Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-04-05
MR.. GEAR REPLIES.
Answers the Plea Of Davenborters For
No Tariff Explains Ills Vote.

Davenport, March 23-The following
letter has been received here, addressed
as appears below, and opened by May.
or Baker, to whom it was delivered. II
is in -esponss to the telegram forward
ed from here few days ago to Senator
John H. Gear, protesting against his
vote in support of the Porto Rico tariff
measure. The letter sufficiently eA-
plains itself, and is open to such con-
struction Us the reader sees fit to place
upon it.:
Washington, ID. G., March 20, 1900.
--Messrs. George L. Baker, William
o. Schmidt, and others, Davenport,
Iowa, Gentlemen: I have your tel
egram protesting against the passage
OF the Porto Rican tariff bill, and, in
reply beg to state, that there is wide
spread misunderstanding of this bill
on the part Of the people.
In the first place, believe that the
presidents MESA &c, which was made
against tariff with Porto Rico, was
intended only to be directed against a
tariff to increase the revenues of the
United States at the expense of Porto
Rico, or tariff to protect the indus
tries of the United States against the
industries of Porto Rico. The people
of the United States have always been
educated to understand tariff as an
instrument for our own exclusive ben
eft either to raise revenue for our
own government or to protect our own
industries. Hence tariff for the ben
eft of the country, and of the people
upon whose products the duties are to
be imposed, is something very novel to
our apprehension. We have to stop
and think before we can understand it
at all.
The fact is that all the money raised
from this proposed tariff is to be paid
back to these people for the establish
ment of schools and the improvement
of rofds and general improvements
and relief. They raise large quanti-
ties of sugar, tobacco and citrous fruits,
which come in direct competition with
like articles in this country, and as
they can ship much cheaper by water.
to New York, than our western farmer
can ship by rail, it gives them great
advantage over oar'western products.
who ought to have some slight protec-
ton.
Again, the president, upon fuller in
formation and longer reflection, APP
proves of this bill, and is now person
ally urging its passage.
Then, agaia, it is found that 80 per
cent of the property and goods to be
taxed under this proposed tariff is al
ready in the possession and ownership
of the great trusts of the United States,
such as the sugar and tobacco trusts,
which are bowling for a free trade bill
in order that the large stock of these
products now being held by them on
the island may come in free Of duty,
and reap immense profits; whereas, if
the present tariff bill passes they will
be the ones to bear the greater burden
of the tax.
I voted with the senate few days
ago to give the sum of %, 100000 to
Porto Rico for its immediate relief, and
this is direct gift from the United
States and will meet their immediate
needs.
might also add that our constitu-
ton does not cover Porto Rico autom-
atically, as some suppose, but only
when il has been SO voted
and enacted by congress. II we should
grant free trade to Porto Rico, there is
no good reason why it should not also
be given to the Philippines, where
labor is so much cheaper than our own
that her imports to the United States
would soon cause great industrial de-
preston among our own producers.
Thanking You for your views, and
trusting that the above will help to
correct some OF the misunderstanding
Of the people, am, Yours truly,
JOHN H. GEAR.