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About The Alliance herald. (Alliance, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1902-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 8, 1902)
Commoner Extracts Prom W. CL.KVl3L.AND AND TARIFF RE FORM. Tho Richmond Telegram, which an nounces editorially that It would bo willing to vote for Mr. Cleveland again, although preferring some ono else, takes Mr. Bryan to task for doubting Mr. Cleveland's fidelity to tariff reform. It says! If ho (Mr. Bryan) Is an honest man ho must admit that Mr. Cleveland, whatever may be hlo sins, has' for ".wenty years been the earnest, consist ent and unswerving advocate of low tariff, tho present live Issue, nnd tho only rational means yet discovered to proporly curb the trusts, and yet ho tries to produce tho Impression that Mr. Clovcland Is opposed to low tariff. Until wo read this wo bollovcd that Mr. Bryan was at least honest and Bln ccro. Mr. Cleveland's messago sent to con gress near tho close of his first admin istration did not contain a discussion of tho principles of tariff reform; It was moroly a protest against tho ac cumulation of tho surplus. Tho whole message might bo condensed Into tho epigram which did servlco In 1888, "Unnecessary taxation Is unjust taxa tion." After receiving credit for tho mes sage ho favored tho adoption of a plat form in 1888 which on tho tariff ques tion did not differ materially from tho republican platform. Tho convention of 1892 was compelled to roject tho platform prepared by Mr. Clovcland nnd his friends, and tho campaign that year was fought upon a platform which was far moro radical than Mr. Cleveland or his managers desired. Whon tho campaign was over Mr. Clovcland refused to call congress to gether to tnko up tho tariff question upon which tho party was united. Ho waited, until tho financiers demanded further legislation In tho direction of tho gold standard, and then ho called congress together and divided his party by trying to compol its support of a bill identical in purpose and al most identical In language with ono Introduced by John Sherman a year before. "When congress did get achanco to leglslnto upon the tariff question, moro than a year after tho campaign of 1892, ho becamo disgruntled because the bill did not contain the specific provisions which ho desired nnd re fused to sign tho measure, allowing it to becomo a law without his signature. Tho Wilson bill was a much better tariff measuro when Is passed tho houso than when It came back frqm tho nenato with amendments, but as passed It was tho best that could be secured under tho circumstances, and Mr. Cleveland did not show any great Intercs. In tariff reform when ho re fused to sign the bill and gavo tho re publicans a weapon to uso against it In 189(1, whon Mr. McKlnlcy, the rep resentative of ultra-high tariff vlows, was a candidate, Mr. Cleveland threw nil his influence to his election, and after tho election, at the Waldorf din ner, boasted of his part In tho republi can victory. Ho defonded his action on tho ground that the money question was moro Important than tho tariff, but whatever his excuso was ho sup pressed his hostility to high tariff long enough to help Install a protectionist administration. In 1900 ho again, by silence, threw his influence to the side of high tariff, although ho contended that the money question was dead and oven though ho had denounced im perialism as a menace to the very ex istence of the republic. Now this Is his record, and tho edi tor of tho Telegram will not dispute a single fact herein stated. Yet ho Insists that It Mr. Bryan Is an honest man ho must admit that "Mr. Cleve land has for twenty years been the earnest consistent nnd unswerving ad vocate of low tariff." If the editor of the Telegram will examine tho record Iiq will have to admit that Mr. Cleve land has neither been earnest nor con sistent nor unswerving in his advo cacy of a low tariff. On tho contrary, he hns by his conduct shown very llt tlo interest in tho Bubject of tariff re form, and oven his specchos (which have been more consistent than his acts) do not disclose any broad under standing of the principles which con trol tho questton. As to tho second proposition, that a low tariff Is "the present live issue" and that it Is "tho only rational means yet discovered to properly curb the trusts," Tho Commoner has already opoKen. imperialism is a live Issue; the money question must be alive or the republicans would not bo attempt ing to secure an asset currency, branch banks and a redeemable silver dollar, and the trust question, while relating to high tariff, is even broader than tho tariff and cannot bo settled by putting trust-made articles on tho free list An Industry that can live without a tariff can bo controlled by a trust without tho aid of tho tariff. A high