-specified requirement of incapacity is
in effect set aside by Order"Xo. 7S as
to all persons over sixty-two.
Tlie war closed nearly forty years
ago.In the meantime many of our
soldiers and sailors long survived the
age of sixty-two , and passed away
without receiving any pension. Skill
ful pension attorneys hunting through
the statute failed to find there a pro
vision giving a pension to all who had
reached sixty-two. Many prominent
veterans urged the justice of congres
sional action giving a service pension
to all veterans. Bills to that effect
Avere introduced in Congress. And not
until March of this year did any one
ever claim to have made the discov
erythat the President had power to
treat the statute as if it read that when
a claimant had passed the age of sixty-
two years he is necessarily disabled
one-half in ability to perform manual
labor and therefore entitled to a pen
sion.
sion.Tlie
Tlie President of the Civil Service
Commission , General John C. Black ,
formerly Commissioner of Pensions ,
and Commander-in-Chief of the Grand
Army of the Republic , indicated his
A'iew of the order when in a recent ad
dress he thanked the President for
what he had done , and advised his
hearers to vse their influence that a
law might be passed to the same
effect. Full confidence after all seems
not to have been placed on the defense
of justification , for it is pleaded in miti
gation that a former Democratic Pres
ident did something looking in that
direction. Even if that were so
which is not admitted our present du
ty Avould be none the less plain and
imperative. Our. people must never
tolerate the citation of one act of
usurpation of power as an excuse for
another. The first may possibly be due
to mistake ; the second , being based on
the first , cannot be. In explanation ,
however , it should be said that the or
der relied on simply provided that the
age of seventy-five years should be re
garded as evidence of inability to per
form manual labor. Few men are able
to perform manual labor at that age , "
but nearly all men are at sixty-two.
The first order isbased on a fact that
experience teaches , the other is based
on the assertion of that which is not
true "as a general rule.
ROOSEA'ELT'S CHALLENGE.
The old inquiry , "AAliat are you go-
Ing to do about it ? " is now stated in
a new form. It is said by the adminis
tration , in reply to the public criticism
of this order , that "It is easy to test
our opponents' sincerity in this matter.
The order in question is reAocable at
the pleasure of the Executive. If our
opponents come into power they can
revoke this order and announce that
they will treat the veterans of sixry-
two and seventy as presumably in
full bodily A-igor and not entitled to
pension. Will they authoritatively
state that they intend to do this ? If
so , we accept the issue. "
This suggests the suspicion , at least ,
that the order was made to create an
issue that it was supposed to present
a strong strategic position in the battle
of the ballots. On the assumption
that the order , as stated by the Admin
istration , is revocable at the pleasure
of the Executive , it haA'ing been an at
tempted , though perhaps unwitting en
croachment upon the legislative power ,
and therefore unwarranted by tho Con
stitution , I except the challenge and
declare that if elected I will revoke
that order. But I go further and say
that that being done , I AA'ill contribute
my effort toward the enactment of a
law to be passed by both houses of
Congress and approved by the Execu
tive that will give an age. pension with
out reference to disability to the sur AA
viving heroes of the Civil ATar ; and C
under the provisions of which a pen 1C
sion may be accepted with dignity be
cause of the consciousness that it j
conies as a just due from the people '
through their chosen representatives , th
and not as a largess distributed by the nc
Chief Executive.
AV
UNDER BONDS FOR PEACE. rli
The foreign relations of the govern gr
ment have in late years assumed
special importance. ' Prior to the ac in
quisition of the Philippines , we were in
practically invulnerable against at th
tacks by foreign States. Those tropical in
possessions , however , seven thousand it.
