New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-29
IN FAVOR OF PROTECTION
JOSEPH NIMMO. JR.. ON PUBLIC OPINION
AND TARIFF LEGISLATION.
WHY HE BELIEVES THAT THREE FoURTIiS OF
THE VOTERS OF THE COUNTRY ARE
ANXIOUS FOR A PRoTEC-
TIVE TARIFF
tBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1

proposed by Congress. said to-day:
More than three-fourths of the voters OF the
United States now In favor OF a protective
tariff based upon the difference in the wages OF
labor in the United States and in foreign countries
Do you want to know upon what base this as
eertion? I will tell you. The Republican party Is
practically unanimous for protective tarin on
the basis just mentioned. Then at least one-half
and I think a considerably larger proportion OF
the Democratic party is in favor of Just such pro-
lection. The Democratic platform OF 1884, on when
Mr.. Cleveland first elected, contained the fol-
lowing provision: The necessary reduction or tax
alton can and must be effected without depriving
American labor OF the ability to compete success
fully with foreign labor. and without imposing
lower rates Of duty than will be ample to cover
any increased cost OF production which may exist
in consequence Of the higher rate OF wages pre-
vaing IN this country
CLEAN-CUT PROTECTION.
That is clean-cut protection. and the Democratic
party won under H. II the D!ngley bill was fuly
up to that mark its would be higher than they
are The Democratic platform OF 1883 when zen
eral Harrison was elected, contained the following
provision "A fair and careful revision OF our tax
laws with due allowance Cor the difference between
the wages Of American and foreign labor. must
promote and encourage every branch OF such IN
dustrfes and enterprises. by giving them assurances
OF an extended market and steady ana continuous
operations Thus the Democratic party again Went
'The platform reported the Democratic con-
vention of 1892 by the Committee on Resolutions
contained the following tariff plank: Nhen
custom house taxation is levied upon articles OF
any kind produced in this country. the difference
between the cost of labor here and labor abroad
when such difference exists, fully measures any
poss,ble benefit 70 labor To this was added; 1T Is
not proposed TO injure any domestic industries but
rather 10 promote their healthy growth
but the free-trade mania broke loose. and an
o,1a,, IL
vote Of 54 to 342 Nevertheless 1t was apparent
that protection still a potential force IN the
Democratic party. and this was made manifest IN
the history Of the Wls0n-Gorman BILL Inc ooc'rine
of duties which shall cou1ervail the difference De-
tween the wages Of labor at home and abroad ihen
Influenced the Democratic majority. both IN me
House and in the Senate. The Wilson bill as ~ Ielt
the House was punctured with protection and II
became such crazy-quilt of protection ana free
trade in the Senate that President CleVelahu stgIeu
Il measure Of 'peridy and dshonor
REPUBLICANS WOULD HAVE WON ON THIS
ISSUE.
Undoubtedly the Republican party on the single
issue of protection would have won last Novem-
Der by a majority or three times as large as
that which il received. Even sixteen 10 one COM
manded more votes in 1896 than free trade. Inc
manner in which the Democratic campaign was con-
Quoted clearly proved that
"Never in the history of the country was there a
popular demand for legislation stronger than the
demand to-day for a tariff which shall discriminate
IN favor of American labor TO the extent OF the d
ference between the wages Of American and foreign
laborers. The laboring people OF the country no"
clearly apprehend the fact that protection is essen
TALLY labor question. This manfests Itself in va
rious ways. Observe the growing opposition OF
labor organizations TO the competition or prison
labor That is not sentimental but practical OBJ
lection 1t is because convict labor is cheaper than
free labor For the same reason laboring men de-
mand protection against cheap foreign labor
"A new idea now controls the minds of the great
labor organizations toward capital employed in
productive enterprises. namely. that the ability Of
The laboring men 10 command wages depends upon
the ability Of their employers TO earn profits Inc
great railroad labor organizations which recently
assembled in convention at Little Rock denounced
the reduction Of railroad rates and fares by state
legislation for this very reason. and for the same
reason laborers in all the great industries of the
country demand that their employers SHALL in the
language of all Republican platforms and or the
Democratic platforms OF 1854 and 1883 have pro-
lection equal 10 the difference between the labor
cost at home and abroad. In a word, they demand
that their employers shall have chance to earn
profits in order that they may have chance to
earn wages and to secure employment
PREPONDERANCE OF THE HOME MARKET.
Then there is another thing which the intelli-
gent labor organizations now see: That the enor-
nous preponderance Of the home marke; over the
foreign market completely knocks in the head all
the sentimental nonsense about cultvating foreign
markets while exposing home markets TO the
competition of cheap foreign labor. The manu-
facturer who produces gooGs worth million dol
lars gives EMPLOYMENT TO about 200 times many
American laborers as the man VINO imports Il mill
TT is astonishing in how many ways the sound;
ness OF the protective policy has been inculcated
ouestion came before the Interstate Commerce
Commission of allowing an exception to the long,
from California to the Atlantic ssaboard The
Florida orange crop had been cut on ana me RAJ
Wilt n
fornia to New-York for less than they charged TO
the Atlantic seaboard The Commission consented
unanimously 10 this proposition in order 10 protect
petition. A majority Of the Commission was com
posed OF Democrats. and IT was presided over py
the Committee OF Ways and Means about fourteen
wears ago In the celebrated mport-rate case re-
Gently decided. this Commission again cominl tia
itself to the principle involved In the protective
policy by opposing rates on foreign goods wnlch
discriminate against the products OF Americah
labor. .. . ,,roodor,,s on, into tho
acceptance OF the general principle that every FORM
Of protection to American labor as against foreign
The protection the lives and property Of the peo-
pie or the protection Of the country against for-
'1'he objections now being raised to protector are
Tho rn6bjsh heap OF effete politics. The report Of
the minority OF the Committee OF Ways and Means
deals in the most worthless sort Of political junk;
TIE proposition that protection promotes Illegal
trusts and combinations never had leg &c OF ni fast
ley hil Will Rroduce surplus viii make e, me c9gm
is positively exhilarating.
DANGER TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
''The greatest danger which now menaces the
Democratic party is that the Dlngey bill will in
eugurate prosperity and produce surplus available
for the liquidation OF the National debt incurred
by tho Democrats during their disastrous admins
tratlon OF National affairs. Just there is
motive In favor of protection. which may be re-
garded by result Of fOrt,iitOus circum-
stances. For thirty-tWO years, under protection
tho country prospered as never before. and as no
Country had prospered in the worlds history. Then
during the last four years OF attempted free trade
the country has suffered appalling disasters. Now
millions o. unthinking, well OF thinking. men
want 10 try the experiment which shall indicate
rom the lessons OF further experience. which Is
the true policy-protection free trade. SO, !