The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1894-03-29
THE WILSON BILL.
Mckinley Calls 1t Narrow Sectional
Measure. @?$E&5l

!ucdSu&Cs
The Wilson bill is not like any Of the
early tariff measures. but is one in which
the changed condition Of the country and
its marvellous growth and development
are utterly ignored and forgotten. It's pro
moters forget that slavery no longer ex-
lists. They dc not recognize nor appreci-
ate the independence and dignity of labor
and cannot understand that the protective
policy under which we have had such
splendid prosperity is not to be determined
by geographical lines. The bill is mar
row, sectional and provincial measure, un-
worthy the great party which proposes 1t
and wholly unsuited to the needs of.the
country. I
Finance Committee's Action. S
An examination of the bill by the Dema-
cratic members of the finance committee
of the senate evidently convinces them
that Mr.. Wilson's bill and his argument
in support of the same are alike based on
false principles. So coal goes back to the
tariff list, iron ore to the tariff list and
lead to the tariff list, leaving free wool
alone, the only product OF agriculture, to
support the false theory of the house bill.
I have looked with some degree of care
through the bill. find nothing but irri-
tation and aggravation to the great indus
tries of the country. No interest suffers
by it more severely than agriculture and
labor of all kinds seems to have been
singled out as it's foremost victim. #
But, doubtless, in compensation for this
added burden of upward of s50,00O000, and
because Of it, they lowered the tariff on
tobacco and have extended the bonded
period for the warehousing of whisky and
giving to the distillers eight years in which
to pay the tax.
Anomalous Position on Internal Taxes.
The present position and action of the
Democratic leaders on internal taxes is
peculiarly an anomalous one. They are so
determined to break down the protective
system that they are willing to resort to
internal taxes, which have been opposed
not only by every Democratic national adj
ministration preceding the present one
from Jackson's to Buchanan's, but also,
as matter of principle by every other adj
ministration, Federal, Anti-federal, Wing
or Republican in our history. The only
excuse for the resort to such taxation has
been the financial exigencies of actual
war. Laws imposing internal taxes have
always been repealed as rapidly as such
exgencies disappeared and have never
before been seriously proposed in times Of
peace. 58
As to Reciprocity.
To my mind another hurtful provision
of the Wilson bill, entirely unwarranted
by experience and unjustifable as a mat
ter of wise International policy, is that
which repeats section of the act of 1890.
Rvn oo thu osx -
clause" This, it will be remembered, was
enacted to secure reciprocal trade between
the United States and countries largely
producing sugar, molasses, coffee, tea and
hides, and under which this country has
opened up . foreign trade profitable to the
people and of the most promising proper
lions. 8
AS the result of these commercial ar
rangements, and for the most part due to
them, our trade has shown gratifying in
crease. The total increase in the value
Of exports to all countries with which re-
ciprocal arrangements have been made
had been go, ~, 621, which sum is chiefly
from wheat -four, meat and dairy pro-
ducts, from lumber and the manufactures
IT iron and steel. And yet the Dem
cratic leaders in congress seriously pro-
pose to shut the door of this splendid on.
portunity in the face Of the American
farmer. 8s
Not Discussing Tariff Rates.
I am not here to discuss tariff rates or
schedules. These are subject to change
up or down, as new conditions require it.:
but my insistence is that these changes
must ever be governed by the protective
principle, and within that principle rates
may be, should be and will be amended e.
time, new processes Of manufacture and
changed commercial conditions require;
but they must not fall below rate which
will adequately measure the difference be-
tween the American scale Of wages and