miles from our shores , have change'd lit
all this and have in effect put us under Pl
bonds to keep the peace. The new an
conditions call for a management of fu
foreign affairs the more circumspect cri
in that the recent American imasion
of foreign markets in all parts of the lie
world has excited the serious appre tic
hension of all the great industrial peo in
ples. It is essential , therefore , more ini
than ever , to adhere strictly to thy nn
traditional policy of the country as 00
formulated by its first president and an
never , in my judgment , wisely de on
parted from to invite friendly rela im
tions with all nations while avoiding her
entangling alliances with any. Such a
policy means the cultivation of peace VO
instead of the glorification of Avar , and in
the minding of our own business in of
lieu of spectacular intermeddling with sa
the affairs of other nations. It means CO
strict observance of the principles of the
international law and condemns the of
doctrine that a great state , by reason in'
of its strengtu , may rightfully appro tic
priate the sovereignty or territory of A
a small state on account of its Aveak- bn
ness. It means for other American
states that AVC claim no rights and Avill in
assume no functions save those of a tal
friend and of an ally and defender as ex
against European aggressions. It ba
means that we repudiate the role of bami
the American continental policeman ; ta
that we refuse to act as debt collector
for foreign statesor their citizens ;
H , ; that we respect the independent sov to
ereignty of each American
state and life
its right to preserve order and other
can
wise regulate its internal
own affairs tion
in its own jwaj * : and that any inter
vention in its affairs by us is limited
to the single office of enabling its peo ge be
ple to work out their own political and
and national destiny for themselves and
an
free from the coercion of any Euro
as
pean state.
NO EXCUSE FOR EXTRAVAGANCE sor
somi
Twenty-eight years have passed since mi
the Democratic party of the State of miC
New York , in convention assembled , de
recommended to the National Democ en
racy the nomination of Samuel J. Til- enC
'den ' as its candidate for the Presidency , bay "
and declared it to be "their settled
up
conviction that a return to the consti upS
tutional principles , frugal expenses op
and administrative purity of the foun
ders of the Republic is the first and or
most imperious duty of the times the org
commanding issue now before the peo Plf
ple of the Union. " This strong exprea- dei
sion was called forth by the national
sie
expenditures : for Ihe year 1875 , which
amounted to $274.000,000 a situation
which , in the opinion of a majority of
our people , justified an imperative de
mand for reform in the administration
of public affairs. As the expenditures'
of the last fiscal year amounted to the
enormous ; total of $582,000,000. it is evi
dent that a thorough investigation of
dtl
the public service and the immediate
tla
abandonment of useless and extrava
gant expenditures are more necessary
now than they were then. This as
tounding ( increase is out of all propor
tion to the increase of our population ,
tia tiP finds no excuse from whatever as
pect we view the situation. The Na
tional Democratic platform declares
tltl
that "large reductions can easily be
made in the annual expenditures of
the Government without impairing the
efficiency of any branch of the public
service ? " Can there be any doubt of
the accuracy of this statement ? Be
tlt
tween the expenditures of the year
18SG ! , amounting to $242,000.000 , and
those of the last fiscal year the sev
tlb tle after Grover Cleveland ceased to
be President aggregating $382,000-
000 , there is a difference so great as to
excite : alarm in the breasts of all
thoughtful men. Even excluding the
sum ' of $50,000,000 paid for the Pan
ama Canal rights and to the State of
Panama , the expenditures of the last
fiscal year exceeded the sum of $532.-
000,000 , being more than double tho
expenditures : of the Government for all
purposes during the first year of Mr.
Cleveland's administration.
The expenses of the first four years
succeeding the last Democratic Ad
ministration amounted to the enormous
average of $511,000,000 per year. This
large expenditure was due to a consid
erable : extent to the cost of the Span
ish-American War , which occurred
during that period , but the termination
of that war brought no relief to the
Treasury , for the average annual ex
penses of the Government during the
three subsequent years ending June 30 ,
1904 ! , were about $519,000,000 , which is
.the largest sum hitherto reached , dur
"itC a like period , since the close of tho
Civil War.
CONCEALMENT OF CONDITIONS ,
t
This draft upon the revenues of the
country < has had the effect which might
have been anticipated , and now we
have : presented the reverse of the situ
ation , which led to the famous obser
vation , "It is a condition , and not a
theory , which confronts us. ' ' for , al
though the present incumbent found at
the close of the first fisjcal year , dur
tlk
tlai which he assumed control of the
administration , a surplus of receipts
over expenditures of more than $91-
000,000 ( , there was an excess of expen
ditures over receipts at the close of the
last fiscal year of $41,000,000 , and the
laoi
official monthly reports made by the
oiT
Treasury Department show that the
expenditures are continuously and
rapidly increasing , while the receipts
are diminishing.
In this connection it is interesting
to note the recent Administrative or
tod
ders < forbidding Government officers
from making public any statement of
estimates on which future appropria
tions < are to be based.
tiat If a man of ordinary intelligence
and prudence should find in the operat
ing expenses of his business such a
tremendous percentage of increase ,
trw
would he not promptly set on foot an
inquiry for the cause of the waste , and
take immediate steps to stop it , espe
cially when trusted employes have
cibe
been found dishonest and convicted ,
and a widespread impression exists
that a thorough investigation may dis
cover other cases of malfeasance ?
