Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1891 — Page 3

SHEET-IRON PROTECTED

TRUE INWARDNESS OF THE TIN-PLATE DUTY. Xt Was Pat On to Help the Galvan ised Iron Men-What Senator Aldrich Said —Roofing Iron and Tin Plate Prices Compared—Our Tin Plate Kxperiment Too Costly. One of the main reasons why the McKinleyites put a high tariff on tin plate was to protect the American makers of galvanized iron for roofing purposes. Indeed, this purpose was boldly proclaimed by Senator Aldrich in his report on the Senate tariff bill in 1888. The Rhode Island Senator said in that report: “The free admission of iron and steel sheets •of all thicknesses and widths coated with tin or lead, would cause a substitution of imported tin or terne plates in most •cases for roofing and other building purposes, and for domestic uses, where galvanized or other sheet iron or steel Is now used.” The duty which Senator Aldrich was then defending by such frank humbug, amounted to 2.20 cents per pound, the duty which was finally put into effect in the McKinley law. The purpose of the McKinleyitos being to encourage the use of sheet iron for roofing instead of tin, which is better and cheaper, the higher duty and consequent higher price of tin has already begun to boom the sheetiron business. It is announced in the trade papers that the Garry Iron and Steel Rooung Company of Cleveland, Ohio, has “an exceedingly fine trade for this time of the year. ” They are said to have “a large number orders ahead,” and they are exporting their goods to Mexico, South America and other foreign countries. This latter fact makes it pertinent to ask why was it necessary to tax tin plates in order to help the roofing men when they able to export their products? If they were not able to hold the home market against foreign roofing tin, already taxed 1 cent a pound, or equal to 35 per cent, of its value, how can they export their rooiiing metal and sell it in foreign markets in competition with the same tin plates? Do they sell their products abroad at lower prices than to American consumers as other American manufacturers generally do? The demand of the sheet iron men to be protected from tin plates has a flood of light thrown upon it by comparing the prices of their product with those of tin plates for the past five years The avbrage wholesale price of galvanized sheet iron of the thickness known as •No. 27 wire gauge” since 1886 has been 5.87 cents per pound; while the average Import price of roofing tin, No. 28 wire gauge, for the same time has been only 3.19 cents. This is a difference of 2.68 cents a pound, while the McKinley duty on all kinds of tin plates is 2.20 cents a pound. These figures suggest the very pertinent question, How are our manufacturers going to make tin plates and sell them at lower than present foreign prices, according to the confident boast of the protectionists, when our homemade galvanized iron itself has been selling at prices so far above foreign prices? From these figures, too, it is clear that Mr. Niedringhaus’ partner in his St. Louis concern was about right when he saw that McKinley’s duty of 2.20 cents was not high enough, and that a duty of at least 4 cents was needed to establish a domestic tin-plate Industry. American consumers have already paid at least 415,000,000 extra for their tin plates since last fall by reason of the rise in prices caused by the McKinley •duty. This was the expensive result of the tin-plate duty during the six or eight months before it took effect. What will the consumers think of the added cost Imginning with the application of the new duty itself on July 1? Are we not paying rather dearly to protect our roof-ing-iron industry?

They Dread the American Farmer.

McKinley tried to humbug the farmers t>y raising the duties on wheat, corn and .most other farm products, under the pretense that such duties would help them to realize better prices. He belittled the farmers’ foreign market and tried to make it appear that the best thing for our farmers would be to withdraw from their foreign market. At least such is the only possible meaning of the following words, which McKinley put into his report accompanying the tariff bill: “The ‘world's market,’ to which the Advocates of tariff for revenue only Invite the farmers of this country, is to•day crowded which the products of the -cheapest human labor the earth affords. All over the old world there is a rush of their surplus to that market, and it is to such a contest as this that free trade ■would allure American agriculture.” But American agriculture is and has been for years “alluded to such a contest as this,” and even now the foreign demand for our agricultural products is causing prices to rise in the home market in a way to rejoice the American farmer's heart. This same American farmer is a dreaded force in ail the farming districts of Europe. The following item has just been going the rounds of our agricultural papers: “The Austrian grain growers, through ■the official report of the Vienna Agricultural Congress, declare and complain •that ‘the grain exporting capacity of Russia and extra European countries is the source of a calamity affecting the whole of Central Europe.’ ” America is the only one among the •“extra European countries” which cuts Any great figure in Europe's grain market, and it is the American farmers to which the Austrian grain growers referred as their competitors Are not McKinley s duties on farm products the greatest humbug that anybody has ever attempted to palm off mp«n the farmer?

