Wmiivfr'VtVr "" " " "T" '' x ii T-"-S8BijWfWffPi Wglnjiy
The Commoner.
16
DECEMBER IT, 1909
fr
manufactured products, and from
this I presume the plank was adopt
ed on this initiative.
While, therefore, I would as a rule
levy revenue duties and no more on
practically all imports, whether of
so-called raw material or finished
product, yet, as recognized by the
Walker report and in the very na
ture of the subject, sound exceptions
to the rule as to both classes of im
ports, for the betterment-of the pub
lic will suggest themselves from time
to time with changed conditions, and
such articles" should go on the free
list. For instance, it would bo al
most inhuman to tax quinine and in
crease its price to the sick. Tea or
coffee is on every breakfast table,
and both should be free. Binding
twine is free and so should cotton
ties and bagging bo, for otherwise a
sectional and discriminating injus
tice I's done southern farmers, and
that, too, for the benefit of the steel
trust and the monopoly of a few bag
ging companies. The prime neces
saries of life should be the last to
bo taxed, and, when taxed at all,
should be taxed the least, and, when
ever practicable, should be put on
the free list, because a' tax on con
sumption is at best unjust to the
masses, for it ignores equality of tax
ation and the benefits of government.
JRcIiof From Trusts
I believe that not only the crimi
nal law but the tariff law and any
other method of constitutional legis
lation should be used to relieve the'
people of the trusts. They are the
greatest menace of our time to the
happiness and prosperity of the peo
ple. To accomplish this purpose
they corrupt the elective franchise;
they debauch public officials, and
with remorseless hands they levy
,' . .lit 1 1
rtv . , triouto ana extortion upon me
inaafces. Their officers should not
only be convicted and imprisoned,
but the tariff bars which, aid them
to form and organize and to rob and
plunder should be removed as de
clared in our state and national plat
forms. The broad purpose involved
in such action is to bring about com
petition and reduce extravagant
prices.
When trusts have monopolized the
market of the United States the only
effective economic remedy is the free
list and foreign competition. They
have merited outlawry and even to
obtain revenue the incidental protec-
tion of a revenue tariff should not
be given them, especially in aggra
vated cases. It was upon this prin
ciple not only because it is in our
platform, but also because it meets
my approval that I voted for free oil
and free iron ore. Take the case of
iron ore as an example with which
I am more familiar, having served
. last winter on a committee which ex
haustively considered the subject.
The United States Steel corporation,
organized m 1901, properly called
the steel trust, is the greatest and
most powerful combination of capital
ever organized in America. Its po
litical power is such that in 1907 it
obtained from the White House, in
violation of kiw, a license to take
over Its leading competitor in the
south, the Tennessee Coal and Iron
company, with 700,000,000 tons of
iron ore, and strengthen its .monop
oly; and it was natural that in 1908
Its chief beneficiary should appear
among the largest contributors to
the republican campaign fund. Nat
urally, too, the present administra
tion has taken no action against the
steel trust for this merger and in
fraction of law, though I have in
vitea" it to do so and intend soon to
repeat the invitation.
Gray's Admission Under Oath
In December, 1908, the democrats,
of the ways and means committee of
the house, presumably with the view
to tariff legislation, sought to show
in tho "hearing" before the commit
tee that the steel trust dominated
the iron and steel trade of tho United
States and fixed prices on articles
which enter into every American1
household, and as one of tho means
by which this was accomplished, it
had secured a practical monopoly of
the high grade iron ore of the coun
try. When pressed Judge Gray,
chairman of tho steel trust, admitted
under oath that it controlled tho
ultimate supply of iron ore, and the
house placed It on the free list. This
was not speculative, but a sworn ad
mission against interest. In the sen-,
ate I spoke and voted for free ore
as against a duty of 25 cents per
ton, which was proposed by a senate
amendment and on the ground that
the American supply had been mon
opolized by the trust; that following
the democratic convention on the
tariff, the value of tho annual out
put of ore to the trust would be en
hanced to the extent of the tax; and
that the imposition of the tax would
tend to cripple any independent com
panies then in existence or which
might be organized in their compe
tition with the trust. It is 'true the
trust dominates the iron and steel
market, but it does so partly through
its monopoly of the high grade ore.
Notwithstanding this domination of
tho market by the trust, there are
some companies which are not owned
by it, and free ore would relievo
them to that extent of dependence
upon their powerful rival for ore and
tend to bring about competition. .
Platform Demands Binding
The national democratic platform
of 1908 declared for free lumber and
free paper, and, regarding this dec
laration of the party policy on those
subjects as binding upon me, I voted
to place the two commodities on the
free list. My views of the binding
force of party platformson matters
of policy were formed early in my
official career. In my two inaugural
addresses as governor and in sev
eral messages the subject was em
phasized, and so obligatory did I re
gard the platform pledges that extra
sessions of the legislature were
called to meet and redeem them. I
have followed this course in the sen-r
ate and am therefore thoroughly
committed toit.
THE EXCEPTION
In a home where the mother Is
somewhat aggressive and the father
good-natured and peace-loving, a
child's estimate of home conditions
was tersely expressed the other day.
While dressing, the mother paused
in the act of putting on her shoes
and said, "I certainly am easy on
shoes. I have worn these for four
months. I don't know what you
would do, John, If I were not. I am
easy on everything." The little girl
looked up from her dolls and re
marked: "Except father." Success.
- .
COULDN'T REACH HIGH NOTES
"I understand that tho manager
is paying fabulouo salaries to his
leading singers," said the inquisitive
reporter.
"Not fabulous," rejoined the cyni
cal press agent "fictitious." Wash
ington Star.
