The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-13

charge Of ]. w. that ! complain of free
traders ceasing TO notice my articles. or
course / have not only never limited at
such a complaint, but have several times
stated the contrary: nevertheless. let no
reader so much as imagine that free trade
j. w. intends to state an untruth; for 1T
is simply one of the usual multitude OF
free trade blunders that crop out as nat
urally as water falls when 1t gets over
the edge OF Niagara Falls.
For example when the tariff of 4 per
centum was put on Porto Rico goods. free
trade politicians called 1t Is per centum
and all the victimized free traders. like
j. W., echoed Is per centum on Porto
Rico merchandise. The easy victims.
like j. W.. did not mean to falsify; but
like the general run OF free trade haters
OF bread winners they never paused to
investigate this free trade falsehood Had
they done so they would have learned
that the tariff was merely Is per centum
of the Dingley tariff duties. or IN other
words 4 per centum instead Of Is. But
don't blame free traders too much: for
not being In the habit OF really thinking.
much less investigating facts, being al
most completely absorbed in pure and
indebted theory. and slandering wage
workers. the small fry swallowed the
/ free trade pill of prevarication and shout
ed long and loud, Fifteen per centum!'
Without pausing TO read my articles
J. w. merely SKINNED over them at long
range and shouts the opposite OF what
! wrote. And / will venture the assertion
/ that he even imag.nes that the average
| Dingley duties are 40 per centum or over.
! But let us see, reader. how 10 per CEN
tum figures. Our imports for the year
ending June 81. 1902, were between eight
: hundred and nine hundred millions OF
| dollars. $3.50. 600 900 at 40 per centum
would come to s340. 1000. whereas the
| custom duties amounted to about ninety
millions less. The averageDingley tar
III duties, during its whole continuance,
have averaged about % per centum, while
the Morrill, tariff duties actually averaged
As per centum during one year. The Will
| son tarin duties averaged about u per
centum. and converted two million hon
est wage workers into tramps.
But returning to Porto Rico. don't you
| recollect that the protectionsts I'm con-
gress voted over two millions OF dollars
for the relief OF the Porto Ricans. strick-
en- by food, hurricane and famine? And
don't you recollect how Shotgun Tillman
and the other free trade congressman
howled and yelled and called Mckinley
hard names for proposing such a truly
Christian duty by this rich. prosperous
nation? And the free trade congressman
voted against this splendid deed OF char.
ity. and argued and talked and shouted
for congress to pass their bill instead
And what mark you. was the free trade
substitute? This and nothing more: Dror
the four per centum duty and levy a dir
ect tax upon the poor. flooded. famined
and hurricaned Porto Ricans. Aye. and
| they actually proposed this outrageous
tax without the faintest blush of shame
Talk about oppression and outrage upor
a poor, stricken. helpless people Match
this shameful proposal in any nation IL
| all Europe!
Is IL any wonder that J. w. and othei
free traders are in hiding and dare no
meet the issues and the telling facts
against them7 Aye, Is IL any marvel tina
j. w. energies from his hiding place jus
long enough 10 state what is not true an,
then lodges out of sight? should hav,
been surprised had he as a free trade fo'
OF our toilers. taken any other course
| But his unconsciously fbbing brief shows
his deep interest In my articles. Thanks
ID. w,
And now. reader. while J. w. was ask
ing me 10 turn To- prov. XXvI4. IL he ha,
read the very next verse he would hav'
| understood clearly why i am pling ul
such a multitude OF facts to counterac
the effects OF his mere theories which can
| not be reduced to practice without i'm
posing burdens upon wage earners griev
| Gus to be borne but untouched by n fire.
traders fingers.
Let this discussion. I'm which such
multitude OF readers are so deeply In
terested. go on. and may IL prove profit
J able and add much to the pleasure Of "a
| all as we'll as the interest and circulation
OF the News which dares to stand so bold
| ly for the rights OF wage earners.
Again returning my heartfelt thank
for the interest taken In my articles an
the hearty thanks OF many for my labor
I'm defense OF bread winners. I again sig
! A LIFE LONG WAGE FARMERS AD
VOCATE.
| Woonsocket r L.. February 10 1903