Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1892 — Senator Vest's Broadilde. [ARTICLE]

Senator Vest's Broadilde.

Tariff items of late are not entirely satisfactory to Bepublicans who worship at the shrine of “Protection." The Democrats have boldly declared that the system is a superstition and a sham. The Prohibitionists have done the same; and the Alliance and Labor platform will follow suit. Something must be done to stem the tide setting in against “Protection." Bepublicans must not be content with trying to refute “free trade" and “Cobden Club lies," but must do some aggressive work themselves. Spurred on by such sentiments as these Senator Hale, on July 28. concluded to “force the fighting, ” and as a prelude to his challenge to the Democrats, he recited that at “no time has so large a proportion of the American people been employed at so high wages and purchasing the necessities and comforts of life at so low prices as in the year 1892." Then he proceeded to shoot at the wicked Democrats as recklessly as a boy with a new pop-gun shoots at flies. After firing blank charges at “British doctrine,” “balance of trade,” “high prices,” “low wagos,” etc., and triumphantly announcing that “the Eepublicans of the United States gladly accept the issue presented,” he sat down ignorant of the fact that every shot had hit a hornet’s nest Tariff reformers of late have not been satisfied with mere theoretical reasoning, no matter how well founded their theories may be. They have taken the trouble to collect some facts to substantiate their claims. Senator Vest happened to have a desk full of these unEepublican things. He had, in the first place, twenty-one samples of dry goods —coat linings, women’s and children’s dress goods, cotton sheets, corduroys, etc. —prepared by a big New York merchant, showing that these goods, though the foreign price has declined since 1890, are sold higher here now than then —in some cases 20 per cent, higher. In the second place he had a few facts in regard to the increased duty on pearl buttons, cutlery, tin plate, etc., and the increased prices on the same. Next he had a list prepared by J. Schoenhof, exConsul to Tunstall, England, giving the labor cost of producing thirty-nine articles in America and England—the cost in all but eight cases being lower in this country, in spite of our higher wages. Then he had a list of one hundred tariff trusts, prepared by Hon. John De Witt Warner, of the Beform Club, and just printed as a supplement to the New York World. H also had a list of 250 wage reductions, strikes, etc., in protected industries since October, 1890, prepared by the same gentleman for Beform Club use, and to be printed when completed in the New York Weekly World.

Loaded with these and similar facts, Senator Vest did some cannonading that silenced the Bepublican popguns. After he had poured out enough of these facts to fill thirty pages of the Congressional Becord, and the smoke of battle began to clear away, Senator Hale found courage to say to Vest that they had trusts in England also and that “before this debate closes, the demonstration will be given to the Senate showing his inaccuracy.” Senator Vest inquired, “why not give it now’” But Hale’s ammunition'was out, and he was compelled to retreat, saying “that was npt my original purpose." Perhaps he will bring more ammunition and renew the battle. Perhaps he will prepare a list of 250 increases of wages in protected industries sinoe the McKinley bill became a law. Perhaps he will write up one hundred trusts in England that have raised prices there—from 25 to 50 per cent.—and that sell goods cheaper to foreigners than at home. Perhaps he will produce several hundred foreign manufacturers and merchants to testify that they are regularly paying our tariff taxes. Perhaps he will bo able to show that we are making all our own tin-plate and that the price is lower than ever before. Perhaps he will demontstrate’that a duty on moonshine would build up a green cheese industry here. Just now, however, he admits his weakness and lack of facts on these points.