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BPTEMBBR 13, 907
The Commoneh
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TARIFF ABSURDITY
If a prize is ovor offered for the choicest
bit of tariff absurdity the editor of. the Cedar
Rapids (Iowa) Republican should enter ihe fol
lowing editorial, which recently appeared in his
paper;
"Have the politicians and newspapers in
Iowa who are so ardently in favor of tariff re
form over considered that things can bo jreatly
cheapened all around by letting the Japanese
do our manufacturing? Of course that would
mean some Idle workmen at home. But let them
go to farming. To whom would the farmers sell
their stuffs, if the number of farmers wore thus
increased and the number of consumers de
ceased? "Why to Liverpool, natural1 y---that Is
where everything goes and where all prices are
fixed, according to the free trade leaders. But
wo tried that a dozen years ago and we found
when the American worklngmen ceased to con
sume the products of the American farms to
their normal capacity, when .at work and sup
plied with money', that all prices of farm pro
ducts fell at Liverpool, or wherever the prices
were fixed. Hogs wore worth $2.50 a hundred
on the farms and corn and oats fifteen or twenty
cents. The American farmers need the Ameri
can working man and wage earner and they
need him fully employed, so that he has money ,
with which to buy the products of the farms."
The Republican assumes first that tariff re
form means the abolition of all Import duties
which no person or party proposes. It assumes
second, that present prosperity is due to the
tariff and that the proposed reduction would
destroy prosperity; and it assumes, third, that
its readers have so little information as to be
fooled by such an editorial as the one above
quoted. The editor ignores the fact that pros
perity followed the low tariff of 1846 and' that
the panic of 1873 occurred under a high tariff;
he ignores the fact that the volume of money
has increased more than fifty per cent per capita
since 1896 and that this ..as caused a rise in
prices all over the world. He also ignbres the
fact that we are exporting more than six hundred
million dollars worth of manufactured produbts
and selling them' in foreign markets where we
have no tariff to protect us.
It would be a reflection on our public school
system if such an editorial as that reproduced
could favdra'bly "impress the voters of the
country.1 ''
OOOO
LABOR DAY SPEECHES
The most important Labor Day speeches
delivered this year were those made by Mr.
Hearst and Mr. Gompers at the Jamestown ex
position. Mr. Hearst called attention to the
unfairness manifested in the treatment of labor
ing men and labor organizations. He took San
Francisco as a case in point. A great dealMs
said about the demand of laboring meii for more
wages but little is said about the rise in rents
and the increased cost cf living. He also point
ed out that while the labor mayor is branded
as an extraordinary criminal because he yielded
to temptation and became a grafter, less is said
about the prominent business men who tempted
him. Mr. Hearst's speech was a tempeh-ate but
Strong appeal for justice to those who toil and
for harmonious delations between labor and
capital. .
Mr. Gompers presented an argument against
government by inj'unption and defended the
laboring men from the charge thfyt 'ther faf or
violence. Mr. Gompers knows, as; a other fo
'telligent men, muBl, that the cause' of the labor
ing man has no greater enemy, than the man
who uses or advises violence. ' .
The two speeches will be useful in present
ing the laboring man's viewpoint.
OOOO
J.
TAFT tof OKLAHOMA ' J;
Secretary T,aft' advises the people of Oklahoma,-to
vote against the constitution and trust
congress to pass another enabling act. This ad
vice may be accepted by republicans who are so
partisan that they "would postpone statehood in
order to keep a democratic state out of the union
but very few republicans are as partisan as Sec
retary Taft, and even he might be- more anxious
for statehood but for the fact that his political
interests would be advanced by keeping Okla
homa a territory. With most of the republicans
of Oklahoma the v6ice of justice is not silenced
by ambition for office The right of a people
'to-' statehood- does not depend upon the ticket
they vote, although the republican party has for
years punished the peoplo of the territories for
voting the democratic ticket.
Secretary Taft -finds fault with tho consti
tution but ho overlooks the fact that tho con
stitution provides a way by which a majority
,may easily amend it. Tho democrats had so
much confidence in the peoplo that they framed
a constitution which puts the people in power
and leaves thoni to alter or amend tho consti
tution to suit themselves.
Secretary Taft complains that the state
Is so districted that the republicans might carry
tho state by 10,000 and yet loso the legislature.
