The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1895-10-19
"REACH THE PEOPLE. ,
Efforts of the Republicans in
This Direction.

Latest illusions of Their Fat Frying
Committee Crusades In the In
terests of the People Recalled-Dud.
leY's Blocks of Five"-DeacOn Hack
ett's Plan.
The American Protective Tariff
league is an organization of highly
patriotic professions and excessively
political partisanship. 1t is Gu
phemism for the fat frying commit
tee of the Republican party. What
ever comes from its official head
quarters is apt to have a business
like, short, clear cut, incisive smack
to it, and for that reason, if for no
other is entitled to no little
consideration It's latest encyc-
lical is in the shape Of circular
letter to the heads of industrial es
adjustments throughout the coun-
try and reads as follows:
ITO defenders and friends of pro
tectiol: Carefully prepared and re-
liable information upon the effects of
threatened free trade and the effect
of the Wilson German tariff is need
ed at the present time. The people,
and especially wage earners, should
be thoroughly posted upon the ex
act conditions PREVAILING. If you
will furnish the information asked,
we will see that it reaches the peo-
pie. The extent of employment and
the rate of wages are very important
in this connection, and we ask
your earnest cooperation in secur-
ing replies to the questions asked
upon the inclosed cards. With
view to the most careful comparison
we make inquiries for 1890, 1892,
1894 and 1895. If possible, please
fill in returns for every year"
The truest part of the appeal is
the first sentence. 1t is full of po-
litcal significance. Reliable infor-
nation upon the effects of the pres
ent tariff certainly is needed at the
present time. But how reliable will
that information be when it is given
out with the avowed purpose of sup
porting the defenders and friends
of protectionY Is that the sort of
jury the league would impanel to sit
in judgment or the Wilson-Gorman
tariff? of you will furnish the in
formation asked, says the plausible
circular of the protective league, 1--WE
will see that it reaches the people,
This is indeed wonderfully kind and
accommodating. The Republican
party is always ready to "see'' that
things 'reach the people" Their
interest in the people is constant,
unselfish, even self sacrificing They
would freely present themselves and
all their bolstered up infant indus
tries as burnt offering if the wei
fare of "the people" demanded It.
They went out in 1888 on 9 crusade
to 'reach the people and marched
to the inspiring music of Indiana
Dudley's slogan. "Work the float
ers in blocks of flve!' And if recol-
lection is true another "circular let
ter" came out in 1922 letter of
rare significance and properly signed
by Deacon Hackett of the New York
state Republican committee. Then
the request was, "If you know
Democrat who may be induced to
vote the Republican ticket, we will
see to it that the proper influence is
brought to bear in his case" 1t
would seem that the result of that
experiment would have taught the
Republican party lesson. Circu-
lar letters are serious things. Eff
forts to 'sreach the people" will bear
watching by men who have the real
interests of the country at heart.