AVhen ; the Chief Executive reports to
Congress that , "through fraud , forger
ies ; and perjuries , and by shameless
briberies the law relating to the proper
conduct of the public service in gen
eral , and to the due administration of
the Postofflce Department have been
notoriously violated . . . , " there
was a general popular demand for a
rigid , sweeping investigation by Con-
gress , in addition to that undertaken
bj the Executive himself. Such an
investigation the Republican majority
Congress would not permit , al
though the minority insisted that the .
interest of good government demanded '
. And the minority was right. The
liberality , patriotism and National
pride of the people should not be made
excuse for waste of the public
funds. Official extravagance is official
crime.
There i is not a sentence in the Repub
lican platform recommending a reduc
tion in the expenditure of the Govern "
ment ; not a line suggesting that the
increase in the cost of the AVar Depart
ment from $34,000,000 in 1SSO to $115-
000,000 in 1904 , should be inquired into ;
and not a paragraph calling for a thor
ough investigation of those depart
ments of the Government in which dis
honesty has been recently disclosed.
The people , however , can by their
votes , if they desire it , ofder such an
investigation and inaugurate a policy
economy and retrenchment. It is
safe to say that this will not be ac
complished by endorsing at the polls
Republican majority of the House
Representatives which refused tub as
investigation and made the appropria
tions , nor bj' continuing in power the
Administration which made the dis er
bursements.
Reform ] in expenditures must be had
the Civil , Military and Naval es
tablishments in order that the National
expenditures may be brought to a
basis of peace and the Government
maintained without recourse to the
taxes : of war. to
war.CONCLUSION.
CONCLUSION.
I have put aside a congenial work ,
which I had expected to devote my
, in order to assume , as best I is
, the responsibilities your conven
put upon me.
I solicit the cordial co-operation and to
generous assistance of every man who we
believes that a change of measures
of men at this time would be wise ,
urge harmony of endeavor as well
vigorous action on the part of all
minded.
The issues are joined and the people
must render the verdict.
Shall economy of administration be
demanded or shall extravagance be ter
encouraged ?
Shall the wrongdoer be brought to
by the people , or must justice wait
upon political oligarchy ?
Shall our Government stand for equal
opportunity ; or for special privilege ?
Shall it remain a Government of law
become one of individual caprice ? like
Shall we cling to the rule of the peo
, or shall we embrace beneficent
iespotlsm ?
With calmness 'and confidence , TTO
await the people's verdict.
If called to the office of President. , I
shall consider myself the Chief Magis
trate of ai ! the peonle and not oi ! any
faction , and shall ever be mindful of
that fact that on many questions of
National policy there aro honest diffpr-
ences of opinion. I believe in the pa
triotism , good sense and absolute sin
cerity of all the peonle. I shall strive
to remember that he may sprve hi.
party best who serves his country best
If it be the wish of the ppoplp tha4
I undertake the dutio5 ? of the Presi
dency. I pledge myself , with God's
help , to devote all my nowors and en
ergy to the duties of this exalted office.
Very truly yours.
yours.ALTON
ALTON B. PARKER.
RECKLESS EXTRAVAGANCE
Presentation of Figure * ; Mlfely fo
Startle the Most Ardent Apclo-
alst of tlie Party of Waste.
The Magnitude of Recent Republican
Extravagance in the Administration of
the Government which are given here
with are conied from the official rec
ords of the Secretary of the Treasury ,
and are. therefore , beyond dispute.
President Roosevelt assumed office
September 14. 1001. and as soon as IIP
became firmly established in power
and control , it will be observed , in-
creased expenditures began. Thp total
expenditures , actual and estimated , for j
the four years of his incumbency ag-
grporated $2.041.728.019.18 , which is
$211.407.028.89 greater than the four
years of McKinley. though he conduct
ed the Spanish AVar , and $883.024J
802.75 greater than the four years of
Cleveland. In the first full fiscal year
of Roosevelt flflOS ) expenditures ex-
ceeded those of the first full fiscal year
of McKinley (1898) ( ) by $107,942,248.83.
and in the last full fiscal year of
Roosevelt (1905) ) expenditures , as esti
mated by the Secretary of the Treas-
ury , Avill exceed those of the last full
fiscal year of McKinley (1901) ( ) by $105-
875.060.25.
