Evening star., 1897-03-23
VERDICT FOR PROTECTION
Representative Newlands Says That Was the
Result of the Last Election.
He Does Not Believe That Tariff
Legislation Alone Will Bring
Back PrOsperity.

Mr.. Newlands discussed the tariff bill in
the House today from the standpoint of the
silver men who united with the democrats
and populists during the last campaign in
opposition to the republicans This alli-
ance, he said, still continued, and was like
ly to amalgamate the allied forces into one
strong party, with silver the supreme
and dominant issue, all other questions be-
ing subordinate to it, and the largest toler-
ance being exercised as to the difference of
opinion on other questions which had
hitherto divided the various elements con-
stitutlng the silver forces. Much depended
in the future upon the tolerance, the wis
dom and the conservatism of action of the
allied parties, and he proposed to address
himself to the question to what line of
party action would best promote the cause
of bimetallism, which. he said, all regarded
as the only radical cure for existing con-
ditions.
A Verdict for Protection.
Though. he continued. it is sometimes
difficult to determine the exact issues set
lied by campaign. there can be no ques-
ton that as to the tariff, the popular
verdict at the last election was in favor of
protection. The democratic party declared
silver to be the dominant issue, and nearly
snatched victory from the most desperate
conditions. The republican victory would
have been complete had not the democratic
party presented other unnecessary issues
which handicapped Bryan's candidacy,
furnished pretext for Misrepresentation
ard abuse, and really divided the friends of
silver.
As it was however he said the people
had declared In favor of protection and had
given the republican party contract for
prosperity, and that party should, in his
Judgment. be allowed to carry out any
reasonable tariff policy without obstruc-
tions and with expedition.
The LeeislatiOn Needed.
MIR. Newlands went on to discuss the pol
icy which he thought would best protect
American industry He declared that both
Industrial and monetary legislation were
necessary, and that of the two the latter
was the most necessary.
Tariff legislation alone, he asserted, would
not give relief, producing, as We do. sur
plus of wheat. cotton and other farm pro-
ducts. The price of the exportable surplus
is fixed in Liverpool, and the Liverpool
price fixes also the domestic price. In
Liverpool markets these products come in
competition with the products of India
Russia and Argentina and other countries,
none of which is upon a gold basis. These
countries are willing to accept the old sill
yer price for their products. The old silver
price means today one-half of the old gold
price: SO We have the price of our farm
products cut in two by the competition of
these countries. Restore the old gold price
of silver. Sl.29 per ounce, and We imme-
diately restore the old gold prices of our
farm products. and this means, he said,
protection to the American farms and
plantations, just the tariff law means
protection TO the factory.
Wages Higher Here.
I'VE have he continued, IAN industrial
system in this country which makes it the
object of attack from all other countries
Our wages are much higher than in any
other country, and the unit Of all values
here is the daily wage. general reduc-
tion IN wages would bring about readjust-
Ments of values that would be destructive
to the property owners, producers and
debtors We need therefore, he said "a
tariff law to protect against the pro-
ducts of cheaper labor elsewhere The
protective measure that will protect us
against the existing agricultural competi-
tion and the threatening manufacturing
competition of silver countries must be
the legislation which will restore the old
relative value of silver and gold Such a
law would be equivalent to a tariff of 100
per cent upon the products of silver coun-
tries. for it would increase to that extent
the gold cost of such products. The com
petition of Europe is insignificant as COM
pared with the existing and threatened
competition of Asia / believe" he added,
that the true policy of the country is
combined tariff and silver legisation-the
one protecting us against Europe, the other
against Asia"
He argued that the recent rise in wheat
proved that the price of that staple de-
pends upon the price of silver. Just as the
exception proves the rule.
What Would Bring Back Prosnerttv.
Mr.. Newlalids ccntended, in conclusion.
that the area of distress for years con-
fined to the mining belt, the wheat belt and
the cotton belt had now extended to the
micdle and easera states, which were suf-
feriDg from the loss of the consuming
capacity of the western and southern
states The increase of protection to the
factories would not materially add tc their
prosperity. unless the consuming CAPACITY
Cf these regions was restored. That could
rot be done By a tariff legislation but
could only be accomplished by legislation
that would stop the Appreciation of gold
and thus relieve oCr wheat ana cotton in
dustries from the destructive connection
of silver countries. The restoration OF BIZ
metallism conjointly with reasonable tariff
legislation would, in MS Judgment. protect
every American interes, and thus bring
back revived prosperity 10 our home
industries, our mines, FARMS our pIan-
tatioDs and our factories, as we'll as TO The
commercial, transportation and banking In
terests which were dependent upon them.