People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1896-10-02

written on the letterhead OF the as
ISOLATION. At the head OF the paper
the following officers are given:
Arthur Sewall Oft. w Hyde of Bath
Bath, Me, Presi Me, Chairman OF
dent. Finance Commit
Ii. T. GauSem, of tee.
Wilmington, Del. 7. w. Hyde Of Bath,
President. Me-, Treasurer.
G. H. Cramp, of A. r Smith. of New
Philadelphia, Pa, York, Secretary.
Chairman of Elk Lewis Nixon of
cutive Committee. Elizabethport, n.
j. Chairman of
Legislative Com
mittee,
One of those letters was received
day btfore yesterday by Major s. R.
McKelvey, 20 East Twenty-sesond
Street, this city. 1t is dated August
81, and reads as follows:
Dear Sir: Through the courtesy
of the Republican National Head
quarters I have received a list of
their speakers, including your name.
l write for the purpose Of asking
your attention to the plank in the
National platform in favor of the
restoration Of American shipping to
the carrying of American foreign
commerce. by the early American
policy of discriminating duties, and
which was by charging imports in
foreign ships, thus creating pref
erence for the use of American ships.
This policy, as accompanying data,
under separate cover, will show,gave
American ships the carriage of 80
per cent of foreign commerce during
the thirty-nine years it was in force.
Free trade in the carriage of Ameri
can foreign commerce was adopted
in 1928, and has been continually in
force every since, the consequence of
which has been to reduce the car
riage Of our imports from 16 to IL
per cent, in American ships.
If you will kiRdly refer to this
policy in Jsoer ap47solrss .ld state
that several hundred millions of dol
lars now annually sent abroad to
pay foreign ship for carrying
our commerce would, under the
adoption of the policy TO which the
Republican party is pledged, be paid
to American workiugmen and re-
tanned in the United States, and
spent over and over again among the
Amarican people, instead of enrich,
ing fore1ga natrons and people for
doing the business that we can bot
ter do ourselves, you would be point
ing out way to in part settle the
money question, and at the same
time extend the benefits OF protec-
ton to great National industry, the
rehabilitation Of whioa may be- the
salvation Of the nation if over me-
nacsd by 2 foreign power, or obliged
to force the NJ Jnroe doctrine.
And it should be remembered that
The only possible danger thst now
confronts the United States is upon
cur seabosyd, or tho sea, where
strangely enough, the United States
it not only weak, but almost inpo.
tent, both in navy and a merchant
marine, the latter being a necessary
recourse for the farmer, both in
ships and in men, in time of Nation
al peril.
In the hope, therefore, that your
future speeches will not tail to include
some reference to the proposed res
toration of the discriminating duties
policy in the interest Of American
shipowniDg, in the interest Of Amer
lean workingmen, in the interest of
protection and strengthened Treas
ury, l have the honor 10 remain sim
cerly yours,
A. R. SMITH, Secretary.
"This is the policy that we Repub-
ioaus believe in and will advocate"
said Major MoMelvey yesterday,
but l think it viii seem odd to the
Populist- Democrats, who favor free
trade, that Arthur Sewall's associa-
ton le working In the interest Of
"To advocate protection would be,
of course, 30 much work for our
cause butt seem, as if Mr.. Sswall's
association is willing to work against
the Bryan party in order to protect
its ships"