The last year of McKinley exceeded
his first by $75.392.052.57. while tlie
last year of Rooseveltvill exceed his
firstyearby $134.435,301.89. Of the total
increase of $883,024,802.75 for the four
years of RooseA'elt as compared with
the four years of Cleveland , the nota
ble increase , exclusive of the postal
service , is , in round numbers. $100.000j
000 in the civil establishment. $231-
000.000 in the naval establishment , and
$284.000,000 in the military establish-
ment. The total cost of the military
establishment , exclusiAe of pensions ,
during the four years of Roosevelt , ex-
ceeds that of Cleveland by $515,000 000.
SLIGHT CHANGE NECESSARY.
Small Percentage of Shifting of
Voters Needed to Wipe Out
Odell's Plurality.
Those supporters of Judge Parker
Avho are discouraged by the odds
against them as shown by the figures
of recent elections will do Avell to re-
fleet upon the fact that there are a
great many Aoters in this country , and
that a very silght change in sentiment
is enough to produce tremendous ef-
fects in the election returns.
At least 15,000,000 votes will be cast -
for President this year. The States of
New York , New Jersey , Connecticut , j
'
Delaware , West Virginia and Colorado ,
added to those carried by the DemoJ
crats in the last State elections , Avould
be enough to elect Judge Parker. A
change of S3,904 votes , or a little over
one-fifth of one per cent , of the total
vote of the Union , would carry these
six States. A change of less than onei
third of one per cent , of the vote of
this State alone would wipe out Odell's
last plurality in New York.
If Judge Parker's strength does not
represent more than these minute marjj
gins of Aotes , the influence of a just
cause and a good candidacy on elec-
tions has been greatly exaggerated.
DANIEL NOT DOUBTING.
Virginia's Senior Senator Entirely
Hopeful of the Prospect.
Eloquent Senator Daniel , of Virginia ,
was one of the numerous statesmen
who called at Democratic Headquar-
ters this week. The Senator , like all
i
the other callers , takes a very hopeful
view of the situation. He said :
"At no time , " said Senator Daniel ,
"have I ever doubted the election of
Parker and Davis. To-day the chances
are better than ever. Reports that I
have received from every part of the (
country , especially the doubtful States ,
show that Democratic prospects are
brightening. I feel confident that New
York , New Jersey and Connecticut will (
go Democratic and * that we will get
enough votes in the Middle West to
insure Parker's election. " ,
HOPE FOR WEST VIRGINIA. ,
"
W. E. Chilton , ex-Secretary of the
State of West Virginia , and who served
Chairman of the Democratic organi
zation in his State when it gave its
electoral vote to Cleveland , was a call
at National Democratic Committee
headquarters last week.
"AVhile AVest Virginia must be con
sidered a debatable State , " said Mr.
Chilton , "there are many good reasons
for believing we shall carry it in No !
vember. The platform and the candi I
dates of our party are very acceptable
our people , and ex-Senator Davis
for many years has been one of the
most popular men in the State. The
principal thins : we shall have to fight
the tendency of the Republicans to
poll illegal votes , especially among the
negroes , but I believe we shall be able
overcome thisvith the precautions
are taking for vigilance. " ,
cJ
WHERE 100,000 1V03IEN VOTE.
The Republican National Committee
has sent Mrs. J. Ellen Foster to do mis
sionary work among the 100,000 women
who are eligible to vote in Colorado ,
AA'yoming , Utah and Idaho. Mrs. Fos
will find that the women of'these
States are able to take care of them- !
selves. There are one or two local is
sues there which appeal strongly to
lovers of freedom and fair play , both
males and females , and Mrs. Foster , a
professional "spellbinder , " of New of
York , will discover that they are un
any issues thrft she has been ac
customed to harp upon under the di
rection of "Tom" Platt and "Ben" of
Odell. are
i CAMPAIGN LIE NAILED.
Effort to Injure Parker , in Ulster
County , Completely Destroyed.
