New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-19
AGAINST FREE CO.H and IRON.
AL,nAN,Ns REGARDLESS OF PARTY DECLARE
FOR PROTECTION.

ALADANtNS REGARDLESS OF PARTY DECLARE
FOR PROTECTION.
birmingham. Ala. NOV l. (SpeciaD-At a meet
ing Of the Commercial Club OF birmingham held
on November 3 report was received from the
committee appointed TO consider the question OF
free iron ore and coal. The committee was com
posed Of prominent merchants and business men
not directly connected with iron or coal the chair
man being Il wholesale grocer. whose tendency had
always been in the direction OF low tariff. The
committee unanimously recommended That the
Alabama Congressman and Senators In particular,
and all other representatives, who have 1T heart the
prosperity Of the Southern Industrial districts, he
requested 10 use their influence In the retention OF
the present duty OF - cents "A ton. The chairman.
Mr. Van House. stated that he went into the
question prcIudced against the tariff. but after
looking into IL most carefully he had become con-
WINGED that far. at least. AZ concerned the BIZ
mlngham district the repeal Of the duty would
work serious injury
The report being before the cub was received
and adopted without single disscnlent vote, or
even adverse criticism. The club Is composed OF the
most influential people In this district. without us
inction OF employment or politics. IL numbers now
nearly GU men, and was organized about -FOUR
months ago for the express purpose OF considering
all questions affecting the prosperity Of the district
in general and birmingham in particular. IL con
,ans straight out Republicans and Democrats. free
coinage men and so-called "god-bugs." Popusta
Nyvwumps Cleveland Democrats. Randall Demo
crats, and some. to use the phrase OF the tarlr
acts not elsewhere specified. There Is scarcely "a
question Of public moment Other than the tariI
on iron ore and coal, upon which the club could
be united one man. and upon this single eNcrp-
lion IL could not have been united four years ago.
had IL been In existence then There has been
radical change here within that length OF time.
change the meaning Of which one who runs may
read. Whether the fears now ana here entertained
g. 10 the Injurious effect Of repeal OF the duty
on iron and coal upon this district be Wen
grounded not the feeling OF apprehension Is
spreadi with marked rapidity.
The club has taken steps To have petitions crcu-
in all the industrial towns OF the STATE Who's
welfare Is bound up with iron or coal 80 that when
Congress meets again the voice OF these portions
Of Alabama will be heard with no uncertain sound
'rh. depression In the iron trade may have had
sonnet hing 10 do with this action OF the club in the
vay of precipitatng ii at this time but the feeling
of which this is the expression has been growing
Tbe statements OF Protectlonlsts that the pros
perity Of the country at large has been due To the
and steel Industries Of the North and East have
h..n hult ND under its wise provisions, and that
Inc homes of the future rest upon this founda-
lion ir. now bearing fruit The argument here
il Of two kinds: first. that what has been good for
the North should also be good for the South and
second. that lhe TypcI, OF the duty on
and oDeration OF steel works and kindred
tabli.nments in the South by allowing the
nrn norris more cheaply and advantageously than
into southern ports. At least two Southern ports
will soon have direct communication with England
by regular steamers, Port Royal and New-Orleans
ana This circumstance affords support to the fear
Of the importation OF coal. The acquisition OF
Nova Scotia coal mines by an American company
lends an additional prop To this apprehension
The birmingham Commercial Club Is the first
ganization in the South South composed Of men OF all
the retention OF the duty on iron and coal
II has gone into the fight to stay and the
IN forcnr iron repea OF the act will have ' 10 look
outside Of this district for 1t.