The Twine Trust Still Prospers.

When it was proposed last year to make a slight reduction in the bindertwine duty, the twine men signed a paper And sent it in hot haste to Washington, saying that if the proposed duty should be adopted they would be compelled to rshut down their mills. Their alarm was still greater when fifteen Northwestern .Republican Senators united with the Democrats and voted to put twine on the ■free list After a great amount of lobbying by ■the trust and certain Republican politicians, backed up by leading high-tariff journals with profuse and picturesque abuse of men who had voted for free twine, a part of the duty was saved, The old duty on manlla' twine was cents a pound, •and an sisal twine 33* cents. The trust succeeded in saving 7-10 of 1 cent from “the wicked Democrats and Northwestern

Republican Senators. This dtlty : was less than one-third of the duty which the trust had said would close up its works. Now; what is the result? The farmers are buying their twine this year at much lower prices than last year; and is the trust meanwhile shutting up its mills? On the contrary, it has just been announced by a high-tariff organ that the trust has bought the eight cordage works of Canada for $4,000,000. Moral: When a tariff-protected industry threatens to die if you cut down its protection, it is very likely lying.

Three-Cornered Trading.

The West Indies and South America sell us from three to seven times as much goods as we sell them. These goods, over and above our exports to those countries, are paid for by European nations in their manufactured articles, anu we square matters with Europe by shipping our farm products and manufactures there in payment of our debts in the West Indies and South America. We swap debts, but in swapping there is always a certain per cent, lost in charges for biils of exchange, and through this cumbersome, three-angled transportation. Freights aro lowest and trade consequently most profitable where there are ready cargoes for both ways. A regular steamship lino is, in fact, dependent upon this regularity of cargo going and coming As matters stand much of the traffic is done by the socalled tramp steamers, which go everywhere, according as they can get cargoes. But wljy this three-cornered shipping? Why not the direct trade entirely? In answer to that question, the protective tariff must be called into the witness box. The tariff duty on raw materials prevents our manufacturers from competing in many kinds of goods in foreign markets, and there is no large demand for our farm products in West Indian and South American countries, they being themselves agricultural countries. Besides, the tariff prevents a large movement of European gobds into our markets, and as Europe takes enormous quantities of our cotton, corn, wheat, flour, meats, etc., cargoes moving out are always much larger than those coming in. Hence European ships which take away our farm products are only too glad to carry cargoes of manufactured goods to the West Indies and South America, and then take in cargoes of sugar and rubber for New York.

Rose Insects.

A little aphis or green fly is the worst insect enemy of the rose, and the rose grower must be always alert to destroy this pest. Whale-oil soap in water, one pound to eight gallons, is very commonly used for the purpose. The liquid is best applied with a garden syringe. A very excellent mixture for this use is as follows: Take four ounces of quassia chips, boil ten minutes in a gallon of soft water; strain off the chips and add four ounces of soft soap, which should be dissolved in it as it cools, stirring it before using. In half an hour after using either of tho above liquids the plants should be well syringed with clear water, which will wash the foliage clean. The whale-oil soap solution is effective against the red spider, which sometimes infests rose-bushes, and also the b'ack slug. One of the most annoying little insects is the rose-hopper, or thrips, yellowish white, very active, jumping from place to place. It goes in little swarms and works on the under side of the leaves and can do a great deal of damage in a little time. Syringing the under side of the leaves with water in which is mixed insect powder—-pyre-thrum —has the effect to lessen their ravages. Although the rose needs some attention, yet it will repay it with beautiful bloom, and what care it needs it must have. Many years’ experience enables us to say that the rose, when its requirements are understood, is not a difficult plant to manage, and that many plants are given more care and make far less returns for it— Vick's Magazine.

