The Butler weekly times., 1897-02-18


to-day, American needs and desires
would be met only hy use of the
product Of American workmen, as
they have been in the past IF those
workmen should be employed little
less in making things that go direct
ly TO the consumer and little more
III making things that 60 abroad. to
be exchanged for the things the con
snmer wants, his labor would be
none the less demanded, while it's
application to something it can pro
dnce TO better economical advantage
would be none the less demanded,
while it's application to something it
can produce to better economical
advantage would insure it's being
better rather than worse paid after
business had adjusted itself to the
new conditions.
If 1 did not believe that I could
carry on my manufacturing for what
the public would pay freely, without
Government interference to fol ce
fictitious profits, ought to close up
aud go at something fitted to my
size l am ready to say the like for
my brother manufacturers II they
are not lost to ali sense OF shame
they must blush to come whining
before Congressional Committees for
a chance to extort extra profits, like
cur for bone, especially when
with this is associated the hypocrisy
of pretending that what they seek
thus to draw into their own pockets
is all taken in trust for the sole
benefit of the poor even
if we ,lisbelieve all rumors and dis
regard all suspicious of campaign
contributions and other forms of
more or less disguised bribery And
then to think that this craven fear
of foreign competition, this cringing
dependence on the work of the lobby
and on legislative Congresses, is so
unnecessary! But for this huge con
fideuce game, but for this blighting
curse on our industrial independence,
the country could step forward at
once and become the great source of
the worlds supply. The predomin-
ance in the iron business, in spite OF
our carefully calculated and persist
ent efforts to leave it in British
hands by expressing our export
trade, has at last come to US. The
mines of Briton will not long repay
working. while ours are practically
inexhaustible.
"The chief object I have in ad
dressing you is to make the most
earnest possible protest against the
calling of an extra session in the
spring. I hear that this proposed
extra session for the purpose of pull
ing our revenue laws to pieces is
usually advocated as necessary, not
because some favorites of Govern
ment. large campaign contributors,
perhaps, need to have their profits
enhanced at the public expense, but
because, forsooth, the country needs
more revenue. The country would
not need more revenue if it would
judiciously spend what it has II its
law-givers would cut down the list
OF pensioners to those who have an
honest claim, aud thereby make that
list a true roll of honor; if they
would frown on public building aud
river aud harbor demands: If they
would abstain from waste of public
money in useless military defenses
and naval armaments, the revenue
now provided would more than suf
fee them.
''But entirely apart from these
considerations, the association oil
increased revenues with such az
overlooking of the tariff as you are
asked to make. and are supposed to
contemplate, is shame and a swim
die, aud you know it. You have no
certainty-in fact, no good reason
for belisving-that an increase OF
protective duties will br,ng more
revenues. The country's income di.
minished greatly under the Mckinley
act, and was actually considerably