The campaign liar is abroad He be
gan his work in Judge Parker's home
district by circulating a lie through
Ulster County. It purported to be a
statement made by Judge Parker as to
the wage an unskilled laborer was en-
titled for a day's work. But the false-
hood was soon dissipated. The lie was
ruined by elaborate details. The em
broidery to make it circumstantial
proved too much. It brought out a
sworn denial by those whose names
had been dragged in. The affidavit
rends as follows :
Emery Freer , Samuel E. Mott and
Louis Booth being severally duly
sworn say , and each for himself says ,
that he has read the article published
in the Globe and Commercial Adver
tiser , of New York , of date of Septem
ber 9. 1904. wherein it is stated that on
Saturday morning in the year 1902. at
the store of Emery Freer in Esopus.
while several residents of that place
were discussing the rate of wages that
should be paid for unskilled labor.
Judge Parker said : "I think a dollar a
. day is enough for any man. provided
! that his work is steady. Any man can
i live on that , and that is all unskilled
J
labor is worth. I am sorry that I have
to pay more than that , and wouldn't if
we ; had better supply of labor there
abouts. "
We note particularly that the article
so published states "on the day i * >
question J a crowd of men were there.
There were Emery Freer , Sam E. Mott ,
who ; runs the butcher shop and livery
stable ; New Booth , the barber ; Carl
Wismer. . who is now a baggage handler
J in the West Shore station in Kingston ,
and several farmers from the vicinity ,
who were in the village for their Satur
day's ( trading. "
We and each of us , the said Emery
Freer , being a Democrat , and the said
Samuel E. Mott and Louis Booth , Re
publicans ' , depose and say as to the
statements 5 in said article :
First That we are the identical per
sons named in the article , and in whose
presence j Judge Parker was alleged to
have made said statement.
Second That no such conversation
pver l took place , either at the store of
Emery j Freer or any other place , and
that j Judge Parker never made the
statements attributed to him at Freer's
store or any other place to the knowl
edge ' of either of us.
Third That the statement is false in
substance and in fact.
, Fourth That to our knowledge1' Judge
Parker , since he has resided in Esopus.
has paid the usual and going rate of I
wages to all the men employed by him
on his place.
In addition the said Emery Freer for
himself ' says that he has frequently ,
during the absence of Judge Parker ,
paid tho Judge's employes ; has time ,
and again cashed checks given to said '
employes for wages , and on his know- ! ,
edge says that Judge Parker has al- '
ways \ paid the going rate of wages to
nil men employed as day farm laborers
on his farm , to-wit , from $1.50 to $1.75
a day , and that the statement to the
contrary published as aforesaid is tin-
true t and absolutory without foundation. |
CHEAP CHARSE.
Judge Parker Beyond and Above
Control l y Special Interests.
Ex-Senator James K. Jones , of Ar
kansas , late Chairman of the Demo
cratic National Committee , joins Mr.
Bryan in unqualified prr.ise of Judge
Parker. Mr. Jones recently said of
the candidate :
"Judge Parker is recognized every
where as an able , incorruptible states
man , and if he should be elected Presi
dent there would be no fear at any
time of the business interests or pros
perity of the Nation being disturbed.
"The cheap and contemptible charge ,
intended i to injure Judge Parker , that
he is dominated or controlled by cor
rupt ATall Street elements is , beyond
all doubt , absolutely false. If he is
elected , he will resolutely enforce the
laws | , against all illegal combinations
and under his administration no preda
tory < Government favorite0 will be shel
tered. '
THE STRENUOUS EXAMPLE.
President Roosevelt has succeeded ,
perhaps beyond his expectations , in
arousing the fighting blood in the Oys
ter ( Bay populace. They had invited
the Stamford ( Conn. ) baseball nine to
play a friendly game with them , but it
turned out that the Oyster Bayites
Were too strenuous , and instead of bat
ting the ball soon commenced to bat
the Stamfordites. A pitched battle en
sued , knives were used , blood flowed
and the wounded covered the field. The
safe and sane people of Oyster Bay
and vicinity are debating whether the
"strenuous life" ' should be preached so
constantly to their young men as to
stir them up to battle with their neigh
bors and guests.
DEMOCRATIC GAIN IN MAINE.