A Compensating Duty.

Have you ever heard of a “compensating duty?” A compensating duty is this: Woolen goods, for example, bear two duties, so much per cent, ad valorem and so much per pound additional. The reason given for this is that the ad valorem duty is protection against foreign goods of the same kind, and that the duty by the pound is to make good to the manufacturer the duty he had paid on raw wcol. It is “compensation” to him for that outlay; the manufacturer himself regards it as such, and always insists on having the “compensating duty” maintained. . Now, if the foreigner pay 3 the fax, why do the protectionists vote a “compensating duty” to the manufacturer? Ought they not in justice to vote it back to the foreigner if it is to “compensate” anybody at all? It is clear that the McKinleyites themselves do not believe in their time worn assertion, “the foreigner pays the tax.”

Call ornia Gets Cheaper Sugar.

For some time after the sugar tax was removed the people of California got no benefit fiom the removal, for the reason that Claus Spreekels, the great California sugar king, had made an arrangement with the sugar trust to keep up prices. More recently, however, refined sugar from Hong Kong and the Philippine Islands has been coming to the Pacific States in considerable quantities, this importation being possible under the fialf-cent duty on refined sugar; and this foreign sugar has compelled the domestic monopolists to reduce their prices. The free importation of foreign goods would be the death of American trusts and monopolies. That is why ail trusts are in favor of “protection to American industry. ” lx New South Wa’es, the free-trade colony of Australia, farm laborers get an average of $225 a year with food and lodging, or nearly twice as much as was paid thirty years ago. In the United States our protectionists have the cheek to claim that protection makes wages higher even on the farm. Wages are doubtless higher with us than they were some years ago, but if farm wages doubled in New South Wales without protection, how can the increase here be due to protection? Ix the United States there are six acres of farming land and 9.8 acres of forest land per capita of the entire population; while in Great Britain each person represents only 1.38 acres of farming land and .07 of forest (i e., seven acres of forest for each 100 persons). This difference in the density of population Is persisently ignored by protectionists, who can see no cause for higher wages with us except the tariff. Protectionists givo themselves needless alarm when we buy more abroad than we tel! there, and hence they ad-

’ vance a high tariff to keeper pqqple from being ruined by what they call an ! “unfavorable balance of trade.” But people do net need that the Government j tell them when they are doing a losing ■ business. Every separate article sold j by us in Europe is bargained for by two j intelligent merchants. Neither of these j can ship a penny's worth without the j consent of the other. Tho old saying | holds true that it takes two to make a ! bargain; and it may be added that these two can make their bargain more satisfactorily between themselves than it can be made when some other power intermeddles.

A M’KINLEY TRUST.

THE WHIP MAKERS TO ENJOY M'KINLEYISM. Organised lir Tariff Spalls and Whip* Are Higher than Ever—Closing Out Petty Rivals—A Mo topoly es Materials—What Will Labor Get?—Tariffs and Trusts Akin. Another McKinley trust has come to light. It is a whip trust. Last year the McKinleyites raised the duty on whips, and now the whip manufacturers have combined to take possession of what was so freely given them. The* whip makers do not understand what protection means if it does not mean higher prices; they know of no other way to realize what Maj. McKinley calls the “beneficiencies” of protection, than through higher prices. Hence it is announced that whips are already higher now than ever before, and one of the monopolists adds, “with a chance of a rise in price as the stock grows scarce. ” This enterprising infant trust has provided, moreover, that stocks shall “run scarce. ” The trust got control of the rattan market and shut off tho smaller whip concerns from their supply of this indispensable material. Without rattan whips cannot be made; and with the smaller whip factories closed up and their workman out of employment, where dees labor come for its portion of the blessings which were to follow McKinley’s increased duties on whips? Labor simply gets left once more, and as usual a grasping monopoly pockets the tariff plums. The whip trust is a McKinley trust Under the old tariff whips covered with leather were taxed in a general “basket clause” at 30 per cent ; but this “basket clause” of the leather schedule was pushed up by McKinley to 35 per cent. Most whips, howev-r, are covered with flax, and here McKinley got in more of his “basket clause” work, by which whips of this kind were made dutiable at 50 per cent., in place of the old duty of 40 per cent. Tho McKinleyites have no right to condemn the whip trust. This trust, like all the tariff trusts, is simply a means by which to harvest the tariff ulums. The purpose of a protective tariff is to enab'e protected interests to chargo higher prices for thei&goods, since this is the only possible way in which protection can protect But a trust seeks to bring about precisely the same result. Tho trusts themselves understand perfectly that they are working to accomplish, by combination, exactly tho same thing that protection aims at by socalled legal methods. President Havemoyer, of the sugar trust, blurted out this kinship between protection and trusts last year when certain high-tariff organs were assailing that great monopoly. Here aro the frank and honest words of the sugar king: “The great cry of one of the great parties is for protection; that is, they cry for it loudly during campaigns. But when we proceed to give ourselves some protection a howl is raised. They demand protection for the industries. When an industry protects itself it is said that it is illegal.”

