The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-10-31
LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP.

1t is reiterated here that this congress
sional district is taking an important,
vitality important part in the business OF
this country. A voc for Congres sman
/ Simpson and his absolute free trade Ideas
means that if Congressman Simpson Is
returned to congress he will vote % open
up the tariff question again. as proposed
and declared bv President Cleveland. a
vote for Chester Long means that the
tar if w II be let alone.
But some one viii say: "Did tinker
ing with The tariff have anything to do
with hard times"
Did it? For weeks congress fooled
and fought and changed and compro-
missed and dickered and higgled and
tinkered with the tariff. Business was
paralyzed all will admit. Ii it wasn't
uinkering with the tariff, unsettling
values and making uncertain the future
prices of goods, and consequently ces-
saiion of production in factories: the
cessation of purchasing of goods 10y mer-
chants everywhere-if it wasn't tariff
tinkering that knocked the bottom out OF
trade, what was il?
The merchant in Kansas was not going
to buy goods to sell at a protection price
and sell them at a free trade price. He
wasn't going to buy dear and sell cheap.
Hence he didn't buy.
All thai is necessary for the reasoning
man to know is that business is unset
lied and paralyzed through tariff tinker
ing. IL is not difficult to prove this: In
the Kansas City Times democratic Of
Aug. 4, 1894, the following appeared in
the review of trade for that week:
An important change in the state Of
business is near at hand. Congress will
act on the tariff gu ion. one way or the
other, in all probability within week.
If it passes the pending bill, or if it fails,
in either case the definite basis for future
business will enable many to act who are
now waiting. Whether the one course or
the other would stimulate the greater iu-
crease it Is certain either would give re-
lief from present paraly zing uncertainties
and cause some increase In business at
least for time. So much business has
been deferred during the past year, and
merchandise stocks have been SO reduced.
that the mere approach of decision, with
out certainty what iJ is to be, has his
week encouraged large preparation for in
creased trade.
1t will be seen by the man who wants
to be honest with himself that it was
tariff uncertainty or tariff tinkering
which was paralyzing business. Trade
did not pick up as rapidly as that trade
review report there prophesized. 1t is
not restored even today and this is the
last of October. Why hasn't it been re-
stored?
Do you want the honest answer? IL
cratic leaders and the free trade advo-
Gates have threatened that there is to he
more tinkering. 1t is necessary to prove
this too.
On Aug. 81. 1894, President Cleveland
in an op.n letter to Mr.. Catchings of
said:
THE millions of our couutrymen who /
have fought bravely and we'll for tariff re-
form should he eXahortej To continue the /
boldly challenging to opeu war
fare and constantly guarding against !
treachery ana half-heartedness in their
camp. Tariff reform will not be settled
until it is honestly and fairly settled in the
interest and to the benefit of patient and
long suffering people"
Settling the tariff means tariff tink-
ering. Tariff tinhefing means business
paralysis. If this district elects Con-
gresham Simpson il votes for more
tariff tinkering. Congressman Simpson
is an absolute free trader and would /
welcome the chance to help a Demo-
cratic congress higgle and dicker and I
tinker and fool and paraIyze business,