The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-22
EARLY PROTECTION IN INDIANA.

mitted TO the Union she had the natural
on and ahead. Being an agricultural
State and quite dependent in respect of
manufactures, she had a special desire
to progress in the latter direction. Thus
1t happened that from an early period in
the history of the State there was a
strong sentiment among its people in
favor of protection to home industries.
Indiana was admitted to the Union in
1916. the same year that a protective
tariff law was passed. and that as well
as subsequent measures of a similar
character found ardent supporters In this
State. The Wings, especially those who
came from New England, were strong
advocates of protection, believing that
it was the true road to prosperity for
the West, and even many Democrats of
that day, more patriotic than those OF
the present. favored the same policy.
In 1928 the Legislature adopted reso-
lutions asking General Jackson, then a
candidate for President. for an express
sion of his views on the tariff question.
These resolutions were forwarded to
Jackson with a letter by Governor Ray.
In his reply. dated Hermitage. Feb. 2S.
1928. Jackson said: Il pray you, sir, re-
spectfully to state to the Senate OF In
diana that my opinions at present are
precisely what they were in 1923 and
1894. when they were communicated by
letter to DR.. Coleman, Of North Caro-
lima, and when 1 voted for the present
tariff appropriations and for internal i'm
provements." He asked that the Cole
man letter be made a part Of this COM
munication." In that letter jackson de-
fair protection. hat our manufacturers
and laborers may be placed In a fair
competition with those of Europe" He
also said: I'm short, sir. we have been
too long subject to the policy Of British
merchants. 1t is time we should be-
come a little more A~mericanized. and
instead of feeding paupers and laborers
of England, feed our own; or else, by
continuing our present policy, we shall
all be rendered paupers ourselves" This
was Jackson's reply to the resolutions
Of the Indiana Legislature, and on this
platform OF protection to American in
dustries he was elected President In 1928.
Indiana did not make any material
progress In manufacturing during Jack
sons administration nor under the tariff
of 1888. but under the protective tariff Of
1912 she did. That tariff. which caused a
revival of prosperity throughout the
country, led to the establishment of some
new Industries in this State. including
several iron factories. There were at
least fou of these, namely, at Rochester.
Plymouth, LaPorte and Mishawaka. At
each of these factories bar iron vas
manufactured from bog iron ore OBJ
tanned in the vicinity. The ore was re-
duced with charcoal. and the iron pro-
duced was of the best quality. An old
gentleman who was q merchant at Mich
igan City and LaPorte during that
period states that he sold tons of 1t, and
that IL was the toughest and best iron Of
that day for horseshoes. wagon tires.
ment TO quite a large number Of men.
and their products were widely known.
The defeat of Henry Clay In 1874 was the
death knell for these factories and many
other infant industries. The election of
a Democratic President vas followed by
the enactment of a tariff for revenue
only. The fires In the iron factories went
out and were never lighted again. The
market was glutted with English iron.
The industry might never have become
least worth preserving n encouraging.
The history of Indiana was similar to
that of other States whose infant indus
tries which. had taken root under friend
ly legislation were killed by a tariff for
revenue only.