Remember.

The sun gives 600,000 times as much light as the full moon: seven billion times as much as the brightest star in the sky, and thirty-six million times as much as all the stars combined; in size the sun equals 1,300,000 earths, but owing to its smaller density its weight oquais only 500,000 earths. The organs of smell in the turkey vulture and c&rrion crow are so delicate that they can scent their food for a distance of forty miles. The period of “a genorat'on” has been lengthened; It used to be thirty years, and was later increased to thirty-four. Now a scientist says the average term of human life has increased in the last fifty years from thirty-four to forty-two years. In the photograph of the heavens, in course of preparation in the Paris observatory, it is calculated that 64,000,000 of stars will bo represented. In the nebulae of the Lyre, M. Bailland took a photograph, four by five and a half inches, which revealed to the naked eye 4,800 stars. An English astronomer states that the oldest historical record of a solar eclipse is in Homer's Iliad, xvii. 367. —Current Literature.

Evidenty Earns His Pay.

Lexington, Ga., has a town marshal well equipped for his duties. A few davs ago, it is said, ho had occasion to arrest three evildoers in a bunch. He gathered ono under each arm, their legs dangling in the air, and drove the third along in front, and in that way proceeded to the calaboose, where all three prisoners were locked up. Protectionists are nevor weary of pointing to the English working classes as a proof of the bad effects of “British free trade” and of the superlative wisdom of the American system of protection. Let them answer this question: How does it happen that forty years ago, when England began her present policy, she had one pauper to every twentythree of her population, and that now there is only ono pauper to every fortyone? And how does it appear that in the same period, the ratio of paupers to the whole number of people in the United States has increased? Woolex hosiery and underwear costing 30 cents a pound started out 100 years ago with a protective duty of 5 per cent. These goods have gradually climbed up the protective ladder till now, McKinley having put on a duty of over 200 per cent When do stockings cease to need protection? Is this a decent way for our stockings to celebrate a century of protection? Five students of the California State University, at Berkeley, caused a surprise to the professors, the other night, by hoisting a beer-barrel to the flagstaff. Brooding can change a grat into a cameL

BOIES THEIR BEST MAN.

THE DEMOCRATS OF lOWA SO DECLARE. His Name I* Again. Put a* the Head of the Tieket with a Whoop—Si* lifioant Hints of ’93—The Platform Adopted—Prohibition, McKtnleylsm, and Trusts Denounced—All the Speeches Marked with Fearless Dignity and Keoeived with Unbounded Enthusiasm. What Is probably destined to be the most decisive campaign oxer waged for political supremacy in the State of lowa opened at Ottumwa when Chairman Charles D, Fuller wrapped to ordcrl,ooo of the most enthusiastic Democrats ever assembled in convention in the Hawkoye State. Quieting the crowd was a slow process, and there was considerable confusion when Rov. J. H. Lloyd arose to pronounce the invocation. It was a Democratic prayer throughout, and when the modest supplicant besought the divine power to inspire the Democratic heart with an appreciative sense of the truth of the maxim, “A public office is a public trust, * there was a reverberation of subdued applauso from parquet to gallory, which broke into a tumultuous roar as tho “Amen” sounded and tho band burst forth xvith the strains cf the “Star Spangled Banner. ” Chairman Fuller then introduced Mayor J. R. Burgess, who tendered tho freedom of the city to the visiting del agates. Tho welcome was brief but cordial. The Mayor promised thorn tho largest measure of personal liberty consistent with good order. Tho visitors would b 9 permitted to do anything loss than a penitentiary offense, and “official justice would bo tempered with money.” This witty insinuation that tho prohibitory law cuts very little figure in Ottumwa

