The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-16
PRESIDENT JAMES LETTER.

Salt Lake City, jan 3. 1899
Dear Sir.-The Utah Ore Producers as.
sociation, composed as it is of mine-own-
erS, mine managers. miners ana others in
| teTeSted in mines, represents, to a large
extent, the. entire product Of the mines
OF the state.
san, numbering among its members men
! Of ali parties and of various political
| creeds, and for twenty-one years its con-
| slant effort has been to promote Utah 5
chief industry, mining. Its work has been
done in various places, but chiefly in
! Washington, where much labor has been
! expended in securing favorable tariff leg
| fSlation. the benefits of which have been
| felt here at home, and in an increasing
| enGeaVor to leStore silver to its proper
place as a money of ultimate redemption,
| in which latter work 1t has distributed
! through the southern middle and west
/ ern states 2, 10000 copies of silver speeches
| delivered in the senate and house Of
| representatives.
For many years we had but a single
! representative in congress, and ever since
| the admission of Utah into the Union,
and the consequent increase OF congress
| Sional. representation from the state. II
! has been a difficult task to protect our
| industry from unjust discrimination.
| The lead combine, one of the most
| powerful trusts in the United States. with
| its paid lobbyists and employees. the
! best that money will have, is constantly
at work in favor of free lead. lead mined
by peon labor at half the wages paid in
this state for similar work. To coun-
| teract their efforts and to secure orOtec-
tion to American lead so that we may
continue our present wage system. has
been the constant aim of the Ore Pro-
ducerS' association.
Continual, vigilant and comprehensive
work, keeping everlastingly at it to use
a homely expression, is necessary to di-
vert the many schemes put in motion by
the lead combine. to get lead into this
country free of duty.
Therefore. without interfering in mat
1TtpmntinH
manner dictate how d senator shall vote
on a new tariff but with a desire to see
what has been given them by the Dingley
tariff law. and further protect them from
future legislation which would in any
way discriminate against the mining in
dustry or fail to furnish to that industry
a protection proportionately equal to that
given any other industry in the United
States, the Utah Ore Producers associa-
ton deems it its duty as well as its priv
ilege to address to you as a prominent
candidate for a siX-year term in the
United States senate, these several ques-
tons with the request that you biye an
early answer.
II elected to the senate will you
First-Give your vote, and influence to
prevent the repeal of the present duties
Second-Do all in your power to en-
force q strict payment of the duty as
fixed by law on all lead imported into the
Third-When the intent of the law is
evaded by some technical construction
or department ruling, use your every
effort and exert your influence to cor
rect the condition existing by securing
favorable rulings or by amending the
law?
MCUNE'S REPLY.
A. w. McCune's answer was as fol-
Dear Sir-I am in receipt of your letter
of the 9th inst, requesting a statement OF
my present and prospective attitude in
relation TO the lead schedule of the Ding
ley tariff law. In the event of my cleo
ton to the United States senate. you ask
if j will pledge my support to the present
lead scheduIe. seek to enforce the Import
duties II levies and use my influence to
have the present law corrected wherein il
is eVaded on technicalities.
To that point that the national Demo-
If chosen to represent Utah in the United
States senate, use all my influence TO Sc
cure this state every aid that the present
tariff was intended 10 conyey-whethar
that involves additional legislation 10
make that already passed effective or 10
the interest OF the lead combine. an eva
sion of the duties now imposed. As
stand upon the Chicago platform, which
commendS a tariff to be levied so as TO
thereof to all parts of the nation, it seems
to me no other answer is needed but I
reply specifically, because the inquiry Won
make is specific in its Interrogation.
My understanding is that the nostion
OF the Democratic representative in con-
the interests represented by your assoc
citation. 1t may fairly be assumed that |
my course win not be out Of harmony |
-'.i 80 e"St -eco-' % DAnnorssts sent |