The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-09-26
FRANK HURD's SPEECH.
Saws Free Wool Is the Redeeming
Feature of the Tariff Bill.


The Hon. Frank Hurd of Toledo was
introduced as temporary chairman and
]. ]. McNally Of Youngstown as temper
airy secretary Mr.. Hurd was received
with an outburst of applause. His re-
marks ON the new tariff law were loudly
cheered and his denunciation Of the A.
p A. was also loudly appiauded. He
said:
Il congratulate you upon assembling
in state convention in the first flush Of
the dawn Of new day OF prosperity TO
the United States. Through Red seas
the business men of this country have
passed, until hope began to fail and de-
spair had seized the managers Of nearly
every enterprise in the land For more
than twenty years tariff reformers had
predicted that such a condition must in
evitably result from protection. Restric-
ton Of the market resulted in over-pro-
duction Of domestic goods. Nor for this
condition was the democratic party il
any respect responsible. Whatever dis
turbance comes through reforms must be
charged against the wrongs which make
reforms necessary, and not against the
reforms themselves. The promise Of
business revival has come, parity be-
cause the element of uncertainty as TO
what the tariff rates would be has been
removed The new Jaw is not likely TO
revision. But chiefly this result has
been produced because the new law is
heapening the expenses of living. IL
proclaims the doom of protection in the
United States.
local interests. represented by con-
gressmen who desire popularity with
their constituents. often interpose TO pre-
vent necessary changes and to pro.ong a
system which bsstows local favors. These
considerations al appeal to the practical
Legislator and make necessary, at the be-
ginning of great reforms, a slowness OF
movement exasperatlng to the enthusi-
astic reformers. For these reasons the
new law may not have gone as far as
many have wished it, but it goes a long
way in the redemption Of democratic
pledges and reforming our tariff system.
1t reduces. on an average, the rates OF
the Mckinley law 80 per cent. But the
chief merit Is TO be found in the free list.
The people will be saved nearly S45, 1000, 900
a year. The addition Of wool to the free
list makes the law the most important
statute enacted since the war
Mr. Hurd predicted higher prices for
domestic WOO to the farmer and cheaper
goods to the consumer. In this way free
wool, he said, was destined to be the
great educator OF the people on the tariff
question, for very soon they will demand
that other articles Of foreign trade, 50
far as it is practicable, shall be brought
in free Coming TO the divisions in the
party on the tariff question, Mr. Hurd
said:
First and foremost, give credit to
Grover Cleveland and John @. Carlisle.
Free wool is worth more 10 tariff reform
than ali Other provisions Of the Jaw put
together To their credit, be it said, the
Ohio democratic members in the house
stood firm, every one voting for free
wool. When by one word ne could have
defeated free wool, more credit is due to
Senator Brlce than to any other in
fluence, or to al other influences COM
bined."
The speaker counseied harmony and
further effort to agree. The different
schedules. he said. would require further
adjustment in the interest Of free trade.
1.-The Chicago Platform declares that pro-
lection is unconstitutional and robbery.
If that declaration be true our mission
cannot be ended while a protective
statute remains" Mr.. Hurd c.osed by
saying that he was opposed to the Amer-
can protective association because il was
a secret political society, and such, being
organized on political lines, are not con-
stitutiona, and are violative Of the funda-
mental principle Of the United States and
the state. THE A. p. A. gave Governor
Mckinley his majority of 81, 900 and the
large republican majority in Name" ne
added Eve mus make ii plain that no
man can be a democrat and an A. p. A
The Platform.
After the report of the committee on
permanent organization had been adopted
making the temporary organization per-