There is not a republican state of that size whero
the same Is not true and in Connecticut and
Rhode Island it Is much worse. Has Secretary
Taft ever rebuked the republicans of Connect
icat and Rhode Island for their unfairness in
districting tho state? Not he. The adminis
tration arranged tho districts for the constitu
tional convention and they were much more un
fair than the legislative districts arranged by
tho democrats, yet Secretary Taft never protest
ed. It is astonishing that a cabinet officer
should have shown tho partisanship which his
speech displayed. Fair minded republicans must
have beei alienated from, rather than attracted
to, him by his Oklahoma City speech.
OOOO
HIS OBJECTION EXPLAINED
Secretary Taft advised the people of 'Okla
homa to reject the proposed constitution. One
objection Is that the new constitution proyides
for jury trial in injunction cases. As the origi
nal Injunction judge Secretary Taft's objection
may bo well founded from the standpoint of a
judge. The Oklahoma constitution says that
any man can demand a court trial before being
convicted for violating a court Injunction. This
merely allows a man who has broken the com
mand of a fallible judge the same right that the
vilest criminal is allowed after breaking every
law on the statute books. Labor knows full
well the power of the injunction, especially tho
federal injunction. Almost the first federal
judge tb use the injunction against labor, and
to sentence to imprisonment men whose only
offense was that they did not believe a judge
could deprive them of constitutional rights, Was
William H. Taft. He became addicted to the
injunction habit early in his judicial career, and
-it Is not surprising that he should object to the
adoption of a constitution which ,will prevent
the injunction abuse in Oklahoma.
OOOO
THAT "PLATFORM"
Secretary Taft told the people of Oregon
that wehave a plethora of millionaires 'but ho
neglected 'to say that the "plethora' owes Its
existence very largely to the privileges granted
by the republican party.
Special Offer j
HEART'S CONTENT
Far over troublous seas there' Is an isle
Above whose valleys bluest skies are bent,
Where balmy breezes blow and soft suns smile
Men call it Heart's Content.
YAnd every prow that rides the sea of life
To that dear distant isle is turned for aye;
"Through baffling calms and stormy waves of
strife
Holding its doubtful way,
Comes back the same aV barque meets barque,
And s . they pass tpoxa each the challenge
sent
Oft in .the midmost ocean .rose, the waters dark
"We steer for Heart's Content."
For many an islo there Is, ..so like, bo like
The mystic goal of 'all .that travail sore, j
'That oft the wave-worn keels on strange sands
, .strike
And find an alien snpje. .
But ever, as the anchor? drops, and sails
From off the storm.-stralned -yards are all
unbent; , J ' . -
From the tall masthead still tho watcher halls
"Lo, yonder! Heart's Content!" , ,
And so, once more the prow is seacard set;
Hearts stit hope on though waves roll dark
around;
And on the'stern men write, the name, "Begrot,"
And face forth, outward bound,
Barton Grey in St. 'Louis Globe-Democrat.
Each of tho following persons have sent
In five yearly subscriptions to Tho Commoner.
R. Tweddlo, Delhi, La.; W, E. Ewer, Corry, Pa'.;
John K. Mosor, Smlthfleld. Pa.; R, Garrison, St.
Joe, Mo.; James C. Ualrd, Rochester, N. X,',
D. E. Corbln, Latham, Kan.; J. Willed, Nord
hoff, Cal.; T. J. Sherry, Pittsburg, Pa.; John It.
Tumor, Adams, Ind.; L. C. Murphy, Now Com
erstown, O.; Henry Scheclo, Sr Utica, Nob.; L.
C. Frank, Fulton, la.; Thomas A. Frazier, But
lor, Pa,; A. T. Collin, Brownwood, Toxas; J.
M. Head, Boston, Mass.; G. R. Wilson, Brick,
Okla.; John B. Thompson, Springfield, Mo.; 'L.
W. Drows, Moneta, Cal.; C. M. llondorson, Sa'r
dls, Miss.; Dr. W. E. Mlnghlnl, Marlltinburi?. W.
Va.; W. C. Isbell, Jcrsoyshore, Pa.; J. IC. Olaon,
Edwall, Wash.; T. C. Frazier, Milton, Ore.; C.
