The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-08-13
Too Much For Its Fricnda.

Under the ABOVE nead PucK says;
Former tariff bills have found their
severest critics in the ranks OF the op-
posite party. II Is the distinction OF
the Dingley bill that 1t has been de-
nounced nowhere more harshly than
in Republican circles. From which 1t
would seem to be very bad bill in
deed. There is no abler or more re-
spected defender of Protection In tho
country than the Philadelphia Ledger.
| Yet it has fought the bill bitterly and
persistently during the last two
months, and has lately printed as
harsh denunciations OF 1t as the most
rabid Democrat would care to read.
We must regretfully admit the sus-
plcion that its change OF front is not
due to a change CT heart. but to the ad-
verse bearing Of the bill upon the car
pet and shoe Industries which are CEN
tered in Philadelphia. II Is simply q
case OF an entirely new OK being gored,
and that, OF course, makes difference;
but this need not blunt the points OF the
Ledger's shafts against the bill, and
Democratic editors will find In Its col
umns very good Democratic editorials.
After showing that the bill will
surely not produce the required
amount of revenue, the Ledger re-
marks that II is not much better as q
scheme OF protection than as a reve-
nue. producer. Where It provides addi-
tlonal revenue in one direction It shuts
our manufacturers out from foreign
markets which they were beginning 70
invade to the great advantage OF the
industries OF this country. The tax on
hides is liable to cripple the leather
and shoe industries for the benefit of
the Cattle trust, and the heavy tax
on third class wool will cripple the
greatest carpet manufactures In the
world without benefting anybody. for
our woolgrowers do not produce this
kind of WOOL
"As for the corruption which has
marked the progress OF the bill. and
it's injustice to the taxpayer, the Led
ger is equally frank. While the people
still favor a protective tariff, II be-
lieves, 1T does not follow that they are
satisfied TO have the protected indus
tries write their own figures in the
schedule In framing the present bill.
1t fears the controlling desire has been
to provide for local interests with little
regard for the needs OF the revenue.
and with an almost entire elimination
of the consumer as factor Entire
elimination of the consumer as q fac
tor is a polite but unmistakable way
OF asserting that the bill robs the con-
sumer to pay the debts OF the Repub-
lican party But the consumer has q
vote, and there are more consumers
than protected interests The Ledger
sagaciously concludes. And. we may
add, the consumer will not be long in
coming to his senses II the truth about
protection In Its practical workings
continues TO be told in the house OF its
friends"
Hanna should send note to the edi-
tor OF Puck at once, to call on him and
take a peep through the bunghole Of
his bar'l, SO that in future Puck's wild
and dlscordant notes may tune with
Hanna's paid organs in Ohio. These
dlscorCant walls produce a horrible
dlscord In the grand harmony OF Pros
perity, Purity and Plenty which are
swelling up the boiler plate depart
ment of Hanna's conquest and corrup-
tion OF Ohio. ~f-