Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-10-18
A ROUSING SPEECH
Delivered by Herbert \. Latin, on
Tuesday Evening,
Before the Mineral Point Young
Mems Democratic Club.
THE GREAT ISSUE.

hI INVITATION herOeft \. Iatiin de-
liyered an address before the Young
Mems Democratic club of Mineral
Point, on Tuesday evening, Oct. l6
Mir Lanin commenced by say
ing that to discuss The issues of the
present campaign before intelligent
thinking voters, who desire to see the
interests Of their state and conutv
advanced to the highest possible de
gree, gave him the greatest pleasure.
He then proceeded to take up "that
issue which has been before the
American people in one form or
another ever since the adoption Of the
Constitution" He then briefly re
viewed the growth and development
of the Protective system in this
country. The first tariff law enacted
provided for a tariff for revenue
only. This was in 1899. Any pro.
lection that it might afford to home
manufactures was purely incidental,
In those earls days, ship building,
commerce and agriculture We're the
great industries. We We're even a
great commercial people and the
stars and stripes We're saluted with
Difference on every sea, and Yankee
sailors in every port.
The speaker here noted the growth
of the Protective system and the
increase of import duties the laws
providing for such increase, being
looked upon by their trainers rs tenn
porary measures. But it is siguih-
cant fact that an import duty once
imposed is very rarely removed.
There We're continual raises until
1915, when the policy of the country
took a marked change and tariff for
revenue with incidental protection"
became and ever since has remained,
" tariff for protection with incidental
revenue"
The speaker pointed out the causes
which led to the reversal of the policy.
He showed how as years passed by
and our country grew in strength
and Importance, and our manufact-
ures became strong and powerful the
leaders began to cast about for some
other campaign war cry than pro-
lection to our "infant industries"
and about 1910 the cry was changed
to "Protection for American Labor"
and such it ever bren, and such it is
today. Mckinley in his tour through
Wisconsin and our neighboring states
has shouted it from car platform, in
every village and hamlet through
which he has passed, But thank God,
our working men are commencing to
think for themselves. The cry of
" Protection to American Labor" is
growing fainter with each succeeding
because American Labor is
becoming bright enough and sharp
enough to detect the fraud. Mckin-
ley has been driven to prevarication
to sustain his cause, and when he can
no longer stand upon the bed rock of
truth, then mark-there is something
wrong with the man and with his
cause.
The speaker continued: What is
the real truth in relation to the mo-
mentous question Of labor and protec-
ton? Let us grant for moment,
merely for lile sake of argument, that
a protective tariff is a real protection
TO the so-called protective industries.
The figures Of the eleventh census tell
rs that only about l. per cent of the
entire population of the country is
engaged in protected industries, then
he facts resolve themselves into this:
81 per cent of the entire population of
he country-nearly 50,00000O people
are taxed on nearly every article of
for the benefit of little
,ver 10,000,000; or to get at it differ
.ntly, one inhabitant in every six must (
,e cared for by the other five. Now
,entlemen, this requires no argument |
o show its injustice. Is it right that
armers, the hard workingmen of the
the real backbone of the
and, should be taxed to support their
,rothers in town, who are trying to
pearl buttons, If you
,lease, or any other comm odity. Does
seem right that the man who builds
our house should be compelled by
au ~ dayata a oart a IN rar cant of hia /