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The Commoner.
14
VOLTOIE B, -jMDER
STRONG LIGHT ON -TARIFF BUNCOMBE
Knfhlnir In recent years has so
stirred political circles as Secretary
Taft's order to purchase abroad sup
'plies for tho Panama Canal in order
;to avoid tho exorbitant prices which
tariff protected trusts in tho United
' States havo placed upon their pro
ducts. . Republican editors are greatly dis
turbed by tho Taft order, although
some of them, notably the New York
..Tribune, makes a bravo attempt to
. have tho dose prepared by Sepretary
Taft seem a wholesome one. Tho
; Tribune says that tho objection made
t? to the Taft order is "the kind of
stand-patism which reduces itself to
absurdity."
The St. Louis Globe-Democrat does
not attempt to conceal its disgust, and
declares that tho Taft policy will
"reduce American labor to tho level
of the pauper labor of Europe."
Tho Now York Press is particular
ly bitter, and referring to tho Taft
i order takes a fling ovon at Mr. uoosc-
velt in this way:
' "Wo protest because it is an arbl-
. trary caucoling, by individuals, of the
will of the people. Wo protest be
cause it is a betrayal of tho republi-
j can party, charged by the American
. peoplo with tho guidance and admin
;" ' istration of their affairs. We protest
', because it Is treasonable against the
''-t citizens of tho United States and their
i joveroign will.
" "And wo submit that if any man, no
matter who ho be, persists in carrying
out this un-American and unfaithful
program until such time as congress,
acting for tho outraged people, shall
suspend his power to do things which
lie has no right to do, then the na
tional electorate shall bring against
him a further indictment to be an
swered at tho polls.
- x "And when the American people
have flxod their punishment for him
with tho official cast of their ballots
wo don't think there will bo enough
of his political existence left for mor
tal oyo to ceo it as anything btitT a
shadowy memory of a, .misguided past,
which closed, not it day too soon."
Tins 'Chicago Inter Ocean, hotly in
dignant, declares: "That is so mani
festly a reversal of American policy
that It is only necessary to state It
.to secure Its condemnation. As the
case stands there is no excuse."
Tho Boston Herald suggests tho
thought that is uppermost in the pub
lic mind when it says "WhetherPresl
dent Roosevelt is to succeed in split
ting his party in twain, as President
Cleveland may bo said to have di
vided the democracy, time alone can
show."
Tho Boston Transcript says that
- -' tho stand-pat policy and the Panama
policy "appear to have met In a head
on collision."
v Tho Philadelphia North American
says: "The railroads and steel trust
are of tho opinion that 'Big Bill' Taft
sits down harder ovon than his weight
seems to justify."
. .- The Philadelphia Record says that
tho public is shocked to learn that
the beneficiaries or high protection
are selling abroad at lower prices
than at home, and adds: "If the for
eigner can get low price's-and if the
government can, what justice is there
in permitting these beneficiaries to
exact high prices from American cit-'-
' izens?"
Tho Pittsburg Post predicts that
fvtho Taft order "will have a powerful
, effect In opening the eyes of the
people generally to the necessity of
tariff reform and the absurdity of
tho position of the stand-patters."
The Kansas City Times says that
everything is "un-American" which
prohibits the American trust from ex
acting two prices for commodities, and
that in the view of the trust magnate
"only a traitor without a spark of
patriotism can complain about being
compelled to pay tribute toward the
support of the trust system."
Tho New York World says:
'"When the government of the' United
States refuses to be held up by its
own tariff-fattened manufacturers it
is setting a most pernicious example
to its citizens. In fact, the stand
patters may justly charge the federal
government with inciting a revolt
against the Dingley schedules."
The Kansas City Times says: "Noth
ing else has happened to throw such
a strong light upon the tariff bun
combo 'as this Panama business."
The New York Times warns" the
stand-patters that they would better
go slow in adopting a home purchase
resolution, because such a course may
prompt Mr. Roosevelt "to take the
field for an active campaign in be
half of tariff reform."
Tho Wall Street Journal says that
tho Taft order was due to the "dis
covery" that American made goods
can be bought abroad cheaper than
at home.
The Indianapolis Sentinel says:
"The decision to buy materials for the
Panama Canal in the cheapest mar
ket does not leave the ultra-protectionists
a leg to stand on."
The New York Herald says: "If
it is a good thing for the government
to thus evade paying tariff tribute to
the trusts and multi-millionaire tariff
beneficiaries, why would it not be a
good thing for tho people?"