GOVERNOR BOIES.

was greeted with laughter and applauso. Chairman Fuller then announced the action of tho committee in tho selection of the temporary officers as follows: Chairman, Waiter U. Butler, of Fayette County; Secretary, Alexander Charles, of Linn County: Assistant Secretaries, Daniel Shea, of Winneshiek County; F. C, Clark, of Montgomery County; H. 11. Cooke, of Crawford County; Roland Clark, of Led County; Reading Secretary, M. J. Wade, of Johnson County; Official Reporter, Clell Q. Thorpe, of Lucas County; Sergeant-at-arms, A. J. Mader, of Wapello County. Tho selections of the committee were promptly ratiflod and Temporary Chairman Butler was introduced and began the delivery of his address. He spoke with clearness and deliberation, was heard In all parts of the house, and his address was well received. His allusion to Governor Boles as an available candidate for the Presidency met a hearty response from the convention. One farmer from Polk County shouted; “No second p ace for Horace,” and cries of “That’s so” resounded from a 1 parts of tho house. At tho conclusion of tho address tho roli of Congressional districts xvas called and the various committees were appointed, after which tho convention adjourned until 2 p. m. Upon reassembling the Committee on Credentials made their report at once, showing that all the counties except Winnebago were fully represented and that some had sent double delegations. A short time after this report had been adopted the Winnebago >8 put in an appearance, thus completing the ninoty-ulne counties, with a total of 1,033 delegates. Tho Committee on Permanent Organization then reported, recommending W. H. M. Pusey, of Council Bluffs, formerly member of Congress from tho Ninth District, for permanent Chairman, and that the temporary Secretaries bo made permanent. The report met with no opposition and Mr. Pusey was Introduced, and on taking the chair delivered an address that aroused tho delegates to enthusiasm, ind the ex-Congressman was often applauded to tho echo. The Committee on resolutions not being ready to report, tho nomination for Governor was called. Col. Charles A. Clark, of Cedar Rapids, was recognized by tho Chair, and mounting tho platform proceeded to place the name of Governor Boies before the convention. It was at the conclusion of Col. Clark's brilliant address that the most enthusiastic incident of tho day occurred. Just as the final words were uttered an Invisible device from behind the scenes xvas touched, and a huge banner suddenly dropped into sight displaying the portrait and familiar features of Gov. Boles. Tho effect was instantaneous upon the audience. One mighty cheer arose, as Col Clark turned with a graceful gesture to the portrait and said, “Democrats, salute your chief,” the enthusiasm was almost without bounds. Mayor F.'cke, of Davenport, seconded the nomination of Gov. Boies, and in alluding to the lowa leader as one xvho was destined to a place on the national ticket again aroused tho deafening enthusiasm of the convention. Senator J. H. Shields, of Dubuque, who had the honor of first nominating Boies for tho Governorship two years ago, also secondod the nomination. “There will be a Presidential election In 1892,” said he, in conclusion, “and who is there to say that he who has carried his followers to the verge of the promised land may not then carry his followers to the very heart of ft—you know what I mean?” Somebody moved that Gov. Boies bo declared the nominee bv acclamation. “Let everybody rise,” said the Chairman. Simultaneously 1,500 cheering democrats arose to their feet, and oven the ladies in the boxes caught'the spirit afid joined in the enthusiasm by rising and waving their fans and handkerchiefs. Tho band struck up “O.d Lang Syne,” and the announcement cf the Chairman

