St. Paul daily globe., 1894-01-15
CARNEGIE FAyoRs 1T.
He Thinks the Wilson Bill Should
Be Passed as Soon as Possible.

Be Passed as Soon as Possible.
In communication to the New York
Tribune Andrew Carnegie says:
Sir:-Upon the eve of sailing 1 should
like TO say few words to my fellow
manufacturers upon the position of the
tariff question.
confess that had some hopes that
President Cleveland. with his usual
good Judgment, would realize the situ-
alton and decide that owing to existing
conditions. the nation, as patient. is
not in condition to undergo surgical
operation, even from the point of view
OF those who think that an operation is
required for its permanent health. This
has not been done and the patient is to
be operated upon Immediately.
Whatever difference of opinion may
exist aS to the wisdom of this decision,
all will agree that "lf 'twere done,
when tits done. then 'twere we'll that
'twere done quickly" Every days de-
lay will alarm and exhaust the patient,
Six months discussion of the Wilson
bill, with its Varying fortunes. means
six months of stagnation in business.
and perhaps such brood of failures as
we have not yet seen.
Rather than encounter this [ believe
the Democratic party would make reas-
enable notifications in the Wilson bill.
There are quite enough Democratic
senators who would unite with the Re-
publicans upon the platform of moder-
ate concessions, and the danger to the
peace of the country, in my opinion,
lies chiefly in the fact that some Repub-
licau senators may refuse to cooperate
with these. The question with some
will naturally be-: Is it good party
policy?
| do not assume to speak for the
manufacturers of the United States, but
| know | speak for some Of them when
l respectfully urge that it would be in
fnitely better to have moderately
satisfactory tariff bill passed by the
Democratic party than even more
satisfactory bill passed by the Republi-
can party.
1t must be acknowledged that large
number of the people have been led to
believe that the present tariffs unjust;
that it fayOrs the few at the expense OF
the many. Employers and employed
feeling has been aroused. 1t is not
sufficient answer to say that this disSat-
iSfaction is groundless. 1t is sufficient
that it exists; and what l wish to sub
NIT to my brother manufacturers is tina t
the first consideration should be the
total Obliteration of this dissatisfaction.
Is it not far better tor manufacturerS,aS-
class. to have the party which has op
posed the present tariff frame tariff
which shall pass as just to all interests.
and for which it is responsible? Should
the Democratic party pass tariff bill,
it will be its own work, and it will be
estopped from attacking it as made for
the few and not for the general inter-
ests OF the nation. The question would
he removed from politics for many
years. The party who made it could
not attack it, and the~other party would
have 10 disposition to do so.
l submit that it is far better to obtain
moderate Democratic tariff bill, secuF-
ing us stability and permanence salts.
factory to all, rather than a high pro-
tectIve bill passed by the Republican
party, and certain to be the object of
continual political attack. We all know
that uncertainty In regard to import
duties is ruinous to our interests.
Partisanship is all very we'll, but
when the question before us. as we all
believe, involves the prosperity of our
country, no supposed party advantage
should be allowed to prevent a settle
| ment, which, If not all that could be
| desired, would yet be more desirable
! under the circumstances.
| am not without grounds for believ
| ing that it is in the power of the Repub-
| licans in the senate to obtain the neces-
/ sary notifications required in the Will
| son bill to make it one such as our
industrial system can adapt itself to and
prosper under. The position that the
Republican party took as to its duty to
support President Cleveland's silver
policy believe to be its duty to take in
regard to the tariff.
! What seems most desirable in the in
terests of manufacturers of the United
| States is that tariff bill should be
passed by the Democratic party. and
thereby the suspicion that even one
"robber tariff baron'' exists in the broad
domain of the republic cannot remain
in the mind of the most ignorant citizen.
l for one am ready to accept greatly re-
duced rates-judiciously framed-to &C.
| cOmpIiSh this result.
|