tarltr enables tho trust to charge ex tortionate prices, but a trust that can export In competition with the world can exist uuder absolute freo trade. While The Commoner advocates and urges the putting of trust-made arti cles on the free list, it goes further and insists upon legislation which will make a private monoyoly Impossible. Mr. Cleveland, while thundering against tho trusts, has never suggested a remedy. Neither do thoso suggest a remedy who are willing to abandon all other questions to concentrato tho fight on tho tarlfT question, Although the party has been de feated on the tariff question oftener than on any other Issue, The Com moner still believes that a protective urlK Is wrong In principle, unwise In Administration logic Is a queer sort of thing when you Investigate It. The administration demands that the friars get out of the Philippines because the natives do not want them there. But tho administration persists in remain ing there In splto of the wishes of the natives. Yliy do tho republican papers take such an iuteiest In the reorganization of the democratic party? Certainly not befiaimo they fear reorganization. The 3Qepubllcan organs continue to manifest a wonderful Interest in the success of the reorganizes. Comment, J. Bryan's Paper. policy nnd unnecessary In practice But Tho Commoner Is not willing to abandon the people's Interest on other questions merely to give standing Jn tho party to thoso who ndvocato noth ing clso that Is democratic and never ndvocato tariff reform when It Inter feres with tho plans of tho money changers. Much less is It willing to encourago thoso who proclaim great animosity toward Industrial trusts and at tho same time secretly plot to fasten upon tho people a money trust und a banking trust Tho demo cratic party must meet every Isbuo as it arises, and it must defend tho peo ple's rights from encroachments from every quarter. AS A TRUE DEMOCRAT. Commenting upon the letter written by David B. Hill to tho effect that ho was "still a democrat very still" In 189C. tho Now York World says: As a true democrat Governor Hill could only have broken his silence in that campaign to cxposu the fallacy and to denounce tho essential dishon esty of tho demand for tho freo, un limited and Independent coinage of sil ver at tho falso hatio of 1G to 1. Then tho World says that democrats ought to be very grateful to Mr. Hill for keeping "very still." If "as a truo democrat" Mr. Hill could only have broken his silence in 189G "to cxposo tho fallacy and to de nounce tho essential dishonesty of tho demand for tho free, unlimited and in dependent coinage of silver at tho ratio of 1G to 1," what Was Mr. Hill in 1900 when wo aro told ho gave alncero nnd cordial support to the democratic ticket? Tho platform of 1900 contained a de mand for tho freo and unlimited coin age of silver at tho ratio of 1G to 1. Mr. Hill's friends claim that in that cam paign ho was slncero In his support of tho ticket Was he "a truo democrat" in 1900 when ho broko his silence and yet falleu to "exposo tho fallacy and to denounce tho essential dishonesty" of a plank in the national platform? Or was ho "a truo democrat" in tho cam paign of 189G when ho was "still very St.it?" STRIKINQ FIGURES The Kansas City Journal, republi can. In an editorial entitled "Tho Profits of Annexation," says that the "grand total paid for all of our landed dominions, except the Bums recently paid to Spain, was $52,200,000, an amount which is exceeded by the an nual output of Kansas farms alone." Whllo tho Journal 1b indulging in comparing figures, it might point out also that tho increase In tho appro priations mado for tho navy for tho year 1903, over and above that mado for tho navy In 1897, tho year imme diately preceding the Spanish-American war, Is represented by tho sum of $49,202,718. This Increase is very nearly equal to the grand total paid for all of our added landed dominions prior to tho Spanish war. Tho Journal might also point out that tho increase in the appropria tions for tho army, for tho year 1903 over and above similar appropriations mado for 1897 Is represented by tho Bum of $68,277,528, a sum largely In ex cess of tho grand total paid for all of our added landed dominions prior to tho Spanish-American war. In 1897 our total appropriations for tho army and navy amounted to $52, Gb8,853; for tho year 1903 these appro priations will reach the enormous sum of $170,208,821. This is an increase of $117,540,246. This does not tako into consideration the $20,000,000 which wo paid for the Philippines or other ex penditures which our policy of imper ialism will make necessary. TRUSTS BEGIN TO THREATEN. While Mr. Littlefleld denies that ho has been asked to prepare an anti trust bill for tho president, the press notlco to the effect that ho was work ing on Buch a bill scared tho trust managers