Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-02-09
NoI DAVIS DEMOCRATS
But the kind Who Believe In the Most
GOOD for the Greatest Number.
FAIRMoNr. w. Va. February 6.
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FAIRMoNT, W. VA, February g.
20 NJ Eiit0r Or rs Register,
SIg:-Ex-Senator ''H G. Davis, West
Virginia" has prepared recently, and
is distributing gratuitously, pamphlet
entitled Memorandum Relating to the
Dntv on Coal" I Acknowledged the re-
CENT Of FIVE copies, one of which have
carefully read. The pamphlet is a we'll
written paper, and gives much intorma-
ton, mainly statistical, upon the subject
NJ which il treats. Figures will not lie
and the ex-senator depends entirely
unon his figures, as heretofore. Taking
BOSTON as a point, the pamphlet goes
nm 10 show that we cannot place our
coal in that port as cbeaply as it can
come I'm from Canada admitted. What
does this statement prove? Only that
Mr.. Davis needs protection against
Nsw England, and that the lawmakers
in considering these matters should con-
slider Mr.. Davis first and New England
afterward. Ii has always been cause
of complaint among tariff refOrmerS Ia
this country that the tariff served prin-
cipally 20 protect the people Of Penn
sylvania against the balance Of the
United States, aud the distinguished
ex-senator goes beyond the tariff and
argnes that an individual has a
rigbt 10 be protected" against
the whole OF New England He states
that about 80, 900 people are engaged in
the coal business IN Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and
Alabama, making probably $4,000 peo-
ole in those five States depending upon
this industry for a living. Probably the
mines representing one-half OF those
people never send q single ton OF coal
east of the Allegheny mountains. But,
taking the Senator's statement, IS it
fair and right that the whole pOpula-
ton of New England, aggregating
approximately 100000 people, should
pay Seventy-fve cents per ton tribute
for the benefit of a few people engaged
in the mining Of coal? LabOrers in
most other lines OF business have no
protection, and yet they earn as much
money as miners, aud 10 less hazardous
employments. Besides this, how does
tine 80 cents per ton help the miner so
much when be gets but 80 10 so cents
uer ton for his labor? No statistics are
furnished as 70 the cost Of labOt at Can
adam mines. All this argument in
favor Of high tariff on coal is much
like the plant of a calf, that, after suck
ing the Ieat dry, still fells hungry and
refuses 10 change teats. This particular
region can get no coal TO Cincinnati be-
cause coal sells in that city for less than
the freight charges are from here. In
fact, coal is as cheap in Cincinnati as in
FairmOut or Wheeling. Why not
charge seventY-fve cents per ton tax on
coal shipped 20 Cincinnati by water and
leu US nave "whack" at che consumer
over there2 Then, if they would only
extend this thing generally, what a
harvest we would have? Operators
here will not object 70 free coal with
the duty of Canada on our Goals re-
moved OF them are in favor of
ABSOLUTELY free coal, and nobody would
object 10 provision ia the
Wilson bill making o reciprocal pro-
vision, but most Of US here are not Dem
ocrats with reference % the country at
large and Republicans as to Marion
county. That is TOO narrow position
for comfort, and we are willing TO bear
a part OF any little local burden for the
great benefit of the consumers of the
country There is tariff for revenue
only and there are Democrats for
revenue only. A tax which people
are compelled TO pay on what they
consume is wrong in principle, and
should be paid on what people
L. f-r N Mour Zen ofI q M
people, By paying IS cents per ton on
Senator Davis'S coal may add some
thing 10 Senator Davis'S income, too,
and thus catch things both ways. But
where is the fairness in it? Coal may
or may not be a raw material, but il is
one OF the chief articles Of cost in al
most every article we eat and wear. II
coal is manufactured when it is mined,
then wool is manufactured when
sheared. Lumber is manufactured
when trees are felled; ore is manuiac-
tured when it is taken out, and so on.
From 1856 20 1866, when coal was ad-
mitted from Canada free, the price Of
coal was higher than it has ever been
since here. This, however, was before
Senator Davis got into a business where
be needs protection.
Senator Davis sticks 70 his old plan Of
discussing questions from q Republican
standpoint. He has grown immensely
wealthy through the operations of class
legislation and cannot be expected to
want 90 let go. We ara for the Wilson
bill as 10 is, income tax and all, and we
are not Democrats Of the Davis variety.
We are for protecting the consumer.
MARION.