Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1902-07-31
THEY ASK FOR MONEY
REFORM CLUB ON THE WARPATH
AGAINST PROTECTION.

Aid of n Concerted Effort to Hepeai
the Existing Tariff LAW and Com
init the Country to Free Trade.
Circular letters have issued from the
Reform club announcing the reincar-
nation of the tariff reform committee
and appealing for funds and giving
this reason:
"The question of tariff revision is
now before the American people. The
Philippine tariff, Cuban reciprocity and
the various reciprocity treaties nego-
tiated under the Dingley tariff law are
questions of vital Importance, and it is
safe to predict that the main issue OF
the coming congressional campaign
will be the question of tariff reform
and revision. This committee is car
rying on an active campaign of edu-
cation on all these questions"
Chairman Tompkins adds that he Is
"sending out matter to the Democratic
press through all the more important
press bureaus" He is also trying to
raise enough funds to send out plates
such papers of all political affiliations
willing to publish our matter Ii
is especially desirable Mr.. Tompkins
urges, that money enough be raised to
carry out this plan, las it is the most
effective way of creating public senti-
ment in favor of freer trade" The
plate matter to which reference Is
T.. ri, In, ie, ln fnph-
nically known as boiler plate" 1t Is
| stereotype plate made to fit the stand
ard newspaper column and which
| therefore can be published in any
newspaper In the country without me-
| chanical expense to the newspaper,
and also, If the columns of matter fur-
nished free do not contain theories re-
pugnant to the interests of its readers,
without other expense Free trade
"boiler plate" is not enormously en-
pensive, either, to its producers-or 1t
was not when the industry was at its
best, which was just prior to the lean
years of Democratic Souphouses.
But apparently the newspapers which
are to publish free trade boiler plate
/
not alone free trade Democratic or
gans, which will readily assimilate the
Reform clubs economic heresies. Mr.
Tompkins says papers of all political
affiliations" desiring to publish the
matter will be supplied. The boiler
plate industry, which is a peculiarly
Democratic institution, is also power
! In fpr,C In
it's Cuban reciprocity campaign, as was
proved before the senate committee
Papers "of all political affiliations" as
well as congressman "of all politica
affiliations" were induced to adopt anc
expound the views expressed In the
sugar trusts advertising matter, which
went about the country disguised as
boiler plate. Mr.. Tompkins might ge
some valuable advice from his fre'
trade friends of the sugar trust ol
how best to induce papers of all po
litical affiliations" to see things from
the free trade point of view.
THE farmers and laboring classes,
says the touching appeal of the Reform
club free traders, ARE ciamoring fo
, the removal of the burdensome tarif
taxes" But why is it that the uneX
ampled prosperity of the agriculturist
, and wageworkers has been reached III
der these "burdensome" taxes? Th
circular does not say. And how doe
it happen that only the free traders o
the Reform club have such delicatel
attuned tympanums that they alon
| L.. II. go 70, nd 10
l borer asking that the burden" b
= lifted? The hearing may be straine
to painful degree without catching
whisper from the American farme
! and laborer or discomfort with the OF
Grafton of the protective tariff system
Manufacturers are not 'clamoring
for tariff revision" or reciprocity
I either. Protection has prospered en-
ployers and employed. The only Occl
patton that has suffered is that of til
5 free trade bowler. The only industr
that has been injured is the free trad
boiler plate industry.
Mr.. Tompkins' appeal for funds
renew the free trade agitation and di
turb prosperity has not been addresse
- lO lue WdseWOIhcIS, TIE LiI ueIS VI IL
manufacturers, we imagine, in spite {
his assertion that they are famishin
under protection and "clamoring" fl
free trade. From those quarters
will be futile to look for contribution
The sinews of war, we take 1t, wi
g come from importers to whose intere
= it is to have low tariff or free trad
These importers will finance the boil'
= plate industry with the same magma
unity as the sugar trust and with Il
same motive-to fill their pockets
the expense of the American farmer
laborers and manufacturers.-New YOl
i Press.