and as a result protests are already arriving. Mr. Wellman, in tho Chicago Record-Herald, says that "hundreds of letters and telegrams are pouring in on tho president at Oyster Bay urging him to go Blow on this trust business. Capitalists, bank ers, and heads of big insurance com panies and managers of great railroad and other corporations aro trying to intimidate tho president into aban doning his program. Their idea Is that ho will hurt business, and they do not hesitate to predict that if a panic were to come the president's war on trusts would be held responsible therefor!" This sounds very familiar. Theso are the same people who opposed bi metallism anil threatened a panic. That Is their favorite threat. Mr. Wellman says that the presi dent Is not scared, but it is evident that tho chief executive is spending a good deal of time explaining that ho Is only after the "bad" trusts. Mr. Wellman Bays that "in tho pres ident's opinion the worst evil of mod ern trusts 1b not monopoly or restraint of trade, but the era of wild specula tion in capital stocks brought about by tho efforts of promoters to gain great fortunes by printing millions of sharo certificates and working them off on tho public." Well, tho trusts need not fear much harm from a president who does not object to private mo nopolies, does not object to their methods or to tho destruction of In dividual enterprises, but only objects to the frauds practiced on stockhold ers by promoters. It would seem that the president has either been scared out or that ho never had much Intention of interfer ing with the trusts. The press dispatches report that the amnesty proclamation was read In Ma nila, but no mention is made of the Declaration of Independence nnd gov ernment by the consent of tho gov erned. There would be a better chance for harmony if some would-be party man agers would play on a democratic In strument instead of fooling with the republican boss-fiddle. "Attorney General Knox Is going for the trusts!" shouts an administration exchange. He's been going for them vcr since they started him. MONEYJFOESTEIKEJIS SIGNIFICANCE OF MOVEMENT TO SUPPORT MINER8. Protected Manufacturers and Mine Owners Also Raise Money, but with a Very Different Object In View A Few Facts. Secretary Wilson of tho coal minors organization told the miners' conven tion at Indianapolis that It would cost $500,000 per week to support all tho men now on strlko In tho nnthracito region. Ho figured that an assessment of $1 per weok on tho soft conl minors would provldo half of this sum, nnd he bollovcd that tho other half would bo supplied from outside sources. Tho raising of this largo sum of money will involvo no small sacrifice and solf-denial on tho part of men whoso earnings aro by no menns princely with all tho alleged protec tion afforded them by Republican statesmen against tho "pauper labor of Europe." It means tho cutting oft of a good many things with which thoy and their families cannot Jlspenso without considerable discomfort. There aro other people who contrib ute money too. There aro people who have a good deal to contribute. Many of them aro employers of tho miners who propose to contribute to tho sup port of tho strikers. But there aro differences. Tho min ers contrlbuto money for an honest purpose to feed tho striking miners and their families. Thoro is no con cealment about it becauso there is nothing about It to bo ashamed of. Tho employers contribute money to pack conventions and secure tho nomi nation of men for Congress and to promote tho election of men to both houses of Congress who can bo relied on to maintain tho sacred tariff. They contribute money not only to secure tho olectlon of mon who will stand up for Dingloyism to the minutest letter, but also to pay their lobbies and their nttorneys in Congress and tho know ing statesmen who have to bo propi tiated. Thoy do not advertlso theso facts. Tho minors' contribute to tho sub sistence of their striking fcllow-work-ors with Bmall hopo of ever getting a dollar of tholr money back. The em ployers get every dollar back. That does not tell the whole story. They contribute for corrupt purposes only a small part of tho swag which tho tariff laws they buy and pay for enable them to wring from American consumers of their products. Tho miners contribute to a union of workingmen. Tho emnlovers contrlli. uto to a union which embraces all the beneficiaries of tho protoctlvo tariff. Thoy contrlbuto to tho most gigantic monopoly combine on the faco of tho earth a comblno which embraces thousands of millions of capital and practically all tho politicians of tho Republican party and which through an Infamous perversion of the powers and functions of government wrest hundreds of. millions every year from tho people, including their own work ing men and women, for whose benefit thoy falsely