IlCarmlchaol, Madlfionvlllo, Tonn.; C. S. Ca
hall, Philadelphia, Pa.; E. G. Chamberlain, Mt.
Vernon, la.; E. Q, Castnor, Glon Gardner, N. j;
E. O. Knapp, Upper" SanduBky, O.; J. E. Kunlz,
South Bend, Ind.; Owen W. Bastlan, Wchuocs
villo, Pa.; Joe Dobbin, Hasklns, Neb.; T. -It.
RobersOn, Doniphan, Mo.; P. Cullen, ISdgerton,
O,; J. N. Walker, M, D., Bland, Va,; Jeremiah
McNamara, Fountain town, Ind.; J. S. Barfoy,
Marion, Ind.; E. L. Moore, Wagoner, 1. T.; Jas.
Sullivan, Hudson, O.; F. E. Thatcher, Ravenna,
Mich.; II. M. Long, Iuka. III.; S. W. Morgan,
Sunnyside, Cal.; W. M. Hoiulon, Tuskogoo, Ala.;
D. A. Baker, Rose Hill, la.; G. II. Eborlc, King
fisher, Okla.; J. L. Birch field, McGregor, Texas;
D. D. Clayton, Upper Sandusky, Ohio; D. B.
Thomas, MurphysbOro, III.; J. S. Wcsthafor,
Tonkawa, Okla.; Thomas J. Brltton, Kontland,
Ind.; C. N. Keopes, Mt. Carmel, 111.; W. C.
Hcaston, Bethany, Mo.; R. M. Bralm, Fulton,
Ky.; P. C. Jenkins, Woodbine, Ky.; Chas. B.
Skinner, Aldle, Va.; F. S. Carr, Brookllno. Mass.;
T. J. Wilson, Vlnita, I. T.; N. E. Weaver, Ft.
Wayne, Ind.; C. P. Bailey, Bluoflold, W, Va.; S.
C. Pettus, Rich Hill, Mo.; Ed M. Guss, Mifflin
Pa.; S. F. Norrls, Abingdon, 111.; R. K. Patter
son, Mercer, Pa.; W. II. Schildcrs, Chilllcothb,
Ohio; George Lutkmyer, Beardstown, 111.; A. W.
Williams, Cecil, Ark.; R. H. London, Tocumseh,
Okla.; C. W. S. Dllloy, Darlington, Pa.; L: L.
Hearn, Oakvalo, W. Va.; Dallas Harmon, Phll
llpsburg, Kan.; Gustav Buchhelt, Watortown,
Wis.; C. W. Martens, Milbank, S. D.; A. P.
Townsend, Conncautvllle, Pa.; B. A. Rtlgnn,
Kansas City, Mo.; DrRess, Smyrna, Del.'; J. U.
Bulman, Woodvllle, Ala.; P. S. Pearson, M. D.;
Celeste, Toxas; P. M. Zempel, Fall Creek, Wis.;
M. V. Cochran, Prosser, Wash.; Lomech DeFox,
New Stanton, Pa.; A. J. Coltrane, New Virginia,
la.; Q. W. Martin, Temple, Okla.; Chas. B. Still
well, Bryan, Toxas; H, B. Airhart, Navarre, O.
Everyone who approves thr work Tho Com
moner Is doing Is Invited to co-operate along the
lines of the special subscription offer. According
to the terms of this offer cards each good for orio
year's subscription to The Commoner will be fur
nished In lots of fire at the raro of $3 per lot This
places the yearly subscription rate at CO cents.
Any ono ordering these cards may sell' them
for ?1 each, thus earning a commission of $ bn
each lot sold, or he may sell them at the cost price
and find compensation In the fact that bedbug con
tributed to the educational campaign.
These cards may be paid for when ordered,
or they may be ordered'and remittance made atpr
they have been sold. A coupon Is printed, below
for the convenience of those who deslro to ,par
ticlpate In this effort to increase The' 'Commoner
circulation:
The Commoner's Special Offer
Application fr Subscription Cards
Publisher Commomkr: I am Interested in Increa.
ins Tins Cowmonzr'3 circulation, -And drtjire you tn
send me a supply of subscription cards. 1 agree to
use my utmost eudearor to sell the cards, and will
remit (or tneia at tbe rato of CO eeata each,, when sold.
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1.1b cIh, Neb. j
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