Show 1 HE TARIFF hie question of national against sectional interests wise statesmanship considers and plans for the good of the whole country sectional interests are the greas consideration of demagogues and lo 10 al politicians in the contest now in progress this may be clearly perceived the attitude of the two parties in conflict illustrates the difference tariff reform is instituted for che general welfare opposition to it is based on a policy framed for the protection 0 particular industries rusts aud corporations the former appeals to patriotism and looks to the greatest good of the greatest number the latter to selfishness to ocal interests to individual and corporate desires demands and antipa chiea tariff reform seeks to furnish home manufactures with raw materials in jomo instances free from duty and in others with the duty reduced so that hoy may be able to compete manufacturers without re wages the mills bill which ahe house but will not pass the senate is not a free aradi Jie asure as it is the fashion to call it whatever opinions in orenco to free rado the chairman of the ways and cleans committee may personally entertain tho bill reported by tho corn cittee of which ho is necessarily tl champion is not in any sense a rade measure it simply reduce ho tariff in tho aggregate about per cent it is in its effects protective and it joes not matter BO far as those ef will be felt whether the protection affords is incidental or ox cressly designed aa a theory to quarrel over as an issue in the political light it affords opportunities for endless argument and any amount of misrepresentation but as a matter of fact it does not concern the masses whether industries that aro protected by the operations of law are thus protected by legislative intent or simply as an incidental consequence to call a bill a tree trade measure aich imposes an average duty of 40 per cent on foreign products is certainly dishonest and a proof that those who use the misnomer are compelled to resort to unfair methods in opposing that which they cannot overcome by honorable warfare one of tho most catching and plausible pleas of the republicans is that the democrats want to ruin the sheep interests of the country wool has been placed upon tho free list in tho mills bill and all tho wool growers in the land aro played upon that their indignation may bo excited against those who is alleged have attempted to destroy this industry suppose it was true that sheep owners would suffer to somo extent by tho importation of wool without duty would nut the general public ba ben emitted by tho consequent cheapening of woolen articles manufactured in this country and is not the good of the whole people more than the interest of a comparatively small class T are tha prejudices of sheep men to weigh against the necessities of the nation and is it statesmanship or demagoguery ery which appeals to the sectional interests of the wool men and incites them against a measure that is for the welfare of the country but it is not at all clear that even the wool growers and traders would bo materially injured by the free wool clause of the tariff reform measure if it should become a law there are certain grades of wool which are not raised in america but which are needed by manufacturers to mix with our native wools to encourage their importation is to home industry and indirectly the home wool production if the manufacturers can obtain cheap foreign wool they can manufacture cheap woolen goods and the demand thus increase ingmore native wool will bo required and so the home market will bo stimulated instead of repressed mr i mills explained the effects of the free wool provision in this way wo say to the manufacturer we have put wool on the freo list to enable him to obtain foreign markets and successfully compete with the foreign manufacturer wo say to the laborer in the factory we put wool on the free list so that it may be imported and he may be employed to make the goods that are now made by foreign labor and imported into the united states wo say to the consumer we have put wool on the free list that ho may have woolen goods cheaper we say to ih e domestic wool grower we have put wool on the free list to enable the manufacturer to import foreign wool to mis with his own and thus enlarge his market and quicken the demand for the consumption of bis wool while it lightens the burden of the taxpayer the duty on wool now prevents nearly all the bettor classes of wools from coming into the country when the domestic product can only supply about one half of the about required bior homo consumption it will bo seen from this that while free wool will bring cheaper clothing blankets carpets and other fabrics to the masses it will bring a more ample market at home and abroad to jio manufacturers and consequently a greater demand for native wool prices are now low in spite of the tariff the mills bill cannot pass the senate and therefore the depression in prices cannot be laid to free wool or the prospect of it demagogues and dishonest partisans pretend that wool is low because of the mills bill 0 o as to array the wool growers against tho party that promoted the measure the statement is false and ho motive is despicable the truth is there are millions upon millions of surplus dollars in the treasury obtained from needless taxation and it is the purpose of party in power to take off these taxes and thus reduce the surplus about a year comes from the wool tariff that amount may just as well bo in the pockets of the people as in the treasury vaults of the united states even if the few wool growers should lose a little of the very hand somo profits of their industry which is not a certainty as we have shown the welfare of the masses is to be consulted in preference to the enrichment of a class the wool interest is here mentioned specially because it is made so much of in the tariff reform discussion it illustrates the effects of the mills bill in acome other matters but in the aggregate the measure merely aims to the country of burdens unnecessarily borne by the people and to stop the influx into the national coffers of more than a hundred millions of dollars a year not needed for ho expenses of tho government and tho exaction of which makes dearer a great number of articles in common use and consumption that is statesmanship which legislates for the nation it js factious and petty ship which blocks its way and misrepresents it to the country news |