The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-02-05
a TRIBUTE FROM THE ENEMY.



house of representatives was by all odds
the most interesting and enlightening
disclosure that the tariff hearing has
called out. if indeed it is not the most
important contribution to tariit lltera-
ture and thought that has appeared
since Grover Clevelands celebrated
tariff message OF 1887.
IL was a genuine surprise. 1t was
terrible shock TO the fanatical protec-
ZIONIST. IL was the highest tribute TO
the principle of tariff reform that could
be paid. Between the position OF the
free traders. as the protectionist press
denominates tariff reformers, and the
wooden manufacturers as represented
by Mr.. North, there is scarcely one iota
of practical difference. In other words, |
the wooden manufacturers, speaking |
through their official representative,
proclaim to the world their acceptance
of the policy of the free traders. This
is a great advance towards the final
and satisfactory settlement of the tarifr
question.
The corner stone of the tariff reform
structure was free wool. That was the
KEY note of President Cleyeland's tarin
message in 1857. The center OF OPPOSE
ton to tariff reform was massed against
free wool. The free traders, accepting
the enemy's designation of tariff re-
formers, said that free wool would be
boon to the people because 1t wouid
give them cheaper and better clothing;
that il would be boon for the manu-
facturer because il would enlarge ana
cheaper the supply of raw material;
and that il would not injure the Ameri-
can wool grower because the WOOL I'M
ported would not compete with the
home clip; that the American grower
would be likely to be benefited by the
building up of the American wooden
, manufacturing industries. President
Cleveland set forth these views nine
years ago, and they were combatted
with such intensity by both the manu-
facturer and the grower that Tor very
:, consistency extreme views in the OPP
: posite direction We're Incorporated INTO
!, the Mckinley law. What is Mr. North
y testimony to-day? We quote from the
\. press report of his speech:
!, Never. until he had had experience under
free wool, did the manufacturer realize 'n'
DISADVANTAGE
at duty. and the impossbility OF any com
- nensatory duty offsetting these disadvan
tares The concentration OF Amsrcal
purchases upon the WOODS when can y
Is bought under the duty increases the pric
n compared with that which would pc pan
90 ali woois were available. and the cours
ofthe market under free wool has indicates
y that the enhancement OF the price Is apou
lie four cents per pound. duty mas ahothe
he effect in cheapening the price OF me WOO
- 49,, tod
eign manufacturer, added to all the otne
IS. advantages which he naturally possesse
rit is BILE to get his wool cheaper from caus
ms growing indirectly out of the duty.
All the restrictions of the old law wei
er nut there Mr. North insisted, to einbarras
in ana imnc,ie the manufactures In his choi'
an OF wool They have that effect, ana a
n, thus additional disadvantages LOT which
a gets no equivalent. Mr. North oeclar'
icy that these restrictions were not requiie
rat because there was hardly any occupatil
ias for which the opportunities were SO &c
- as in the sale Of wool
va II was necessary, he believed, 10 reci
. 10 these facts, that congress and the Afn'
the lean people should understand the econoi
3D., &c disadvantages of duty on WOOL =
~ manufacturers did not appear to resist {
the restoration OF a wool duty. They we
vas willing TO make sacrifices In order that I
IN policy of protection might apply 70
products that need protection. IN
not equal TO that TO be imposed on their gooe
ior, they simply demanded that there should
M raturn TO the restrictive rates OF ~
- ylous wool schedules.
ron IL was a great and important fact TN
ley as the manufacture had now develop
+, hero tho use Of foreign woods had becor
tndispensa BILE. Any duties on WOOL, the III
~. pose Of which was TO exclude ana pi
md hibit its importation. would restrict
the American manufacturer to such iabTcs
~ can be produced from domestic wool. y
tht effect Of such restriction would be 10
cry crease the Importation of foreign WOODS
he'd manufactured form and diminish the
mand FOR American woods and the ernpio
ment Of American machinery.
s: Mt North declared that no Amerlc
her manufacturer bought foreign wool for a
ira puypose for which he could use domes
- wool, and that foreign WOOL was no, US
FSe to displace American. and that. while
his did not dispace It. its importation increas
10 the market for American WOOL
Pretty substantial testimony in fav
Her of free wool, is il not? A thorough
act acknowledgement of the correctness OF !
=, position of the free traders, is 1t not!
inc must be remembered that Mr.. North
me no mere theorist, as he once regard
bad President Cleveland, and Roger
rea Mills, William l.. Wilson and other II
al traders. He is not an emissary from
Golden club, paid by British gol'
10, He is the representative and spokesm
rnr, Of the practical men in business. lie
..ro the secretary of the Wool Manufact
80 ers' association, and the views he p
;, a. sents must be accepted as the views
.,l the practical wool manufacturers. a
M no theorizing free trader has put
alss arguments for free wool stronger IL
49, did Mr. North for the manufacture
80 They are converted to the belief in
a., very foundation Of tariff reform, !
40 wool, after only two years pracu
a.. experience in it's use. And these
: =, wears have been most unfavorable
'ona business experiments of any kind.
y 20 We regard this confession as the III
striking effect that the campaign OF
~, ucation has produced. Sound ideas u
49, economic policies have been driven
the heads Of the most virulent enen
-, of tariff reduction. It's an encourae
q -