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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 12, 1909)
y-nf mmmmmmnmnmf NOVEMBER 12, 180 The Commoner.. Where Democratic Congressmen Stand Tho" Commoner will be pleased to publish brief letters from congressmen and democratic candidates for congress, giving their opinion of tho tariff platform suggested by Mr. Bryan. Boston, Mass., October 30, 1909. Charles "W. Bryan, Lincoln, Neb. Dear Sir: Your favor ab hand asking for ray opinion on the- tariff planks of October 1. No question is finally sottled un til it is settled right. To this maxim, tho tariff is no exception. Tho tariff plank suggested by Mr. Bryan brings forward tho real Issues on which tho peo ple In the country should rally. Free raw ma terials, reduction in tho cotton and woolen sched ules, and a general reduction in trust controlled articles should add stimulus to our industries and bring to the people of our country added happiness. Yours very truly, ANDREW T. PETERS. Birmingham, Ala., November 1, 1909. Charles W. Bryan, Publisher The Commoner, Lincoln, Neb. Dear Sir: There has never been a platform of a national convention since tho organization of the democratic party that has advocated free trade theories. The platforms of the party have always maintained that tho true position of the party was in favor of a tariff for revenue. There never has been a tariff bill enacted into law by the democratic party that has not favored the doctrine of a tariff for revenue as opposed to a tariff levied along free trade lines, such as the revenue laws of Great Britain. The most distinctive democratic tariff bill that was ever written on the statute books of this country was the Walker tariff of 1846, and, al though the duties levied under this tariff did not exceed a thirty per cent ad valorem rate, they were levied on competitive articles, such as wool and cotton, iron and steel; sugar and coffee, then non-competitive articles, were placed on the free list, which demonstrates that the democratic party in preparing its tariff bills has favored a duty levied for revenue. There was no exploitation of a free list in the Walker tariff on articles that could raise a material amount of revenue. If wo write a tariff bill for the purpose solely of raising revenue for the treasury, we are no more concerned with the incidental benefit that some citizens may derive from having raw material placed on the free list, than wo are concerned with the incidental benefits that may arise to some manufacturers from having a very high protective tariff placed on the articles they manufacture. To fairly adjust the burdens of taxation, a tariff tax should be levied on as many articles as possible, so that the burden may bo borne by as many people as possible and bo distributed equitably to all portions of the country. From a revenue standpoint there is no reason "why the citizen of the northwest should bo exempt from taxation on the lumber ho buys and tho citizen of .the south required to pay taxes on the sugar he consumes. It has been suggested in The Commoner that wool, lumber, hides, iron ore and a number of other products should be placed on the free list; if that is done there is no reason why meats, wheat, rye, barley, and all other food products should be placed on tho freo list. In recent years the farmers of the country have been prosperous; the laboring people in tho cities have not had their wages advanced and the cost of living is becoming exceedingly burdensome. "VVhy should the democratic party stand for a proposi tion that proposes to exempt from taxation the prosperous agricultural classes and allow the burden of taxation to remain on the food pro ducts that the labor in the city must consume? Is it not far more equitable, far more just to distribute the burden of taxation so that it will fall evenly upon all? Make your tariff rate as low as possible on all articles, consistent with raising sufficient revenue to supply the needs of the government economically administered and play favorites with no one, either by giving them free raw material or protection. The republican party in the enactment of Its recent tariff bill gavo the manufacturers of boots and shoes over two million dollars of revenue by placing hides on the free list; the result has been that shoes are' higher than they were before hids were made free. They prac tically gave free iron ore to the eastern manu facturer by reducing tho duty on raw ore from forty cents a ton to twelve cents a ton on the ore that corned from. Cuba. In other words, ELm Ce? tI,rat0 from ton Pr wnt ad ?h 2S.i? Sbout .thr,co pcr ccnt ad valorem, with .reillt that pig Iron and all other Iron pro ducts have advanced from twenty to twenty live per cent since tho reduction was made. In other words, tho free raw material has boon a gift to tho manufacturer and has not benefited tho consumer at all. X my 2ud&,nnt tho true democratic position is for a tariff for revenue, without attempting to play favorites with any one. I boliovo that the democratic party In Its platforms should declaro tho general principles of tho party and the representatives of tho party In congress should endeavor faithfully to follow In their legislation tho principles their party has declared for, but I think it the utmost folly for a national convention hastily, and without duo considera tion, to attempt to writo a bill of particulars on any subject In a platform and expect tho rep resentatives of tho party to bo guided by It OSCAR W. UNDERWOOD. Minden, Tenn., October 27, 1909. Mr. Charles "W. Bryan, Lincoln, Nob. Dear Mr. Bryan: Replying to your letter of tho 21st, I beg to say that I am In perfect accord with tho views of Hon. W. J. Bryan as to a tariff on raw materials, especially on crudo raw materials used only by manufacturers. It will bo seen by reference to my sppoch on the conferenco report on tho Payne-Aldrich bill, that I printed as a part of my remarks an extract from tho reply of Mr. Bryan to the speech of Senator Stono, setting out his position as to a tariff; on raw materials and that I unreservedly en dorsed the same. I am opposed to protection in any gulso or