The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-08
FUTURE OF PROHIBITION.

H JAE WI i hUHIDl llVNs
Rev. J. C. Hogan, of Forest City, Gives
Number of Reasons Why lie Feels Hope.
full Along This Line.
Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In my recent letter to your pa
per l promised to speak of additional
reasons for the existence and the fu-
ture triumph of the Prohibition party.
First-The Prohibition party, aside
from the liquor question, appeals to the
voters of this state and nation with
hundred-fold more of good reason than
either the Republican or the Democra-
tic parties. know this is not apparent
to the average voter, but that is largely
because the ProhibitiOnists are without
a daily press to report their work and
present their views. But this will not
always be the case.
The Prohibitionist contends that the
saloon or liquor question, in private
and public life, is of vastly more i'm
portance to the general public, even
from the standpoint of industry and
economy, than all the so-called issues
of the two big parties combined. But
besides that the Prohibition party's
tariff principle is the only just and real
protective policy for American work
men and industries. We hold that tar
iff for so-called protection" (the Re
publican idoD, and tariff for revenue"
dhe Democratic humbug) are both
alike frauds and delusions, and for
these reasons:
Says the Tariff Is Tax.
Money that is placed in any mans
pocket by legislation must come out Of
the pocket of some other man. Legis-
lation produces nothing, but only
changes conditions. Tax Scranton for
the benefit of Carbondale; Carbondale
might reap some advantage, but the
county of Lackawanna would be no
richer as a county. Likewise put a
tariff upon one class of our people for
the benefit of another class, is the coun-
try any richer? 1t is simply a case of
robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Tariff on an article makes it eXpen-
sive to import. This enables the Ameri-
can dealer to charge higher price. It
protects him against competition. 1t
benefits him, but at the expense of our
people. You say it enables him to pay
higher wages. Yes, it enables him, but
it don't compel him. There is no law
to compel him to divide up with his
employees, much less the general pub
lie.
Tariff on any article makes it ex-
pensive to import. But the amount
consumed of any article is usually
determined by its price. People will
use more apples at so cents bushel
than when they cost a dollar a bushel.
To raise the price of an article is to
lessen the demand for that article, un-
less it is an absolute necessity. And it
Is right at this point the people are
made to suffer. For, mnder the Repub-
lican and the Democratic policies, tariff
Is placed largely upon the necessaries
Of life and finally paid by the con-
sumer; and at the same time foreign
labor comes into our country free of
duty or tariff and consequently we
have two or three men for one job high
prices and hard times, except for the
protected" monopolists, who spend
their summers by the sea and their
winters in the city.
Free Trade in Labor.
The Republican and the Democratic
parties are for protection" on the
necessaries of life, but both favor free
trade" when it comes to the question
of admitting foreign labor.
Tariff for revenue" is an unjust sys-
tenn of taxation, bearing heaviest on
the poor; and tariff for Republican
'protection" is an unjust burden, and
protects no one but the favored few,
enabling them to levy tribute upon the
rest Of the people.
While the present tariff law was be-
fore congress the sugar trust, born
under Republican rule, made $4,000, 0O0
in one sweep, and the whiskey trust
cleared S64, 900, OOO 1t is also said that
the Mckinley tariff bill was purchased
in advance by the monopolists, and II
Is we'll known that the sugar trust
made $40, 100000 while 1t was passing
into law. We have all sorts of trusts
In this country, until nearly every thing
the people eat and wear is in the hands
Of a monopoly, and we must pay the
price or so without.
Now, the Prohibition party believes
in the protective principle of millions
for defense but not one cent for tribute
That is to say, we believe that tariff
should be levied only as a defense
against foreign governments which
levy tariff upon or bar out, our pro-
ducts from their markets; and in all
cases so as to equal the difference, II
any, in wages at home and abroad, we
favor a federal commission to investi-
gate those points, revenue being Incl
| dental. Such tariff would be in the
interest of all the people and would
indeed, protect us abroad and also al
home from the present system of rob
berry and corrupt class legislation. The
| Prohibition party is, therefore, the only
protection party in this country.
There are many other good reasons
| and reforms that I, might mention in
this connection, but time will not per.
nit today. Cordially,
j. c. Hogan.
Forest CitV Pa Dec