While from Republican quarters the
election held recently in ATermontwas
given considerable prominence as indi-
eating the way "the cat will jump" in
November , the Democrats attached but
little importance to it , nor did they
figure xipon the election held in Maine
last Monday as a weather vane , yet it r
was with a feeling of some elation that 1
the Democratic hosts received the an
nouncement that notwithstanding a
full vote had been polled in Maine , the1
usual Republican majority in that
State had been considerably reduced. tl
This would at least tend to offset the
claims being made by Republican pa-
pers and party managers , if , it indicates
else.
nothing
Jo f
fit
its
SHRINE OF THE DEAR
PEE-PUL. cr
th
The Los Angeles ( Gal. ) Times , which at
devotes considerable space to lauda sn
tions of President Roosevelt and de pe
peY
fends him from the charge of being Y
friendly to the trusts , contains in its for
editorial columns of recent date an edi "i
torial severely arraigning the Standard
Oil Company. It refers to the offices
the company at No. 2G Broadway , the
New York , as the shrine at which the
dear pee-pul are permitted to lay their
golden offerings , sometimes at the rate
$36,000,000 a year , if recent accounts
to be relied on. " a
SOME SMALL BILLS.
Few "Unconsldered and Trifling' *
Items of Cost of Piaylna : Role of
World Power.
The following figures represent ap
proximately tup cost of the Philippine
experiment to date :
Paid to Spain fer the islands , ? 20-
000,000.
Paid to thp friars to abando their
lands ' and rive title to the United
States , $7.239.000.
Cost of the Army above normal from
1899 to 1903 inclusive. $500.000,000.
Cost of patrolling Philippine Avaters
and miscellaneous expenses ofthe
fleet , $25,000,000.
Expenses of the Philippine Commis
sion , two budgets , $429,000. .
Cost of transport service , $50,000,000.
The foregoing figures are from offi
cial sources , and only one of them ,
that of the expense of the transports ,
is estimated. Here is a total outlay of
$002,418,000. ami AVC have only just be
gun to play the role of a "world
power. "
This colossal sum , moreover , repre
sents only the actual and direct ex
penditures of public money in and for
the Philippines , and takes no account
of the enormous increase in the cost of
maintaining the Army and Navy , which
has been rendered necessary by the
Rooseveltian policy of being prepared
to "lick all creation. "
Reliable statistics" show that from
1893 to 1897 , both inclusive , the Navy
cost $152,553,452 ; and from 1899 to
1903 , inclusive , the cost was $330,823-
412 , or almost double. Tlie average
annual cost of the Army during Cleve
land's second administration Avas $40-
000.000. Since 1899 , under McKinley
and Roosevelt , the average annual cost
has been $137,000,000.
It costs money to maintain colonies
and play the bully among the nations.
* # SilEPARD'S EXPOSURES.
Democratic Proportions of Prosper
ity Far Exceed Republican I're-
tensions ,
Republican "Prosperity" Talk.-Shall
we take the increase in total maim-
factures , Avhich is the glory of the pro-
tectionists ? AVe have not the official
figures before 1850 , which Avould , no
doubt , show enormous proportional in-
creases. Let us , as Ave must , begin
with 1850.
The Democratic increase for 1850f
1800 Avas from $1,019,000 to $1,885,000.J1
000. or at the decade rate of 84 per
cent. But in 1890-1900 the Republican
cj
and "protected" increase allowing the
abnormally high prices of 1900 was
from $9,372,000,000 to $13,039,000,000 ,
or at the decade rate of only 39.2 per
cent. Is it not significant that , Avhile
the total manufacturing product in
creased in 1890-1900 by 39 per cent. ,
the increase in Avages and salaries paid
employes , Avas from only $2,283,000,000 i
to $2,735,000,000 , or at the decade rate '
of 19.S per cent. , being onljonehalf
the ratable increase in the nmmifac1
turing output ? So it is to be noticed
that , Avhile population increased in
1850-1800 by 35 per cent. , the increase
1c manufacturing output Avas 84 per ,
cent. , or 2.5 times the rate of popula
tion increase ; but that the population
increase from 1890-11)00 Aras 21.8 per
cent. , Avhile the increase in Avealth Avas
39.2 per cent. , or only 1.81 times the
population increase , ndced , in Avhat-
ever just Avay the figures of even man
ufacturing growth are treated , they
tell for the period of Democratic rule
and greater economic liberty. Edward
M. Shepard , of New York.
PROMISE OR THREAT ?
Danger of Continuing the Republi
can Program of Kxtrnvagance.
President Roosevelt in his iotter of
acceptance said among other things.