Tho Atlanta Constitution 'interprets
tho Taft order to mean that "tariff
revision is not enly dead, but that
under the chaperohage of President
Rooseyelf 'and Secretary Taft it is
bound to create all sorts of trouble in
the high tariff campaign."
The New York Herald prints this
dialogue:
"Father, if an 'open market' is good
for us in Panama, why isn't it the
thing for us fcere?"
"My son, necessity is the mother
of invention, a rolling stone gathers
no moss, and say, here is a half dol
lar. Go down to Coney and enjoy
yourself."
Here is another from the New York
Press:
"If the American people, who are
paying for thlj canal, pay the money
for its construction to Americans they
virtually pay it back to themselves.
The hundred million dollars paid
abroad would be taken from the peo
ple of the United States, who are pay
ing for the canal. The government
can obtain reasonable bids at home
by refusing to accept them if they
are excessive, as it did in the case
of warships. It ought to spend llie
money at home. If necessary congress
ought to compel this plan."
The New YorkJTribune finds it diffi
cult to justify its approval of the Taft
order with its high protective tariff
s
notions, but makes an interesting and
heroic effort in this way:
"There appears to be really no con
siderable argument against such a.
system of purchase. The principle
of the protective tariff in fidelity
to which we yield precedence to
none can not be effectively invoked
against it, for the reason that protec
tion is intended to preserve the home
market for the home producer and
the Panama canal is not a home mar
ket. We can not see, then, that it is
properly to be regarded as under the
rule of the protective system."
The St. Louis Republic says: "The
Situation as the protesting Mr. Gros
venor says, certamly furnishes a
theme for some interesting tariff dis
cussions. It gives tariff revision a
boom such as it has not had in years.
The action of the administration is a
repudiation of all the logic that has
ever been used in support of protec
tion. Tho government, as represented
by Messrs. Roosevelt and Taft, is
nothing less than a free trader. It is
a free trader when it comes to buy
but a stiff standpat protectionist when
the ruling party is working up cam
paign funds. The government quite
naturally rebels when It is confronted
with the exactions under which the
people have been made to suffer."
The New York Times says: "Has
President Roosevelt resolved, late
but firmly, to become the Richard
Cobden of the Dingley act? Certainly
Cobden, matchless - popular orator
that he was, and strong in the per
fect sincerity of his purpose, never
dealt the British corn laws a more
terrible blow that Mr. Roosevelt has
dealt the Dingley law. It is time for
the beneficiaries of the high tariff
to take Jieed about their protected in
terests, for this is a very lefiathar of
tariff reform that the president has
unloosed. It is more than reform it
is rebellion, the most astonishing ever
recorded in the chronicles of the
world, the rebellion of a government
against its own laws. It is a repudia
tion. It is virtual nullification. It is
a destructive assault by the most pow
erful force upon the citadel of pro
tection. , Does anybody suppose that
a tariff policy which is too extortionate
and outrageous for the government
business will long be put up with by
those who carry on private business?"
The Kansas City Star says: "The
Panama canal commission can not
be too severely censured for its de
cision to buy supplies where it can
secure them cheapest, whether in the
United States or in Europe. Doesn't
the commission understand that this
is an un-American procedure? Isn't
it familiar with President McKinley's
assertion that a cheap coat makes a
cheap man, and does it want to build
a cheap canal with the consequent de
terioration of the American people?
However, there is no occasion to
worry. The fifty men whom the Wall
Street Journal calls the senate of
American finance, are not likelv to
stand such an impc ition. It will be
strange if their influence is not effec
tively exerted at the next session of
congress to stop this preposterous at
tempt of the Panama commission to
safe-guard the people's money and to
build the canal as cheaply as pos
I stand, and I am always rradv
do .what I can, and it's a pi, m'
me to sign my old hand.