pretend their tariff is in tended. Now a Potters' Trust. Thoro Is now a prospect of a pottery trust. Representatives of the principal pot teries of tho country met in Chicago yesterday to discuss the formation of an association to control tho output and prices of all the establishments in their line In tho country. This, we aro to understand, means that they are beginning to compete with one another and to cut under the prices to which thoy aro legally enti tled under the Dlngley tariff. A good many years ago when there was talk or reauclng the tariff the pot ters mot and Indignantly protested against any reduction on articles com peting with their products and pro claimed to all tho land that they wero entitled to tho homo market. By that they meant that tho Ameri can people had no right to buy crock ery where they could get it at prices fixed by world-wldo competition, but that thoy, the American potters, had a right to extort some 60 por cent moro than competitive prices from their countrymen. A Republican Congress agreed with them. They seem to have got along until now without competing among themselves and to have takon their full pound of flesh under tho Shylock tariff, but now they must got together In a trust or tho long-suffering public will at last get the benefit of a llttlo competition among tho potters who have a right to skin them under tho shelter of laws. Less Talk of "Anarchy." Within tho last two years thero has been a notable increase In the number of "anarchists" who deny that It Is a "vested right" of corporations to com bine for tho suppression of competi tion and hold Uiat the power which gngtts special privileges may regulate their use or withdraw them when they aro abused. Henry Clews is not ro garded generally as a scatter-brained socialist yet he says things of tho trusts which would have horrified tho conservative business world not so very long ago. A long step toward correction of evils developed in the soncentratlon of corporate wealth and power Is marked by the fact that tho lubject can be discussed without ex siting suspicion that revolution Is be ing plotted. Moody Gives Good Advice. A good deal of trumpet-blowing is heard in connection with a bill which Congressman Littlefleld of Maino is supposed to bo preparing at the al leged Instance of President Roosevelt Ho is going to show tho Republican Congress after olectlon how to bri dle and tamo the rampant trusts "with out sacrificing tho tariff, which Is Bacred." President Roosevelt has got out an injunction against tho beef tniBt under oxlsting law and is think ing about enjoining tho coal trust and perhaps somo others. All this Is dono without interfering with tho "sacrod tariff," and tho people who keep on paying war taxes for beef and coal see how utterly useless It is. As Mr. Moody says, tho only way to stop trust extortion is lo (a!:e away from the trusts their tArlff urotectlon. This is a pretty bold statement of tho truth to como from a member of tho admin istration, and It 1b decidedly refresh ing. Wo commend tho Idea of tho secretary of war to Mr. Roosovclt and Mr. Littlefleld. United for Public Robbery. Tho Cuban 'reciprocity fiasco has demonstrated again the unity of tho protected Interests. At tho beginning of this session of congress many Re publican leaders even did not under stand what a powerful bond existed In tho greed for government aid. No Booncr was tho issue fairly before Con gress than tho "infant industries" camo trooping to tho aid of tho beet sugar, people. Franklin's dictum, "Lot U3 all hang together or assuredly wo shall all hang separately," becamo tho motto of the protected Industries. Tho strongth of organized greed has been alarmingly proved In the events of tho last few weeks. Tho Cuban reciproc ity leaders find that tho Republican party has created an artificial monster which it cannot control. No Matter Who the Swindler. Just what difference it will make to tho American eators of meat whether thoy aro swindled by one big lawful company or by an illegal combination of six concerns has not yet clearly appearod in tho columns of tho trust defenders. The peoplo of this country don't caro a rap whether the prices of tho necessaries of life aro artificially enhanced by verbal or written agree ments, outside of tho law, between firms that aro natural competitors, or by a formal legal consolidation of theso natural competitors. What thoy want is freedom from extortion and It Is becoming, wo think, moro and more clear to them that that is something that they will never get from tho Re publican party as at present con trolled. Mean and Vicious In Every Way. It Is probably tho demoralizing in fluence of our pauperilzng tariff to which should be attributed tho ten dency of mon in business to beg of Uncle Sam. It has always been ac cepted as a sufficient reason why a manufacturer