West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-05-27
TARIFF TRUCK.
An Able and Interesting Article Con.
ributed 20 The Argus by Prof.
A W. Frederick.


in order that the now nation OF the
United States might be able in case
Of war to cope with England
might be in condition to main
tain the independence of the coun-
try. These men favored building
up few Industries that the nation
might live. They kept steadily IA
view the prosperity of the whole
people. 1t is Il slnndcr upon the
memory of these men To quote them,
as they are quoted by the advocates
OF the trust-creating protective tar.
If. They were the born foes Of
privileged classes. They were the
friends of the people; ia short, they
were patriots, not plutocrats. When.
ever any ono speaks of these patriot
fathers of Democracy AS high tariff
tools he is uttering tariff truck to
defend the trusts. Out upon such
misrepresentation Go search the
lives of these patriots and bc con-
vlnced that they were not friendly
to the unequal conditions which the
tariif-trust people seek to per-
petuatc.
The McKinley bill of 1890 was
entitled bill TO reduce revenues.
1t succeeded. Now high tariff
bill is brought forward to increase
revenues. High tariff whiskey for
Republican when he's cold to
make him warm, high tariff whiskey
when he's hot to make him cool.
a high tariff measure that shuts
out imports, cuts off revenues.
What is there in the proposed
tariff legislation to restore pros
perity? We realize how hard it is
now to make living. The tariff
is tax on consumption, on what
we eat and drink and wear-on our
living. Will it make times better
FOR the poor, to increase the cost Of
the necessuries OF life while the
gold standard forces wages and the
price Of the products of labor lower
and lower?
For years we have seen the pow
erfuI syndicates insured by the pro.
tective tariff in their profits, getting
every benefit out OF protection; and
at the same time we have seen them
enjoy the advantages OF free trade
in labor. We have seen them privi-
legged to employ cheap foreign labor
in displacing American working
men. We have seen them call upon
the civil and military authorities
for the protection OF their property
ard their free trade labor. And
they get it. They get the best there
Is in FREQ trade. Take the beet
sugar industry as an example here
on the Pacific coast. Whatever
protection or benefit, il any, to the
workingman or producer, that
might result from the protective
tariff, is manipulated into free trade
by reciprocity and is all IN favor Of
the trusts. The United States has
a Reciprocity Treaty with the Sand
wich Islands. Sugar went up ot
the prospect OF legislation, but
crude sugar comes from these
Islands duty free. The beet raiser
here must compete with tho cheap
Chinese and japanese labor therc.
Such is recIprocity-free trade for
the trusts. Such is protective tariff,
tariff IN the interests Of monopoly.
Yet VIC are lulled 10 content by the
siren song that the protection TO
labor must come through tho tariff.
Vas there ever u greater deception
practicod upon laborng people
Except The manipulation OF money
there is no greater hoax than is
this tariff yiIIainy
Another potent reason why moth
ing good can come out tariff now is
thls same money famine. They
may prnte about wool But Why
under the Wilson bill with free
wool and a larger margin for profit
than under the Mckinley bill, have
the woolcn mills been shut down
! know % woolgrowcr who owns
thousands Of sheep here who an
swors that question llrs answer
IS, "The people have not the money
with which 10 buy" IL the people
could buy, the mills would not
f2rcgo tho pleasure Of pocketiug
tbo large margins Ct profit which
The Wilson bill allowed Any high
tariff legislation as q means to