Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-09-27

to its value.
Thirdly on an average IL reduces the rates
of the Mckinley law 30 per cent.
In the matter of wOoeu goods the reduc
tions are still greater. In women and chill
dren's dress goOds, coat Innings and other
similar fabrics. the reduction is GO per cent.
In 1888 of these goods there were imported
$1S S,000e00 worth on which the duty was
SIS, 600, the rate being over l02 per cent.
This has been reduced to 40 per cent.
In wooden and worsted cloth the reduction
is nearly GO per cent, while under the Nc
Kinley law last year these articles paid $lS.-
100000 in duties on an importation of that
amount.
The duty on wooden knit goods is cut down
from 81 to 80 and 40 per cent
The duty on plain china is reduced from
% to 30 per cent, and on ornamented china
from 60 to 35 per cent.
But the chief merit in the new law is to be
found in the free list. 1t enlarges that part
of the old law so that the people will be
saved directly nearly S45, 100000 per year,
and indirectly sum which predict will be
nearly i've times as gr at, making a total of
saving 10 consumers of nearly $3.50, 100000
annually.
Among t. g articles placed on the free'list
are copper, tin and nickle ores, petroleum,
agricultural implements, binding twine,
Shlby llulD6Ig luIuDbT anu WOOls lutbb are
all necessaries of life to the poor, and many
burdens will be lifted from their shoulders
by the policy that congress has pursued in
this respect.
But the chief merit of the law is the ad-
dition of wool to the free list. Without 1t
the measure would have afforded but little
relief; but with it, it becomes one of the
most important statutes enacted by congress
since the war, and one which will entitle it
to the gratitude of the people for all time to
come. A leading protectionist once said
that wool was the keystone to the arch of
protection, With it gone it is only question
of time when the whole arch will collapse
and tumble into ruin.
have been thoroughly familiar with the
history of the agitation for free wool from
its inception. Fifteen years ago when the
Democratic state convention of Ohio approv-
ed a resolution declaring for duty on wool,
was on the committee on resolutions and
opposed a proposition for free wool, which
received my vote only. Later was in the
house of representatives and took part in
the debate on the wooden schedule in the
second Morrison bill. l spoke for free wool
and when confronted with the fact that the
Ohio Legislature had unanimously requested
the members of congress from this state to
vote for duties on wool, l said then as | say
now, would not vote TO make woOlen cloth
ing dearer to the poor in our northern climate
if every man, woman and child in Ohio
should request me to do so.
watched with delight the passage Of the
Mills bill with free wo 1l by the house of rep
representatives., and found my vendication in
Ohio when a Democratic state convention
indorsed that bill, free wool and all.
1t is not necessary now to repeat the argu
ments in favor of free wool. Nothing more
1,oad ha enid than that thau gtpOn
enough to convince the leaders of the Demo
cratic party and to make it one of the cardi-
nal principles of our organization. 1t may
however be well to recall some of the argu-
ments offered for free wool in congress twelve
years ago.
Then it was maintained that the wool of
every country had texture and fiber of Its
own; that foreign woods when imported did
not compete with domestic wool; that they
came here to supplement the deficiencies of
our wool and by mixing with it to produce
the best manufactured results that the duty
embarrassed the American manufacturer,
who made the sole market for the American
farmer; that the effect of the 3nty.e0uld not
be to int rease the price of American heeces,
and that with free wool the American wool
would advance in price.
Within three months after the passage of
the bill placing wool on the free list, domes-
tic wool advanced four cents per pound, and
thus the advocates of free wool stand vindi-
Gated by the result of the experiment. And
domestic wool will continue to advance as
domestic manufacturing Is increased and
stimulated by the free foreign product.
1t may b ) asked how then can free wool
benefit the consumer? The duties paid on
imported wool approximated last year So
000,000. The increase in price to the farmer,
through free wool will be next year, say So,
600, 200. The consumers will save the differ
ence between this increse and the old duty,
say 81 100000. Free wool, therefore, lneviG
ably means higher prices to the farmer and
cheaper goods to the consumer.
In this way free wool is destined to be the
great educator of the people on the tariff
question. Heretofore protectionists have
said our propositions we're impracticable,
that we were dreamers, that what we claimed
was we'll enough in theory, but would not
work in practice. But with free wool we
will show that they are the dreams and that
freedom as applied to trade in wool, brings
the esameresnlts that freedom brings to every
thing and everywhere, the highest develop
ment of which subject matter to which it is
applied is capable. With the experience
thus derived. the people will demand, very
soon, that o,her articles of foreign trade, so
far az it is practicable, shall be brought
within the operation of the same beneticent
principle of liberty.
To whom is the credit due for these great
things that have been accomplished in the
direction of tariff reform?
In considering the question | will not refer
to the points of different which arose between
the leaders of the Democratic party while
the measure was pending in congress. do
not deem it within the providence of the
temporary chairman of this convention to
discuss these differences.
Ishall only aider those matters ofpolicy
on which the party is united and at the same
time express the hope that as to the matter s
IN dispute, a speedy agreement may be reach
ed that there may be no division In the great
Democratic army, harmonious in the main
as to all fundamental principles of Demo
cracy.
First and foremost to whom credit should
be given is Grover Cleveland, president OF
the United states. 1t was by his act that any
legislation for tariff reform was made pos.
sible in this generation, Many of us had
been struggling for years in particular dis
tricts to call public attention to the over
shadowing importance of the tariff question
But our efforts were in vain. Except in
special localities, the people would not con-
slider the subject at all. But in 1887 Grover
Cleveland, in his message to congress, lifted
the question from the obscurity local con.
troversy and made it national issue. The
stone which had been rejected by the build
ers was made the head stone of the corner
He did it with boldness and determination
rarely seen in politics. His reelection tc
the presidency was at stake. Party leaders
advised against issuing the message. Most
of his constitutional advisers protested
against it. But he rejected the protestations
and remonstrances, ard in the interest o.
truth and justice and long suffering people
i, sued the proclamation which shall of itsel
be sufficient to make his name immortal. No
was he mistaken as to its consequences. AL
though he lost by 1t one election he gainet
another. The victory of 1892 was an over
whelming Endorsement of the message 0