that Bales was the unanimous nomtnse ot the convention was never heart! amid the cheers which the familiar melody called forth. For Lieutenant Governor, J. A. Penlclt of Lucas County, placed In nomination the candidate of two years ago, t-amuel L. Bestow of Chariton, and several other Democrats seconded the nomination. Tbero was a disposition to declare Mr. Bestow the nominee by acclamation, but there were loud cries of “Whiting, Whiting,” and Mr. Millor of Carroll filially placed in nomination E. C. Whiting of Mona County. Instantly Representative Kollyof the SiourVUy 'l'ribini' jumped to his feet and protested against Mr. Whiting being drawn into tho contest. lie read a letter from that gentleman in xvhich a strong desire was expressed that his name be not mentioned in the convention, since it had become apparent that he could not bo nominated xvithout opposition. As the personal friend of Mr. Whiting the Sioux City editor requested that his name be withdrawn, and Mr. Miller finally xvithdrow the nomination of E. C. Whiting. Samuel L. Bestow of Chariton xvas then nominated by acclamation for Lieutenant Governor, and returned his thanks in a brief speech. For the office of Supremo Judge it was clearly manifested that thore would be a sharp contest. Hardly had this nomination boon doclared In order before a mammoth wreath was sent to the stage bearing the initials, “B. B. B.” These initials suggested the names of Boles, Bestow aud Brannan, the ticket of txvo years ago, and was intended to stampede tho convention to William P. Brannan of Muscatine for Supremo Judge. It failed of Its purpose, however, for no less than four gentlemen wore placed in nomination for Supreme Judge. The Hon. Benjamin Hall, ox-Congrossman and ox-Cominlss!onor of Patents under tho C.evoland administration, nominated L. G. Kinne of Tama Coqnty; John F. Craig, Mayor of Keokuk, nominated Henry Banks of Keokuk; D. P. S. Stubbs of Fairfield nominated E. L. Burton of Wapollo County, and C. W. Van Horne of Muscatine and Congressman Walter S. Hayes of Clinton nominated William F. Brannan of Muscatine. Tho roll of counties was called and L. G. Kinne of Toledo, Tama County, was nominated on the first ballot, the vote being: Kinne, G18>»; Brannan, Burton, 144 J-g, and Banks, 7(5. On motion Mr. Kinne’s nomination was made unanimous.

