The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-06-26
A PROTECTIVE TARIFF LEAGUE.


late, politically speaking. , A league is
not a party caucus of heelers for the
purpose of bolstering up the work of
bosses, but rather a committee of the
whole representing the body of the
party or the sentiments Of the people
as the case may be.
The Republican league which met at
Cleveland was neither one or the other.
1t was nothing and did nothing. 1t
was a failure and fake.
But among the league movements
there comes news of one in California,
which ought to interest the entire west
1t is known as 1.-THE Equitable Protec-
ton League Of the United States" The
headquarters of the League are at Sac
ramento and its object is a high pro-
tectiye tariff, like protection for agri-
cultural products as for the manu-
facturer. The plan for the execution
of which is for a bounty on export
agricultural staples, by which it is pro-
posed to enhance the home price of all
domestic products and agricultural
staples. 1t sets forth that the intro
duction of labor-Saving agricultural
machinery in the hands Of the cheapest
field labor of the world-in Argentine,
Russia, India, Egypt, Asia Minor and
North Africa-haS brought the Amer
lean producer of agricultural staples
face to face with a new and destructive
competition.
This new condition has already re-
duced prices of the most important
staples below the profit point. When
the producer Of staple agricultural pro-
ducts cannot buy, the demand for labor
in the manufacturing centers decreases
and wages must fall in spite of tariffs
or trades unions
How to restore to the producer of
staple agricultural products his pur-
chasing power, by assisting him to
meet this unequal competition, and by
thus stimulating the demand for manu-
features maintain the rate of wages is
the aim and purpose of this League.
The organizers of the League farther
hold that whereas protection of Amer
lean industries against the competitor
OF the cheap labor countries OF the
world is the controlling and public
policy Of this nation; and, whereas. the
present method of protection, by a
tariff on imports, can protect only the
home markets Of manufactures against
imports. but cannot pI otect the staples
of agriculture agaIn.t foreign compe
tition-becauSe these are produced in
surplus quantities for export; and,
whereas, 10 protect one industry and
to leave unprotected other industries.
the prices of whose products are fixed
in foreign markets, is to compel the IN
protected to pay for the protection of
the protected industry, which is an in
justice.
The League therefore demands that
the farmer shall be given an equitable
chance in the protective policy, that
congress enact such laws as will re-
move this injustice and secure 4 mea-
sure of protection To the staples of a girl
cultural equal to that now granted to
manufactures, and that his be done
by applying a portion of the revenues
now collected as protective tariff in the
payment Of an export bounty on the
staples of agriculture.
1t is 4 well knawn fact. at least ii
was one always felt by the Republican
farmers of the west who held for pro-
lection that the Mckinley law fell
short of being thorough protective
policy in that the farmer and stock
raiser of the west was at best but indi-
rectly benefited through the greater
prosperity OF the manufacturer.