How to Secure the Oneida Community Company
Beautiful Silverware
Without Cost, for a Little of Your Spare Time
Wo havo mado special arrangements whereby wo aro offering an unprcco
dented opportunity for any ono to secure any pieco or sot of tho famous
Oneida Community Company's Relianeo Plato Sllvorwaro In tho Beautiful
Wlldwood Pattern, in exchango for a llttlo work among your friends All
that is necessary Is for you to induce a fow of your friends to subscribe for
The American Homcfltcnd, which Is ono of tho brightest and mbst attractive
farm and household papers published. Securo for us tho number of subscribers
listed under each offer that you ddcldo to work for, and in, return for your
work wo will send FREE and PREPAID to your address this handsome and
bcnutlful ailvcrwnrc; Tho regular price of tho paper Is 50 cents per year
To malto these offers worth while, and id glvo overy woman an opportunity
to earn for herself a full supply of tho very best silverware something that
iiiu wuuiu uu prouu to own ana mat wouia do aumirea by
all her friends wo selected tho Reliance Plato, In the
dainty and exqutsito Wlldwood Pattern. Evorv nlnnn nf
this silverware Is extremely bcnutlful, and Is absolutely
guaranteed by tho makers, tho Oneida Community Company
of Oneida, Now York, for ton years, and also guaranteed by
us to satisfy In ovory way. Tho Relianeo Plato is guaran
teed to bo mado of superior 18 por cent nickel silver tho
best for plating upon that It has a heavy plate of uuro
silver 25 per cent heavier than regular standard Al plate;
It is mado throughout by skilled workmen In accordance
with tho best and most modern methods of sllvorwaro man
ufacture, and any pieco that does not conform to this guar
antee will bo replaced free o charge. Don't confuse this
guaranteed silverwaro with tho cheap nickel-plated waro
usually offered for premium purposes. This is tho most
liberal opportunity over offered by a publisher.
IN 1050
"She belongs to one of our best
families."
"Did her ancestors come over in
the Mayflower?"
"Oh, no. She's much more exclu
sive than that. She's a 'Daughter of
Discoverers of the North Pole.' "
Life.
REVELATION
"Ah, sir, we do enjoy your ser
mons," remarked an old lady to a
new curate. "They are so instruc
tive. ;We never know what sin was
until you came to the parish." The
Sacred Heart Review.
WtHMMakUMMMnwa
I! 'E
mm
ill :dfK?
111. .tsHef
IP
it
i i
if -
flVSp "Am
(Hfc "-"Am
EH n
EIGHT BIG OFFERS
No. 1 One Bcnutlful Sugar Shell for only one new nub
scribcr, or with each now subscription at 50 cents.
No. 2 One Bcnutlful Butter Knife for ouly one new sub
Hcrlbcr, or with each new subscription at 50 cents.
No. 3 One Butter Knife nnd One Sugar Shell for only twe
nubMcrlbcrH, at 50 cents each.
No. 4 One Set of Six Teaspoons for only three new sub
scribers, at 50 cent's each.
No. R One Set of Six Tablespoons for only six new sub
scribers, at 50 cents each. , ,T .
No. o One Set of Six Knives for ' only eight new sub
scribers, at 50 cent3 each.
No. 7 One Set of Six Forks for only eight new sub
scribers at 50 cents each.
No. 8 One Twenty-Six Piece Set for only 25 new nub
scrlbcrs, at 50 cents each. There aro C knives, 6 forks, 6
teaspoons, G tablo spoons, 1 sugar shell and 1 butter knife
in this handsome set. Packed in oak finish, fancy cloth
lined case. Any one will bo proud to own this beautiful ana
handsomo set.
Don't Miss This Opportunity
You will mako no mistake if you start to work for this guaranteed sllvor
waro. A largo number havo already taken advantage of those offers, and all
aro moro than delighted with our premiums. A great many are working for
all they can possibly get after having secured ono offer. Many aro taking
advantage of tho opportunity of obtaining a full chest of tho best standard
3ilverwaro, and all in ono dainty and exquisite pattern. Somo aro sending in
for tho butter knifes and sugar shells to uso as gifts. Ono woman sent us
threo names and had tho paper and tho Butter Knives sent as presents to
friends. Another had sugar shells and tho paper sent to six relatives.
Start to work nt once. You will never regret tho llttlo time It takes, ana
you will bo highly pleased with tho silverware. It is very easy to securo
subscribers to our paper, and tho price Is within the reach of every one. Mr.
Charles W. Bryan's personal guarantee to refund tho price paid for a yearly
subscription, If subscriber Is not satisfied after reading threo issues, will
mako it very easy for you to secure now subscribers, and your friends win uo
only too glad to help you obtain this beautiful silverware. To any ono de
siring to seo a sample, of this silverware before starting a club wo win sena
ono teaspoon upon receipt of 10 cents to cover cost of packing ana postage.
Sample copies of paper furnished on request. Send all orders and remittances 10
THE AMERICAN HOMESTEAD, Lincoln, Nebraska.
TO OUR READERS
Through a special arrangement just effected with the publishers,
The Commoner is enabled to make its readers the following unpre
cedented yearly subscription offer, which is good only until Feb. 1st.
COMMONER .... $1.00
McClure's Magazine . 1.50
American . . .... 1.50
Success Magazine . . 1.00
Total Value
5.00
Our Price Only
$3.00
For All FOUR
Many of the popular magazines are raising their prices this year,
but we have secured the co-operation of these well-known publica
tions on 'such advantageous terms as to permit of this great club
bing offer. No such bargain in a similar group has been offered
for years, and it is an opportunity that will not come soon agai-.
your subscription to The Commoner has not yet expired, you may
still take advantage of this offer by merely having it extended now
for a year from the date of its expiration.
Send your subscription today to The Commoner, Lincoln, Neb.
A
t;
-l '- "Ji 'WiwAW.l.iUteb'iJbwa