For Superintendent of Public Instruction the candidates wore J. B. Knooflor of Allamakee County, O. J. Tylandor of Poweshiek County, W. S. Wilson of Sheldon County and S. F. Healer of Bremer County. William A. Croan, President of tho Western Normal College, xvho has been tho unrelenting opponent of tho Amorlcan school-book trust and its monopoly of the School-Book trade in lowa, withdrew from the contest on account of Samuel L. Bestow of tho same congressional district having already been nominated for Lieutenant Govornor. Had ho remained in the race •the contest would have been one of the features of the convention, as tho agents of tho trust were working diligently to secure his defeat The roll being finally called, J. B. Knoefler was nominated on the first ballot. Tho candidates for Railroad Commissioner were Peter A. Dey of Johnston County, Michael Gray of Pocahontas and L. I). Hotchkiss, of Davis County. Doy was nominated on the first ballot, An attempt was made to appoint six State Central Commltteemen-at-large, but tho resolution was laid on tho tublo. The groatost Interest was manifested In tho report of tho Committee on Resolutions. The platform as finally presented contained tho silver clause of last year and xvas unanimously adopted without discussion. Tho p'atform is as follows: As a signal illustration of the public good to be secured by letting the oiiloe seek tho man, wo congratulate the people of Xowa upon the pure, able, and fearless administration of our present distinguished Chief Executive, Horace Boles. We demand the repeal of the prohibitory liquor law and in the Interests of true temperance we favor the passage of a carefully guarded license-tax law which shall provide for tue issuance of licenses in towns, townships, and municipal corporations, and whiuh shall provide that for eaoh license au annual tax of SJ,O bo paid into the County Treasury and such further tax as the town, township, or municipal corporation shall provide, the prooeeds thereof to go to the use of such municipalities. We favor such changes in our laws as will insure, uuder stringent penalties, full and equal taxation of evory species of property after allowing the present exemptions as fixed by law, and xve demaud slriet economy and honesty in the expenditure of all public moneys taken from the substance of the people under any form or guise of taxation. We iavor the Australian system of voting, to the end that we may have an honest ballot, xv e denounce the ltepubllcan i>arty for the defeat of this salutary reform in the Twenty-third General Assembly, in defiance of a popular vote in its favor and in the face of its adoption by so many of our sister States, with the undeniable result of securing a pure and untrammuled ballot. We reaffirm our adherence to the dootrine of the control and regulation of tallroads as now enacted into law, and we favor such changes as experience may show to be necessary to protect the people from evasions of law, from encroachments and extortions through imperfections of the law, and as will establish just and equitable relations between the people and railroad corporations in all travel and traffic over railway We denounce all trusts, pools and combines and we favor such action, State and national, as will forfeit to the public all franchises and proierty made use of by corporations or others to form trusts in manufactures, trade or commerce to tho injury and spoliation of the people, and also to insure the punishment criminally of the individuals thus conspiring against the public weal. The Democratic party declares that in the division of the product of labor and capital labor does not reoeive its fair proportion. On bebalf of our laboring and producing masses we renew that devotion to their interests and rights which has always been a fundamental doctrine and practice of the Democratic party. We are in favor of the election of United States Senators by a direct vote of the people, ‘ and until an amendment to the National Constitution can be secured requiring tbeir election by such direct vote, tbeir nomination by Slate c.nventious or lndlvidnal preference. We reiterate our demand of one year ago for the free coinage of silver, and that it be made ftr'.l legal feeder for all debts, public and private, i.nd denounce as unjust and dishonest the provision of the law recently enacted allow lag parties to stipulate against payment lu silver and silver certificates, thus setting up one standard for the creditor and another (or the debtor: one for the poor man and another for the rich man. We again acknowledge the great debt of gratitude the nation owes to the soldiers and sailors of the Union, and we declare in favor of jnat, liberal and equitable pension laws for all invalid and dependent soldier* and sailors, their widows and orphans. We denounce the McKinley law, the motives of Its authors and defenders, and the theory under wbich ft It submitted for the approval of the American people. Buch legislation increases the cost of the necessaries of life, promotes dishonest manufactures, trusts, and combines, creates aeolional envy, despoils the many for the benefit of the few, threatens the country with an aristocracy baaed upon ill-gotten gain, and, above all, corrupts the politics of the country so as to seriously endanger the perpetuity of popular government. We demand equal opportunities for every section of the country, and tor every citizen, and we insist that every oppressive feature of the tariff be.ellminated, to the end ttasfc' our merchant marine may be Ifestored to the sea and tbe markets of the world opened to the producing classes. Tbe sugar bounty ia not tariff. It is spoliation of the treasury for special classes and Interests which are no more entitled to be aided by tbe Government than tbe farmers of lowa in raising hogs and corn, or- the plonoer settlers of the frontier

ih their hardships and sufferings as the vat*! guard of civilization. We denounce the wasteful and lavish appropriations of the last Congress, which In time of profound? peace expended an amount equal, to one-third of tbe total public debt Incurred in four yoars of unparalleled war for tee preservation of the Union. This $1,000,000,000 Congress marks the final effort of desperate politicians to perpetuate themsolves in power by subsidizing classes, communities, special interests, and privileged individuals from the public funds, whioh should be a sacred trust to be administered solely for the necessities of the Government. But while weoonoedetherigbtof the relatives of our naturalized citizens to inherit lands, and the righto! foreign investors end creditors to hold for a reasonable period laud acquired in the collection of debt, aud while we welcome the actual settler as au owner upon bis filing a declaration of his intention to beoome a citizen, xve are nevertheless unalterably opposed to the non-resldeutallen ownership ot land and of foreign syndicate ownership of our industries ; and we also demand that all unearned railroad land grants be reclaimed by the General Government and held for actual settlement. We tender the Irish people onr profound sympathy in their struggle for home-rule, that safeguard of freedom which tho infamous force bill attempted to take from the American people in Congressional elections. We abhor the persecutions of Bussia toward the Jewish people, andt we believe that all civilized nations should protest against snoh barbarism and inhumanity. We ara in hearty sympathy with the efforts being put-forth to moke a creditable exhibit of lowa's resources at the World’e Columbian Exposition, anil we favor a liberal appropriation by the next General Assembly, that the prosperity and greatness may be fully exemplified at the great gathering of the nations of the world. * For the Indorsement of these principles and for the election ot State officers and a legislature in support of them we appeal to tne conscleuoes, the intelligence and the Judgment of our fellow-citizens, irrespective of their former parly affiliations.

