Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-05-20

| the farmers OF the west will have nc
one to represent them in the great tar
III battle which the all-pOwerful con
ference committee will have to fght
out Senator Allison has fought the tar
III battles for the farmers of the ives,
ever since he has been in congress and
the tariff protection under which the
agricultural interests OF the country
especially those Of Iowa have pros
pered so greatly has been largely due
to his efforts.
Senator Allison has been the senate
leader Of the Republican tariff forces
In every great tariff battle since 1883
In that year he was member of the
senate subcommittee which prepared
q revision OF the tariff In 1888 he sue
cessfully led the senate fight against
the Mills bill. which passed the house
and which would have ruined the agri-
cultural interests Of the country. ALL
son was chairman OF the senate sub
committee that prepared a Republican
substitute for the Mills (Democrat)
bill. The house. however. refused q
conference and neither the Mills bill
nor the Allison substitute became q
law.
Author Tinpiate Duty.
This Allison substitute for tho
Mills bill OF 1883 was adopted. how
ever. by Mayor Mckinley as the basis
for bis famous tariff bill of 1890, which
In many Of its vital parts is almost
word for word with the Allison bill Of
1888. The famous ''tinpIate" section Of
the Mckinley bill was, in fact, taken
word for word from the Allison sub
stitute for the Mills bill Of 1888. The
records Of congress show that Senator
Allison was the real arthur Of the tin
plate" tariff, which built up the great
tinplate industry Of this country and
reluced the price OF tinware to a 5 and
10 cent store basis as every housewife
knows. Allison offered his tinplate
amendment to the Mills bill in the SEN
ate Jan. IA. 1889. and with the excep-
ton Of few minor words it is the
identical section that Mckinley after
ward put In his tariff bin Of 1890 and
which was greater factor than any
thing else in bis election to the presi-
dency. In urging the senate to adopt
his tinplate section Senator Allison
declared that there were forty manu-
featuring plants waiting Its adoption
to Immediately begin work. and he pre-
dicted that it would greatly reduce the
price Of tinplate. The senate on jan.
II, 1888, adopted the Allison tinplate
amendment by vote Of Is yeas to ISL
nays, aparty hne up. but tfe Democrat
ic house prsvsnteA its becoming a law.
Allison's predictions about the upbuild-
ing Of great tinplats industry in thu
United Stxtes sni 4 reduction RI the
price u tinpizte' came true, however.
after the adoption Of his section i'd the
Mckinley bili.
Statistics OF the United States cen.
sus show that the adoption of the AL
lison tinpiate schedule In the Mckinley
bill of 1890 has been one OF the great
est factors in building up the canning
and preserving industry in fruits and
vegetables, which is of vital INTEREST,"
to Iowa. The price Of tin cans before
1890 was too high to permit of profit
able canning Of such fruits and vege-
tables as Iowa produces. Every one Ia
Iowa knows how the canning industry
has developed there during recent
years. Great credit must be given to
the Allison tinplate schedule for open
ing the way for this industry.
Iowa's Canneries.
In 1870, before the Allison tinplate
tariff was adopted, the United States
imported 32a425 gross tons Of tinplate
and produced none In 1905 the United
States imported 1884 gross tons Of
tinplate and produced $500 tons as
with none produced here In
1890. In 1890 there were only $50 can
ming factories in the United States. In
1900 the number had increased to /, sos,
or nearly 1000 more under ten years Of
Allison tlnplate tariff. In these ten
years the canning factories purchased
double theamOunt Of fruits and vegeta-
bles and the value of their products
likewise doubled.
Allison and Mckinley.
Senator Allison had charge OF the
passage OF the Mckinley tariff OF 1890
IN the senate aud was member Of |
The conference committee which final
~ brought the house and senate into
agreement on all amendments. As a
Of this conference committee
Mr.. Allison saw to it that his tinplate
section of 1899 was carefully guarded
rom the vigorous assaults that had
been made on 1t and he was able to
larry out his idea to success.
When, the Democratic tariff, the
bill OF 1894 was be-
'ore congress Senator Allison led the
fight against 1t in the senate.
having charge of the Republican re
bort on the bill.
The Dingley Law.
With the return Of the Republicans
% power in congress the Dingley bill
If 1897, the present tariff law, was
passed and Senator Allison was fore
most In its preparation. He was
Of the subcommittee which
drafted the Dingley bill, had charge Of
a