The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-26
HIDES MUST PAY.

AS a part of the mania that holds
sway at Washington for taxing every
thing in sight and out Of sight, it has
been decided by the Republican caucus
that hides shall be taken from the free
list and subjected to a rate of taxation
to be decided upon hereafter This is
clearly shown to be neither a revenue
nor a protective measure. It is a piece
Of the bargain patched up among the
Republican senators, by which alone
they were able to secure enough votes
to pass their bill. Carter and a num-
Der Of other Western senator's stood
pat on the wool tariff and the tax on
hides as a condition Of their consent
They know that these taxes will not
help their constituents, financially or
industrially, as we'll as other senator's
know that the sugar tariff will bene-
fit the trusts and burden the people.
They are playing the same old conf
! dence game, by which they expect to
appeal to the local jealousy and sell
fshness Of their states and, possibly.
get back to the senate by pretending
to have done great things for the West
in opposition to the East.
The only interesting and valuable
feature in the caucus meeting by
which the tax ON hides was agreed to,
is the usual frank admission, by Re-
publicans themselves, that the whole
argument behind the protective system
is a humbug and a lie. There is no
more ardent protectionist, on general
principles in this country than Senator
Lodge. He and his colleague. Mr.. Hoar,
represent the down East" protection
view, which has for many years levied
tribute on the rest Of the country. Mr..
Hoar has been willing in the past to
condone almost any offense for the sake
of what he calls maintaining the home
market" and Mr.. Lodge is a protec-
zionist dyed in the wool, if he cannot be
said to be dyed in the hide. Yet 1t
was Mr. Lodge who, in opposing the
tariff on hides, because it would bear
hardly on the shoe manufacturers of
Massachusetts,, declared that 1t would
add nothing to the profit Of the farmer
on the sale Of his cattle, while the
withdrawal Of free raw material would
greatly injure the manufacturer.
It is one Of the most extraordinary
of reputation and standing should dare
to rise in the United States senate and.
before the whole country contradict
themselves fatty day after day. When
free lumber and iron ore and other
raw materials are suggested, these men
clamor for protection; and they uphold
the entire imbecile schedule Of tariffs
on agricultural products with the SOL
emn pretense that this Is for the benefit
of the farmer because it will add to
the price Of his products. Hit them In
tender spot with duty on wool or
hides, and they face about instantly
and aver, upon their consciences, that
! these cannot be Of any benefit to the
farmer, because they will not increase
the value Of his product
We do not think that any such ex-
| position Of deliberate insincerity can be
| made in the face Of the whole people
Of the United States without a corre
spending effect Day after day the
| willingness Of men to stultify them
selves and contradict their own testi-
mony for the sake Of pushing this bill
to passage is instructing the people as
they never were educated before in g.
| kncwledge OF what protection means