Ohio Democratic Convention.

Tho Ohio Democratic State Central Committee decided to hold the next convention at Cleveland July 14 and 15. The apportionment for delegates waa made on tho vote cast for Secretary of State last fall, which xvlll make the convention const-1 of 700 delegates. Tho Hamilton County members of #he committee voted against this basis of apportionment and favored tho vote of two years ago as a basis of representation. Temporary officers of tho convention were selected as follows: Chairman, Allen \V. Thurman; Secretary, Thomas J. Cogan, Cincinnati; Assistants, Georgo C. ltels of Sandusky, E.. J. Duor of Millorsburgh; Sorgeant-at-anns, Peter Wider of Dayton. Gov.| Campbell mot with littlo opposition In tho committee outside of Hamilton County.

Chewing Gum.

The fine distinctions required by legal definitions frequently threaten confusion, even when the facts appear to be perfectly clear. There is no robm for doubling the inconvenience and danger which may arise freyn the accumulation of a mass of paraffine wax in the intestines; and yet when any legal interference with the Bale of chexving gum, containing 50 per cent, of this substance, is attempted, the charming uncertainties and quibbles wbich arise are more amusing than edifying. In a recent prosecution at the Hanley Borough Police Court it was first contended that the fourteenth section of the Food and Drugs Act, whioh relates to the division of the substance in the presence of the seller at the time of purchase, had not been complied with. Thou it was submitted that the article was not one of food, since it was sold simply for chewing. Then it was suggested that as sweets ate so utterly indefinite in their composition, it waß impossible to deal with them as ordinary articles of food. And the climax was reuched in the cot»4o»tion that it was not sold to the prejudice of the purchaser, as the complainant said he did not intend to eat it. This was extremely ingonious, but the purchaser happened to be the inspector of nuisances, who was merely collecting evidence. The case ended with the imposition of a fine, on the ground that the substance was sold to the prejudice of the purchaser, inasmuch as it was not in the nature of the substance and quality of the article demanded by the purchaser, who asked for gum and got paraffine wax. If the case is ever taken to a higher ocrart, it is quite possible that it may be argued that tue complainant did not ask for “gum,” but for “chewing gum;” that he did not get “paraffine wax,” but only 50 per cent, of “paraffine wax,” and the remaining 50 per cent, of unknown ingredients, which sufficiently bring the substance within Ihe legal meaning of “chewing gum.” But what is “chewing gum V* The following definition might be suggested : A substance of very variable composition, ignorantly employed by by children, which, when containing paraffine wax, may lead to very grave dangers, and the sale of which should prohibited. —London Lancet.

An Oriental Joke.

The Oriental races are not -without a sense of humor, which ia often of a very grim sort. A European traveler, who was visiting the court of the Imam of Muscat not long ago, relates the following : I had heard that no ruler of Muscat for the last hundred years had died a natural death, and was interested when, in our conversation, the Imam himself introduced the matter of this extraordinary fatality among the sovereigns of his country. “Is it true,” I ventured to ask, “that no Imam for a hundred years has died in his bed ?" “Certainly not,” said he, w ith a perfectly grave face. “Let me see—four of them have diod in bed.” “And they were not assassinated, then V" “Well,” he said, “it is true that they were found under the mattress instead of on top of it, but they unquestionably died in bed." They had been smothered by their heirs apparent. Five boys were arrested by the police in Boston the other day on the charge of breaking into a carpenter shop and stealing $1.50 in ooppers. They used the carpenter’s tools in the shop to try to break open the safe. When the police made an examination of the premises they found a book entitled, “How to Break Safes,” which had been left in the shop by the boyburglars. ' The man who has neither money nor the inclination to travel become the cashier of a bank, and perhaps ha would soon have both. Alabama now comes to the front .with ■> story,,,about t£e death of a oolored woman who wat one hundred and fifty-six years old.