The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-12-02
TARIFF REFORMERS
C. F. ADAMS EXPLAINS THEIR :AB~
SENCE FROM HEARINGS.
He Says the Bencficiarics Of the
Tariff Laws as They Exist are
Either Thieves or Hogs.

He Says the Bcnc1Ic1ofIcS OF inc
Tariff Laws as They Exist are,
Either Thieves or Hogs.
Boston, Nov. 25.-The letter Of
Charles Francis Adams, Of Boston.
on the tariff, to Congressman ne
Gail, of Massachusetts,, is in full as
follows:
The Hon. Samuel w. Mccall,
Washington, D. C.-My Dear Mr..
Mccall: l see in =he Boston Herald
Of this morning that the President
elect is anxious that those who de-
sire revision of the tariff in the
direction Of reduced schedules should
make themselves heard in Washing
ton. 1t is claimed those asking that
the tariff schedules should remain
as they are, or should be changed
only in the way of increase, are much
in evidence at the hearing now in
progress, and that the tariff reform
er, so-called, does not appear or is
silent.
You, my dear Mr.. Mccall, know
perfectly well the reason of this.
Those first referred to are directly
and pecuniarily interested; and ss
such naturally divided into two class
es. Speaking after the fashion Of
men, they are either thieves or hogs.
myself belong to the former class.
I am a tariff thief, and I have a
license to steal. 1t bears the broad
seal Of the United States, and is what
Is known as the 'Dingley tariff" |
stole under it yesterday; am steal
ing under it today. propose to
steal under it tomorrow. The Gov
ernment has forced me into this
position, and both do and shall
take full advantage Of it. I am.
therefore, tariff thief, with a II
cense to steal! And-what are you
going to do about it?
The other class comes under the
nog category; that is, they rush
squealing and struggling to the
Washington protection trough, and,
with all four feet in it. they proceed
to gobble the swill. Well acquaint-
ed with those Of this class, you know
their attitude and their utterance.
1t is useless for me to dilate upon
either. To this class do no belong.
am simply a tariff thief, but, as
I have said, with a license to steal.
But, on the other hand, I am also
tariff reformer. I would like to
see every protective schedule swept
out Of existance, my own included
Meanwhile, what inducement have
to go to Washington on public mis-
sion Of this sort? A mere citizen
I represent no one; if went I would
receive from the committee secretly
a respectful hearing, If any hearing
at all: and I would have to 90 q
considerable expense, both Of NY
money and my time, the last o!
which I can least afford.
Ny position in these respects Il
exactly the position Of myriads Of
othe 5. And they say we do not ex.
| -;
| Meanwhile, I do know this: o.
every occasion when Of late I have
had occasion to address an audi
ence any reference 10 protection
run mad" or to the tariff as "the
mother of trusts has Invariably
elected more spontaneous response
than any other utterance I coult
make This feeling is abroad, BE-
coming stronger, and Will certainl!
soon or late, be in evidence at ths
polls. Meanwhile, the tens ct thou
sands Of persons who feel in tha
way, like myself, cannot afford eth
er the time or, more frequently
the money to 90 to Washington t
ask to be heard before a committe:
which they know in advance is boil
prejudiced and packed against them
have in this letter set forth The
situation so far as revision Of tht
tariff is concerned, as it exists within
your personal knowledge. You Art
welcome to make such use Of it be
fore the committee, or elsewhere
as you see fit.
Meanwhile have it distinctly under
stood that my position is exactl!
the position of tens Of thousands 0!
others scattered throughout tine
country. To ask US to put aside
our business affairs. and at our owr
expense go to Washington on des
perate mission is asking little toe
much whether the demand come:
from the committee or from 6
President-elect / remain, etc.
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.
Mr.. Adams has for years beeF
interested in various railway and
| industrial concerns in New England