Geo. R. Hall, Sr E P tt-.ii
Geo. R. Halt Jp.-Belifon'tr ne
I am much pleased with uJUr S
to arouse the truo democr.tof
country to the matter of urinpint?
in politics. I hope you will mS1
specifically in the future. v0 h,
proved our sincerity by ropu-Uatinl l
great leader who was a demon at onlJ
in name. I am glad to sicn ti I
pledge and with my boys, undertake
to carry out in our weak way th
principles of our greatest loader
Thos. Jefferson. r
J. V. Killiom, real estate, Eminence
Kas. Enclosed herewith find the nri
mary pledge duly signed. It has been
my practice for the last thirty-six
years to attend all democratic prima.
ries. The true and unfaltering dem
ocrats were discouraged, by the back
ward step taken by the national con
vention at St. Louis, as wero thn inni
democrats in many other states. Tho
result was disastrous from a party
standpoint, as well as from the stand
point of principle. Democrats every.
where should attend the party prima
ries and see that no..e but demo
crats from principle are elected dele
gates to county, state or national con
ventions. If we can't win on demo
cratic lines, we can't win at all. Tho
plutocratic grounds are already oc
cupied. Democrats can not hope to
compete with the present occupants
for the favors necessary to carry on
that kind of a campaign. Let us fight
it out on the peoples! side if it take3
all summer.
Fred Parkinson. Chairman Damn.
cratic Executive Committee for the
Indian Territory, Waggoner, I. T.
Find primary pledge herewith. Your
plan is certainly commendable.
J. M. Clark, R. F. D. No. 2, Ander
son, Mo. Enclosed find my pledge
to attend all primaries and do all I
can in this 'county for the democratic
party. Please sent me 25 more pri
mary pledges. Yours in politics.
John N. Burks, South Omaha, Neb.
I have secured twenty signatures to
the primary pledge. They all heartily
endorse your plan and are with Wil
liam J. Bryan. I intend to get as
many as I can.
Wm. E. Hill, Bentonville, Ark En
closed please find primary pledge with
my signature. I want to see the demo
crats come to the front in 190S.
Samuel H. Sanders, Brightwater,
Ark. I endorse -your plan of organi
zation. I am truly glad that it has
commenced in time, and I shall do
what I can for democracy.
W. F. Smith? West Union, W. Va.
Enclosed find primary pledge. I thiiik
the plan suggested by The Commoner
a good one. Yours for success of
democracy.
E. P. Jaques, Aitkin, Minn., As
there are not democrats enough here
Move as a Man With a Purpose
Not as a Sheep Following. a Bell
TAKE IT NOW, '
It's not too Into to prevent serious heart trou
bles If you will take Dr, Miles' Heart Cure at
once, when you have dizzy spells, shortness of
breath, fluttering of the heart, irregular pulse,
wealc or hungry spells. These are early, but
urgent, symptoms of heart weakness, ana mvist
bo given immediato attention. Money back if
first bottle falls to benefit.
(Continued from Page 9)
shall do what I can to forward the
'good work you are doing. The people
will bo forced soon to take up the
reforms and to then do their own
thinking and reasoning.
T. J. McKean, Drew, Oregon. I am
glad of the opportunity to sign the
primary pledge, which I find in The
Commoner. I wish everv flfimnnmt
tn the United States would sign the!
pledge and work with all their might
for the principles advocated by Mr
Bryan.
W. W. Faragher, Argentine, Colo.
I see by The Commoner's beautiful
plan men of the highest all over the
land are signing the pledge and are
lending a hand; so It's time for us
commoners to show where we stand
and sign Mr. Bryan's political plan; i
am mining for silver; you know where
Sobscrlfcirs' Aivertlslng Dipirtmiiit
"DEMOCRATIC NEWSPAPER MAN, 28
years old, married, now editing daily news
paper in city of 10,000, desires location in west
for similar enterprise or large weekly, Colora
do, Idaho, Washington or Oregon preferreo.
Twelve years active experience as rePor.te
Editor and Washington correspondent wnue
serving as-private secretary for a member oi
congress; earnest and enthusiastic puUicauyi
and do not use liquor. Have but little money
but chock f ull of days' works. Can give satis
factory references. Address Younb' oaro
Commoner, Lincoln, Neb. ,
"NEWSPAPER FOR SALE:- A DEMOCRAT
X1 newspaper and plant, modern eauipmeiH.
Paper In prosperous condition; is official counw
paper: locatedin countyseat of one of t'1oes
counties In southwestern Iowa. Oniv reasu
for selling Is on account of poor hea.tu o "
member of the publisher's family. If Interested
address, M, Care of Commoner.
WANTED:-SITUATION AS ED'KjE
or editorial writer on a 'fearless Pemoorai;
ic newspaper, by a vigorous writer of ;;"fB;rn,
perlence, able to present and defend i.o m
ciples on which Democracy isrising.as vr
cuss current events acceptably. A clem f "
ocrat, Care ComrnonerLlncoln.NoDnisUft.
. r .1 ft JC of -')io
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