Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-10-13
Sixth District Congressman
Opens Campaign at That
Place Today
SPEAKS ON THE TARIFF ISSUE
Prosperity Under the Republican Adj
ministration contrasted With the
Hard Times Under Cleveland and
the Free Trade Issue-Political News
of iowa.
.pecial TO Times Republican.

r. Lacey OF Inc SIASH uiSdi~t. oPSifSu
the campaign here this afternoon. He
spoke principally on the tariff, saying
in part:
THE question OF protection and free
trade arose when the union was formed.
When the first congress met under the
present constitution, it passed it's first
bill providing the form of the oath to
be administered to the congress and
other officers under the national gov
ernment.
The second bill was bill to raise
revenue and encourage the industries
OF the United States. Washington was
president. jefferson was secretary OF
state. and Alexander Hamilton, sec
rotary of the treasury. stood sponsor
for the doctrine contained in that early
Legislative enactment.
Hamilton was not thirty years old.
but he founded our treasury system,
and his methods remained without
change until 1894. more than hundred
years. Even under the act of 1894
most OF Hamihon's system was re-
tanned. | speak of Hamilton, for he 1t
was who founded our protective sys
tenn.
states rights and secession became
later on the allies OF free trade.
Since 1889 the pendulum has swung,
first one way and then another. some
times for ample protection, sometimes
strongly in the direction OF free trade
IN 1892 the slogan was low prices
and tariff reform" tariff reform and
low prices came. and MI. Cleveland
soon issued 1892 100000 of bonds. NOM
inally to maintain the gold reserve, but
in fact to pay the running expenses
of the government. In 1896 free silver
was advocated as the means of doub-
ling the prices which were sought to
be lowered by tariff reform in 1892. 1t
would seem that the lesson of the four
years of lsa3-4-5 and 6 ought TO last
for generation.
Republicans have been charged with
not redeeming their pledges. This is
a grave charge and the truth OF It has
been admitted But the worst charge
against our opponents IN 1894 was that
they did redeem their pleig They
agreed TO rip up. the tariff. They per-
formed their promise amid the vail
of suffering humanity. The roads We're
filled with tramps and the worlingman
had 10 appeal for charity instead OF
employment 1t is true that Mr.. cleve-
land did not approve the Wilson act.
Ii was not because II was too bad. but
because Ii was not bad enough. There
was not enough of free trade in 1t to
suit his taste. and so he refused TO sign
the BILL and allowed / to become law
by the ten days limitation provided
in the constitution.
in 1895 the party of sound money
and protection was recalled TO power.
We had held out great hopes of an
Improvement in conditions II our party
should be again permitted to control
the national policy. But the half was
not told 1t took time Ia repeal the
Wilson law. II took time to empty our
warehouses of the foreiisa goods that
had been hastily imported during the
months of delay during which the
Dingley bill hung suspended between
the two houses of congress.
But prosperity came again and was
at first denied and then reluctantly adj
mitted. Under the broadly national
p1icy Of our party the prosperity did
not come in spots. 1t was general and
complete. The consequences almost
stagger human belief.
From 1859 to 1897 we had good years
and bad years, high taciffs and low
ones, prosperity and adversely. and the
custom house reports during that per-
iod OF lot years show that the net
balance of trade In favor of the United
States for the whole period, deducting
adverse balances from those favorable,
only amounted to s3s3.oO0,ooo.
Under the Dingley act. the balance
OF trade each year in our favor has
exceeded the net balance in those
hundred and seven years; and the to-
tai balance in our favor during those
six years reaches the incomprehen-
sible sum OF $3.4a7.223132.
"The balance in our favor for
'1S9S was in round numbers. S615.-
100000.
1899 was in round numbers. s52a,-
600, 600.
1890 was In round numbers $544,-
600. 600.
100000
1902 was in round numbers, s47s,-
000.000
1908, was in round numbers, s3s4,-
100000.
"These figures are worthy of pro-
found study"
| If you cut down a tree one hundred
and twenty seven years old and count
| the rings of annual growth. You will
find that they are unequal. Some years
la thin circle will donate the progress
of the year, whilst another VIII show
a prolific season by a thicker growth
So Ii YOU will go back over our ma
| tionaI history, examining only the years
| Of growth when peace has reigned and
conditions ought TO he normal, you will
| find the years Of protection are the
years OF progress. and the feeblest
| growth is shown n those which mark
| the last experiment of Tariff reform
| IN the direction or free trade.
'In 1892, when prosperity was at
| high tide, democrats preached the doc
| trine of tariff reform to the Ameri-
! can people and were given the power
to carry out their pledge. In 1894
| two years later, there was a congress
| sional election and the whole American
| Industrial population went cunning fol
| the congressman who repealed the Nc
| Kinley law. Some tariff reformers'
lin state offices escaped the wrath OF
| the people. They were able to prove
| an alibi.