Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-21
Workingmen Transact Business
With Order and Dispatch.
MEMORIAL AND PETITIONS ADOPTED
, Many Hear Them Read by Senator
Quay.
WILL RETURN TONIGHT

train- They were delegates to the conven-
ton Of the National Workingmen's Pro-
tective Tariff Leagrs. Upon their arrival
mere they were met by several hundred of
tnose who came over yesterday. and In one
big body they marched to Metzerott Hall.
Within less than an hour OF the time of
arrival OF the special train resolutions and
petition to the Senate were adopted, pro-
testing against the passage of the Wilson
DILL Then the line was formed and they all
marched up The avenue again to the Capitol
70 present their case to as many of the
Senators as would hear them.
The Memorial.
The memorial. which was read and adopt
ed amid tremendous enthusiasm, is as fol-
lows.
sirs; We. as part of the toiling masses
OF these United States of America, on this
day OF our Lord. April q, 1894, do offer to
your noble sirs. in memorial. our supplica-
tions for your kind consideration, believing
mat the sense of rights which is inert in
al individual character will receive from
your honorable selves that true spirit of
harness which has ever been (and is, we
peIieve at this day) constitutional char
scteristlc or your honorable body Of United
states senators, and in view of such a
proposition. We present for your consideraL-
uon, our sincere objections to making the
measure Cknown the Wilson tarirf bilD
graphs of grievances:
Firstly. Should this measure Qknown as
tne wilson tariff bil) become a law its ef-
tSct Will De the depreciation of all values in
the United States Of 40 per cent or more
The object of tariff reduction is to get an
article that has cost less than the normal
cost OF production in the United States by
settlng an article that has been made in
otner countries at less labor cost than in
tne United States. Hence the depreciation
OF value.
Now the depreciation of values means a
Joss somewhere; where that loss is will be
FOUND after the Wilson tariff bill becomes
Second. The census of the JTnited States
OF America in 1880 showed fifty million of
Ropulauon, and the census of the United
states IN 1880 was sixty-three millions
showing a gain of thirteen millions Allow
ing ten millions of the thirteen millions as
wage earners, making compulsory on the
part or the United States to create ten mill
tar1 ions OF original situations during the in
tsrVenlng years of 1850 to 1890. in addition
70 keeping in force the situations that were
IN 1SSO. to allow the country to provide for
lts people as well in 1880 as it did pro-
woe Tor its people in 1850.
again the effects of the Wilson tariff
Dill should II become law, will be greater
tI.lSI trlpoT .atl9nS or other countries manufac
trred products and If it Is true that during
the full force Of the Mckinley act which
prohibited in great measure the impor-
taHons OF manufactured goods from other
countries into the United States, II was
unable TO provide employment for all It's
people (which was told US by those who
are opposed to our tariff system). We are
voluntarily impressed to believe that the
United States will be still further embar-
rassed by law in fact that would allow
greater freedom to the importations of the
products OF other lands, hence our second
grievance
Now. while We are emphatically opposed
to the Wilson tariff bill. a whole, we
cannot refrain from drawing your honora-
bic and particular attention to the system
OF collecting duties on all imported textile
goods into this country on an ad valorem
= far1Ff LODI In ND HxrN
tariff bill Ad valorem duties without spe-
c1f1c safeguards opens the flood gates CT
fraud and differentiation to the foreign
manufacturers and importers Of foreign
made textile goods into this country, and IL
goes without saying that this system Of ad
valorem collecting of customs on imported
textile goods If once adopted means de-
structiol and ruin to almost every textile
industry in our land and the reducing of
our workingmen's wages to a free trade
standard and brings their wages down to
the pauper-paid wages of the textile work.
ers of Europe and Of which we are In fear
and dread, and We again asseverate that
every branch OF industry in this country
that comes under the ban of this pernicious
system of ad valorem duties will and must
continue to suffer untold misery and want.
We therefore pray that every industry pos-
sible in this country shall be protected
by specific and ad valorem duties both.
In part detail OF the Wilson measure will
be found discriminating inequalities; first
particularly that part relating to the tin
schedule. as follows: The importations of
tin annually amount to fifteen hundred
million pounds, the duty at present Is two
and two-tenths per pound thereby giving
thirty million duties collected. The duty
proposed by the Wilson tariff bill will be
one and two-tenth per pound, allowing a
collection of only fifteen millions tariff
duties Tin has not been enhanced In cost
TO the consumer under the Mckinley act
and will not In our opinion, be reduced in
cost 10 us as consumers should the Wilson
bill be allowed to go into effect. Therefore
the United States will be deprived annually
oP nd
time giving no benefit to the country or its
people; consequently the fifteen million dol
lars will go into. the possession OF the tin
manufacturers of other countries as profits
This is an illustrative objective lesson to us
showing the discriminating inequalities that
can be found all through the Wilson tariff
bill
Now, your most honorable body are per-
fectly aware. as well are that for
ten long months business of every kind
and description has been completely de-
pressed by the prospective tariff reduction
and is still present with us, ruin and DESC
lation has confronted US and still confronts
hundreds OF thousands of workingmen and
business men, and we, as workin gmen, are
fully convinced Of the fact that IL the Will
son bill become law OF this country it
will be an utter impossibility for trade to
revive or to flourish again in our midst.
This in itself indicates the density OF the
dark cloud OF depression that has been
overhanging the country and its people for
ten months and more, and while not dis
posed toward egotism, we are desirous that
the people of our country shall have one
more opportunity to bring back the pros
porous condition that was IN the year 1891
and 1892 We most earnestly supplicate
your honorable body to defeat in toto the
Wilson tariff bill. We ask this favor not
alone tor ourselves, who are present here
today. but for the people in all parts of
our country. and with care for our country
and the best welfare of Its people We re-
spectfully conSign our case to your wise
consideration and counsels.
Petition Adopted.
Immediately after the adoption of this
the following petition read and also
adopted without single dissenting voice:
To the F1fty-third Congress of the United
States.
At mass meeting Of representative
wage-earners Of the United States assem-
bled In Washington, ID. c. (this 10th day Of
April. 1s0D. the following preamble and
resolutions were adopted:
Whereas, For nearly ten months the busi-
ness Of this country has been paralyzed.
the promises of Improvement in conse-
Quence of certain financial legislation not
having been realized.
And whereas, We see ourselves and 9TH
ers deprived OF the means of livelihood by
reason OF threatened revision OF tariff laws.