form, be It called Incidental or direct. Protective duties on the crudo raw materials used by manufacturers, makes a compensatory protective duty on the manufactured products from such raw materials absolutely necessary which added to the direct protective duty on tho finished article, must be paid by the consumer. Tariff duties on raw materials aro not paid by the manufacturer, but in every Instance aro added to the prlco of the finished article as a compensatory duty and passed on to tho consumer. If tho next national democratic convention declares for tariff duties on crudo ra"w materials used by manufacturers, which In the very naturo of things Is a protective tariff and must bo added as a compensatory duty In addition to the duties levied on the finished product and the burden of both thus laid upon the consumer, the democratic party had as well make no nominations and go Into liquidation. The people do not want and will not tolerate two protec tionist parties in this country. Yours truly, T. W. SIMS. Springfield, Mo., October 30, 1909. Hon. Charles W. Bryan, Publisher The Commoner, Lincoln, Neb. -My Dear Sir: Replying to your letter of recent date asking me to give my views on the proposed tariff platform as outlined by Mr. Bryan in his recent Dallas, Texas, speech and published in The Commoner, I beg to say that I am a firm believer in tho Idea that a plat form Is binding on the party so long as it is in force and that it Is especially binding on tho candidate who asks election on said platform, and I further believe that It Is doubly binding on the man who is elected to office on said plat form without protesting against Its provisions prior to his election. And unless the people who elected him first , repudiate the platform I do not believe that he can, in good faith, do so and retain his position. I have always been of tho opinion that plat forms (national) should deal with principles and not details, yet if it Is tho wisdom of our party that a condition now exists when every demo cratic candidate for congress should specifically declare his position I for one have no objections to doing so. I believe that the despotism, known as Can nonism, Is ono of the most dangerous things which is now threatening the liberties of tho people. It Is dangerous for various reasons, but it is especially so in that It enables the "special Interests" to control legislation in this country. I believe that every candidate for congress, -whether democrat or republican, ought to be pledged, if elected, to oppose Cannonism. ' I have no objection to 'Mr. Bryan's tariff 4 m nCm r"t0 ?" wOl." ho Hn 3 basis- nn, m" W0,0n." t0 ,ft 1,Urcl' rovou nnli ,th.,fl 8UKCtttJ0 AlHO appllOH tO tho sitloa o8fC life! aUd l nmn' UlCr I)r,m ncco i l?.vi0ry mjW1' wmnn and child must wear clothing of Homo kind, cither woolon or cotton artlc losVhY V"8"1 t0,b0 J"tod on those m poSlWo may ,,urchflHyd ohoaply I am In favor of putting on tho freo list: Agricultural implements. Illdos, boots nnd shoos, leather and harness. OH and oil products. Articles sold cheaper In foreign countries than at homo. Lumbar, wo-d pulp and print papor. The products of concerns which by combina tions have shut out competition. ,J,l0.B0.?roonio..of th0 nrlcll"il things I would put on tho freo list. On tho articles not on tho freo list I am in favor of Imposing only a rovenuo tariff Tho necessity for protection In this country has long since passed, if Indeed it over existed. I could prolong thlB communication but I ro- member you asked for a "short lotter" and I will, therefore, subscribe myself. Yours truly, C. W. HAMLIN. , Lincoln, Nob., November 3, 1909. Charles W. Bryan, Publisher Tho Commoner. Dear Sir: in view of tho events of tho recent ses sion of congress W. J. Bryan's tariff suggestions aro very timely. I ondorso thorn unre servedly. That a representative should oboy party platform plodgos and bo guided by tho source of his authority tho people is a principle as old as representative government. Ho who wilfully violates this principle strikes at tho foundations of our government and ought to bo rolievod of responsibility. The special session of congress demonstrated tho necessity of a clear understanding between tho people and their representatives. It showed clearly that tho cssontlal items and principles in a tariff platform should bo sot forth more In dotail. Schedules should, of course, always bc frained with tho view of reducing to tho mini mum tho rates on necessaries and correspond- lngly Increasing, If necessary, tho rate on' luxuries. I havo long believed that tho power of tho speaker of tho house is too great. More than a year ago I Issued a platform nnd challenged tho power of tho speaker in part as follows: "I am unqualifiedly opposed to a member of congress surrendering his sacred powers to any oligarchy, within whatever party it may spring up. I am In favor of restoring tho house of rep resentatives to Its proper place In our system of government, with every member an active participant in legislation and freo to suggcat or protest as tho interest of his district may require." His powor has grown not through constituted authority or as a necessary aid to legislation but through desire to pervert tho popular will and prevent wholesome or needful legislation. . Tho rules of the house should bo amended lim iting the power of the speaker and restoring tho usefulness of the house as a legislative body. JOHN A. MAGUIRE, First Nebraska District. LEMONS Tho New York World says: "Congress raised the duty on lemons to 'help tho California growers.' Now the railroads havo raised tho freight rato on lemons from sea to sea. That is the way it works. Tho railroads get tho mon ey, the producer gets healthful, open-air labor, the consumer gets tho lemon." 0 WHEN THE FOREIGNER PAYS THE TAX "An' so it goes, Hinnlssy. Never a sordid worrud, mind ye, but ivrything done on th' fine old principle iv give an' take." "Well," said Mr. Hcnnessy, "what dif- f'rence does it make? Th' foreigner pays th' tax, annyhow." "He does," said Mr. Dooley, "If he 0 ain't turned back at Castle Garden." From "Mr. Dooley on the Tariff." 0 I Jl m ei . t 31 I 1 i 1 s i& ..-. ;