Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 June 1886 — IN THE ENEMY’S CAMP. [ARTICLE]

IN THE ENEMY’S CAMP.

The meeting in favor of “free wool” in Philadelphia on Saturday evening is an incident in a movement that is carrying consternation into the hearts of the high tariff men in that stronghold of protection. It is particularly amazing to the Democratic branch of the high tariff conspiracy. The Philadelphia Times undoubtedly speaks the feelings of the whole Randall party when it bewails the progress of the movement as threatening “the surrender of the whole American market to the pauper worked looms of Europe.”— This gloomy prediction is based on the assumption—which is an assumption pure and simple, without a scrap of evidence or even reasonable inference on which to base it—that the entire woolen industry of the United States depends absolutely and completely u on high import duties, not merely for its prosperity, but for its continue ; existence. On this point one of the .speakers at the meeting on Saturday gave some Untiim ’ which is worth a volume of Times’ vaticinations. It ua-

testimony of a manufacture how the tariff had worked in h : case, from which it can Lm / inferr -cl how it would work in the future. Mr. William Deane, of Newark, Del., announced that he had Been engaged in woolen mills for fiftyone years, entering one at six years of age. He said: “I want to say that I am no longer a woolen manufacturer. They have protected me so that J am no longer a woolen manufacturer, but simply a shoddy manufacturer. Why? Because there is no duty on your old clothes when you have done with them. I can buy them as cheaply as any old clothes in the world.” He would like to go back to his old business. “I waDt free wool,” he stated. “As an American lam the equal of any Johnny Bull or Frenchman. I have been among them and have seen what they can do. I can manufacture yarn and other goods and pay the present price of labor and do it cheaper than they can. * * * We do not raise all the various kinds of wool in this country, nor can you make a cloth equal to those made abroad out of any wool raised here. Why not let us have these foreign wools, not only to clothe the American people but to make woolen goods for the people of the wo* kl?” This is ,a practical questicn. It can not be answered by sheer theorizing or by assumptions. Your protectionist says protection is necessary to woolen manufacture. — The actual manufacturer answers that it has driven him out of the business. Your high tariff theorist says that vou can not keep the home market without protection. Your working manufacturer, with his fortune at stake on the correctness of his opinion, says that with free wool we can compete in the markets of the world. The latter speaks for the interest of a great industry and a nation of consum,ers. The former speaks for Sam Randall’s seat in Congress. But it was not from Delaware alone that the voice of the mnnurer was heard as opposed to the mere theorist and politician’s organ. Mr. Rowland Hazard, of Peacedale, R. 1., who bears one of the most known and most honored

names* in the famous little mill State, writes: “I am very glad to see that practical workingmen n examining for themselves the protection theory and are reacliim u conclusion 1 have long held, ‘that to tax the materials with which he works is a very bad way u. the American laborer.’ ” Coni in*/ down to particulars and referring to the present Co) . b ■>, m foreign woolens, he says: “Nod, ing will check the importation * effectually ns a rise <n tin T .>. wool abroad. Such ar\ \. ,>uM follow nutting wool on the free list, for t :en all foreign market, would be Open to our competition. Prices would be equalized. The foreign spinner would have to pay as much jor the wool ns we paid. The woolen business would then be on a. safe and secure basis.” And Mr. Charles M. Beach, President of the Home Woolen Mills Company, of Hartford, Conn., writes:’ ‘ { , m truly in hen. y v .iiU your proposed movement for free wool, which I fully believe to be for the best interests of the wool grower as well as for the manufacturer, the workingman and the consumer of the goods-in other words, for the whole country.” And finally Mr. Charles S. Pairchild, Acting Secretary of the Treasury", who, of course speaks whereof he knows, writes: “One who reads the letters written upon the subject of wool and woolens in reply to the inq dries by Mr. Manning, and published by him, must ieel that the efforts of many years to ’create prosperity by means of excessive .duties have sadly failed.” There is no getting around such evidence as this. Tt is worse than useless- -it is ridiculous to try to evade it with the old cry that the high tariff, is the only salvation of 'rrmrieni! labor from pauperism. 1 leg of uommy has tost its u. I lie prooi that it lias is • e it ■ y oo wool • .-r Pminsylvaivja no long rb !i in it. - A e >*’ lor u I iii. , .

The National Greenback Labor Central Committee will meet at the Court House, in Rensselaer, Ind., on Saturday, the 20th day of -fune, 1880, at 2 o’clock, p. m., for the purpose of placing in nomiu aton a ounty Ticket, and to transact auy oth *r business which may properly come before said committee. A full attendance is requested. W. E. Moore, Chairman N. C. L (.’ mi ——————— -♦ <*+ ■ - Through the liberality of the citizens of Lafayette it has been made possible for the Indiana Legion to go into camp for instruction at the Tippecanoe County Fair Grounds, from July 26 to August 2, inclusive. In addition to which there will be a grand prize drill, open to all comers, for a prize of &1,000. In additi >n to these, prizes are_ offered to the State militia, making an aggregate of $3,600 to be offered for competition, including the above free for all. The Encampment will be under strict military regulations, exhibiting every phase of a soldier’s life in the field Ex-Sheriff John \V. Powell lias leased the Halloran Livery and Feed Stables, and respectfully solicits a liberal share of the public patronage. The new display of Goods, selected and bought by such a combination of experience and taste as Mr. and Mrs. Ludd Hopkins may justly claim to have, will certainly sell at the prices offered. It i* a notorious fact that Leopold gives greater bargains than any other house in town. Call and examine for yourself. ■ Special prizes are offered for the largest two G. A. R. posts in the the line of march, for the best uniformed post in attendance, and for leader of best band in attendance on .the Encampment, Lafayette, July 29,1886.