Bhould havo moro pro tection that he was not making mopoy or was not making tho profit he thought he ought to bo making. Tho meanness and vlciousncss of the wholo wretched business havo Just been ex hlbltod for the disgust and Instruction of tho Amorlcan people by the shame less greed of Oxnard and his fellow workers, who havo prevented tb coun try from doing its plain duty by Cuba. Such a showing ought to make an end of the wholo rotten system. Day of Reckoning to Come. Rebuke and punishment await tho Republican party In the near future. The settlement with tho peoplo will bo a settlement exceedingly costly to the political organization which has sun rendered tho people to the oppression of tho trusts. This truth of treachery is so well known to voters that thero is no way by which Republican speak ers or machine organs can longer dis tort ltB meaning. Tho majority party in the Congress now just ended has, indeod, the best of reasons for alarm. That party has wrought It3 own undo ing In bo blindly obeying tho evil com mands of tho trusts. True Republican Policy. It does not become a Republican newspaper to Bay a word about the policy of drawing upon the national treasury to meet deficits incurred by expositions like thoso at Buffalo and Charleston. The Republican party is in the business of giving the people's money to Individuals and enterprises not one-half so desorving as tho aver ago exposition. Until tho wholo sys tem of special privilege Is done away with every state and county fair ought to havo tho same consideration that is accorded to protected Industries. No one should havo a monopoly of tho swag. Must Get On Without Protection. Mr. Schwab's declaration of tho mammoth proportions of the steel trust, more colossal even than they wero supposed to be, will at least serve the purpose of strengthening tho popular demand that tho steel Indus try, so thoroughly dominated by this great trust shall not command higher prices for Its products than It Is en titled to and collect them through the assistance of a protective tariff. Not Their Own Masters. The Republicans purposely made the Dlngley tariff higher than they would have otherwise mado It in order that they might reduce it by reciprocity, but thoy have been unable to reduco it in the least, by reciprocity or other wise. Is it at all doubtful whether the Republicans are their own masters or are controlled outright by tho tariff subsidized Interests? Not Much Difference. There is not much difference be tween Canada and the United States after all. While Canada offers pro tection to those who rob the American government the United States offers protection to thoso who rob tho Amer ican peoplo the beef trust and the steel trust i A KIDNAPED POODLE ERE is a story of an unsuc cessful ruso in love, and a kidnaped poodle Blllinger and Batterson wore rivals for tho good Rracea of Miss Mnv. hew, and Miss Mayhow was dottngly fond of her pug, Chicot It was after a visit to his adored one that Blllinger was struck with a great Idea. As he turned Into tho avenuo ho met a butcher's boy whom ho remem bered as having, on rare occasions, by reason of a reputation for unlm pcachablo Integrity, been Intrusted with tho precious Chicot on rainy days when, decplto tho weather, it was deemed desirable that the animal should be exorcised. Blllinger stopped tho hastening youth and addressed him something in this wlso: "Young man, aro you ambitious?" The boy grinned amiably, for ho knew Blllinger, and responded succinctly: "Sure thing." " 'Tls well," quoth Blllinger. "Havo you any oojectlon to laying forthwith tho foundations of tho princely fortuno that will ono day bo yours?" The boy grinned again and guessed not, where upon Blllinger, with many admonitions to secrecy, unfolded his plot The details of tho conspiracy aro not Important Suffice It to say that ono rainy morning about ten days later tho boy appeared at BUHnger's office In John street with a rauch-Ledraggled and altogether rebellious Chicot, whom an office boy was straightway deputed to tie to tho safe In Billlngcr'o sanc tum. "Well done, good and faithful serv ant," said Blllinger solemnly to the butcher's boy. "Behold now, how vir tue is rewarded." And he gave his follow conspirator more money than ho had ever seen at any ono time in his lifo. Then he glanced triumphantly at the captlvo Chicot and went out to luncheon In high spirits. "What I will ao to that pestiferous pup," said he to himself, "will bo what the etiquette books describe aa a general suffi ciency." Alas for Blllinger. While he was treating himself handsomely at a neighboring cafe, who should drop in at his offlco but tho hated Batterson, whose partner had a law case In BUHnger's hands. The first object that met his aston ished gaze was tho form of the mud bespattered Chicot. Now It happened that Batterson had received