Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-30
LACEY ON TARIFF
Sixth District Congressman on the
Issues.
NOT Welded TO ANY SCHEDULE
He Argues That Inasmuch as the
Country Is Prosperous the Utmost
Care Should Be Exercised to Pre-.
vent 3 Disturbance.

Sare Shouid BE Exercised to Pre-
vent Disturbance.
Congressman John f. Lacey opened
the campaign in the sixth district by
speech at Bethel, Mahaske county
Saturday afternoon. There was a large
attendance of farmers at the meeting
and the major entertained his hear
ers with his views upon the national
issues. His speech was as follows:
i have been invited by some of
my old friends and neighbors to open
the campaign in the sixth Iowa dis.
trlct by holding the first meeting in
the township of Jefferson, where l
lived many years ago. The good neigh
borship OF the old home still prevails,
and always feel at home in this local
1ty. Many of the old faces have passed
away and another generation has come
on. In this gathering are men of all
political parties. We give one another
credit to admit that our ultimate pur-
poses are the same; that all desire
what is best for the common country
but there is a difference of opinion
as to the means best adapted to the
advancement of the American people.
nave been discussing political ques-
lions among you for many years When
In 1883, first ran for congress, took
pronounced position in favor of me
protection of American industries. Since
that time We have had considerable
actual experience, and it is less neces-
Sary Tor me to discuss the causes
which produce results when we can
appeal to recent history.
The Tariff.
have served in congress now for
Twelve years, and during that time |
nave witnessed three revisions of our
tariff Two of these reyisions were m
on protective lines, the Mckinley law.
and the Dingley law; but between
those two laws stands the gloomy
period in which the Wilson act hung
as blight over the prosperity of the
United States of America. | have in
many previous speeches tried to show
why the protective system was good
for our country. In the light of such
recent experience it seems to me that
could appeal to the reason and mem
DRY OF all here present. In 1883 if be-
came necessary to change the tariff
In order to reduce the revenue the
amount being in excess of the neces-
sary expenditures. General Harrison
was elected president and the laws
were revised by the late lamented Nc.
hinley. A storm of obloquy was at once
heaped upon his head. The law was
denounced in the most bitter terms
and although the law has brought us
prosperity, yet in 1892 revulsion of
PUBIC sentiment placed in power a
party pledged to a revision of the
tarlH with the protection idea elimin
ated. Our opponents We're put in power
and the Wilson law was enacted If
is only five years since the disastrous
effects OF that law began to die
away. In 1896, when Mckinley was
elected, the republican party at ST
Louis adopted platform declaring in
favor of revising the Wilson law along
protective lines. At the close of that
declaration this statement is made al
most in the language of the present
Iowa platform.
we are not pledged to any particu-
lar schedules. The question of ratas
is practical question to be governed
by the conditions of time and of nro.
auction; the ruling and uncompromis.
ing principle is the protection and de-
Eelopment OF American labor and in
lustry.'
And then, in order to assure the
country that the prosperity which the
republican party believed would come
would not be disturbed for light and
transient causes, that section of the
platform concludes with this Ian
guage:
The country demands right set
aement and then it wants rest
That platform declared also for
reciprocity as did the platform of 1900
and the house of representatives mass.
ed reciprocity law with Cuba and
sent it to the senate for their action.
law which | believe would give pros
perlty to Cuba without harmipr any
industry Whatever in our own country
Some OF the schedules of the Dingley
tarl1f law were placed somewhat high
err than it was believed would be ali.
solutely necessary with view to re-
duce the same by treaties of reciproci-
ty. This policy was expressly provid-
ed for in the law and | believe will
meet the cordial approval of the re-
publican party and of the people
Whilst tariff schedules are not in any
wise sacred, nor are they to be held
Interchangeable, yet they should never
be disturbed for light reasons, because
tariff agitation always unsettles the
business of the country. Under the
Dingley law our balance of trade has
been $3.50 ,928,294 in five years time;
the entire previous balance of trade of
the United States from the foundation
of our government to the inaugura-
ton Of Mckinley was $3.50, 900, 600.
ghe law under which we have had
balance on the right side of the ledger
OF over twenty-siX hundred million
dollars in five years is not law that
should be disturbed in It's entirety,
and should only be changed in its
parts where it clearly appears that
the.schedules have become out of date
or not adapted to existing conditions
This balance of trade seems incredi-