opinion on the merits of the
protective tariff system than Col. Fltz
patrick. 1t may be Of interest to state
before giving his views that he served
three years Ia the navy In the Mexican
war, and was gold miner in Callfor-
MIA Ia lS4S.49. He has been on the
Columbia since 1850 and Ia one of the
best known men on the river. He has
recently invested $1,000 in a summer
resort hotel property at Newport, Lin
coin county, known as Monterey, aud
hence is permanently Identified with
Oregon interests as property owner,
business man and employer of labor.
The conclusions Of one such man ON
the question OF our country's revenue
policy IL worth more than that of
many pert scribblers:
COL. FITZPATRICK ON THE TARIFF.
"How did you come TO change your
mind on the tariff after voting the
Democratic ticket for near forty years?"
was asked by JOURNAL writer.
al was Democrat from the time
heard speech by John O. Calhoun In
Charleston In lS4S until few years ago
when / was converted 10 BlAine's pro-
ectiye tariff views"
"Why did you not see the hlllacy OF
roe trade before?"
s'The question was not so thoroughly
scussed In the newspapers aud la fact
gave Il no serious thought When l
anne 10 read both sides Of the question
ld its bearing on the industries OF our
,untry could come 70 no other con-
usion than that protection was the
sst permanent policy We could adopt
,me special section or clique might be
nefltted by free trade but as = whole
cannot prosper under r."
. What 10 your opinion would BE- the