by tele phone tho awful news of Chicot's tak ing off. "Funny thing," he thought "Blllinger must have found the pup." But then he remembered that Miss Mayhew had Bald that she had asked Blllinger to advertlso for him. Ho remembered this the moro distinctly becauso he had offered his own ser vices to that end, and had been any thing but pleased to find that he had been anticipated. A great light began to illumine the obscurity of Batterson's mind. Ho passed into the hall, carefully clos ing the uoor behind him, and re-entered BUHnger's prlvato offlco by tho other door. Batterson untied the rope that fastened the dog to tho safe, leaving tho other end still tied to that substantial piece of furnlturo. Then, taking tho Joyous Chicot In his arms, he stole silently out into the hall, closing the door behind him, and walked down eight flights of stairs. Pcorlng cautiously out into tho street, he rejoiced to seo no Blllinger, and, bearing his armful of muddy dog, fled precipitately toward Broad street BIJ-UWCy&P When Blllinger returned from luncheon his first thought was for Chicot. In vain he searched tho of fice. Chicot was not to bo found. He summoned the head clerk. Nobody had entered his sanctum, declared that functionary, but Mr. Batterson. "Batterson!" cried tho unhappy Bll linger, and collapsed into a chair. "Did he tako the dog away?" Certain ly not, tho clerk replied. Mr. Batter son went out as he had entered, and he was perfectly certain that he had no dog concealed about his person. Blllinger dismissed the clerk and H i 'ilP3illlk j?vj v, 0 cursed his luck for flvo minutes with out repeating himself. Then, in des peration, ho closed his desk and sent for a cab. Tho snspenso was unen durable Ho had mado up his mind to know the worst at once. Tho man who answered his ring would aeo If Miss Mayhew was at homo and ushered him Into a well remembered drawing room. As soon as his oyes became accustomed to tho dim half light ho was awaro of a figure In tho chair by tho window. Tho next instant ho recognized It It was LjORD Batterson. In his lap lay a forlorn black heap whose name was Chicot Blllinger was Bpeecnless. Ho rose and took ono step toward tho door. Flight was his purpose. Nothing else was left him now. Too late! At that very Instant Miss Mayhow entered tho room. A handkerchief was pressed to her eyes, and If thero had been suffi cient light It could havo been Been that they wero red. Blllinger stood miserably aside. Batterson advanced proudly to tho mlddlo of tho room, but before he could speak tho poodlo leaped from his arms and rushed with joyous yelps upon his mistress. Batterson was clothed In a proud humility, and as ho opened his mouth to speak Blllinger shuddered In his dim corner by the door. "I-er-er," stuttered Batterson. "I-er-I was so fortunate as to find Chicot, you see." "Yes, yes," cried the Joyful mistress of tho dog, "thank heaven. I waa afraid I should never seo him again. But where how, oh, tell me! I beg you." Blllinger waited aB waits tho convicted criminal to hear his sentence. Batterson cleared his throat. "Er not far from my office In John street," he said, "as I was going to luncheon." Blllinger seized a chair to keep from falling. Ho could hardly - realize that ho was to bo spared. "The poor, poor doggie!" cried tho lady. And to think he had walked all tho way down there. I can't think how he failed to bo killed by a trolley car or a truck or something. It is simply marvelous. How can I eve thank you enough?" And sho pressed a kiss upon Chicot's black, wet muz zle. "You have no idea how all this has upset mo," went on Miss Mayhow "especially coming at a time when 1 was so happy when I bo wanted ev erything to be sereno and Joyous." BUHnger's reprieve was too rocent for speech, but Batterson managed to say: "Eh? How do you mean? I don't un derstand." "Of course you don't," said Miss Mayhew. "How Bhould you? But when that wretched boy camo to tell me he bad lost dear Chicot I was just writing to you and Mr. Blllinger to tell you of my engagement to Lord Blctherlngton." Blllinger and Batterson went dole fully down the brownstone steps arm In arm. The war was over. "I Bay, old fellow," said Blllinger, mournfully, "I know a place around the corner where there's a chap who makes the best mint julep In Now York," "Eh? What?" said Batterson, ab sently. "Oh, I don't mind If I do." As they sadly turned tho corner they met an automobile careering madly up tho avenue. A pair of feet reposed upon the dashboard. Behind tho feet appeared a mouth between whose lips was held a long, fat, black cigar. Tho face was tho face of the butcher's boy. He waa having tho tima of his life. Immensity of the Ocean, If all tho land on tho globe abovo sea level were shoveled Into the North Atlantic It would only reduco Its depth j from an average of two miles to ono mile. a c 'V r i