"We believe that the progress we
have made may be taken as a measure
of the progress we shall continue to
make if the people again intrust the
government of the nation to our hands , i
We do not stand still. * '
Considering this statement as sincere
and believing that what has been done l
is merely a measure of what will be
done , Avhat will be the effect upon the
United States Army ? If what has
been done is the measure of what is to
be done , then the army , which now
costs three times as much as when the
Republicans regained power , AVill cost
three times as much in the ensuing
eight years if the government of the
nation is continued in Republican , fi
hands. J e
In other words , the army , which in I E
1897. cost $23,129,344 , cost $70,070.300 w
this year , and if this "progress may be tli
taken as a measure of the progress" A
which will follow , eight years from gi
now the army Avili cost $210,000,000 a tt
year.
The cost of the navy , which has also
tripled , may , under Mr. Roosevelt's
promise ( or threat ) , triple again. Eight
Republican years have raised its an
nual cost from $33,003.234 to $98,005- b
140. Eight more years of the same te
sort of extravagance should naturally cc
bring its cost up to about $300,000,000. in
iw
NEW YORK CAMPAIGN. is
cr
Democratic and Independent News ci
papers United For Herrick. te
Every Democratic and. independent fi
newspaper in the city Oi. New York , Wi
except the Evening Post , expresses sat in
isfaction with the Democratic State. cr ,
ticket and Avill jive it earnest support. ° .
The Post concedes Judge Herrick's the ; .
great ability as Avell as his impartial-'tic '
ity as a Judge , but says it cannot ad
vise its readers to vote for him because
the ] Judge has ' dabbled" in politics
while on the bench. Yet the Post Avill
continue to denounce Odellism in its Ft
usual A'igorous style and no one need Nc
fear that any considerable number of tai
! constituents Avill A-ote fothe dis olcM
credited Odell's ticketin preference to M
the one headed by Judge Herrick. In DC
addition to the practically unanimous us
support of the Democratic and inde puW
pendent press , the Republican New W
York ( Sun is making a strong fight mr
Herrick and Harrison Avithout any of
"ifs" or "buts. " pr
prDe
"Sweep all of Odell's creatures , great De
and small , into the Hudson River ! " is Sa
Sun's clarion call to honest voters , pic
irrespective of party affiliation. m ?
"Speak softly and carry a big stick. "
Was ever a more potent suggestion of '
sneaking brute ?
TRUSTS AND TARIFF.
* _
i
Honest" Trca-fo Would - Expand Amer
ican Commerce.
Francis E. AVoodruft writes to tne-
Evening PosLN. ( Y. ) , the following in
teresting letter on "Protection : "
Sir The Republicans * ilcciaration
that "AA'e insist upon the maintenance
of the principles of protection" is a
challenge to make the question
Avhether the principle of protection is
right or Avrong a campaign issue.
This leaves the clean-cut issue , is
protection in principle right or Avrong ?
The only argument that has been ad
vanced for the foruier is that we see
it accompanfed by prosperity ; and a
similar argument would equally prove
that the sun goes around the earth !
An argument against it Is that , simply
because something cannot be made out
of nothing , "protective' ' duties can do >
no more than to divert production from
its natural channels ; that is , from the
lines of least resistance , and therefore
of least expenditure of effort , and so
of least cost of production. Converse
ly , such diversion from natural chan
nels must increase cost of production , ,
and , therefore , other things being L
equal , lessen profit. n
Tariff duty is only one of many fac
tory but so far as it goes the argu
ment is confirmed by the fact that
under the AValker so-called free trade
tariff , Avhen our manufactures came
nearest to following the natural chan
nels of production , their ratio of in
crease , Avhich is largely dependent on
relative profit , Avas greater than ever
before or since. Under the crowning-
iniquity , so far , of the Dingley tariff ,
while the ratio of increase , and so the
profit to the Nation , is less , corrupt
legislation has diverted the lion's share
of the diministed profits into the pock
ets of a tariff-privileged few to the
building up of huge individual for
tunes , that by their evil example and
evil use in corrupting our legislators
and A'oters are endangering our repub
lic. It is true that , thanks to abund
ant crops , and to other causes Avith
which protection has nothing to do-
except to do harm , there are crumbs of
j the _ resulting prosperity for the rest
of us ; but und nthe AValker tariff ,
. while individual fortunes would not
have , been so dangerously overgrown ,
the people Avould have had full loaves' .
Besides , despite the delaying of the
end by "Trust" combinations , the arti
ficial stimulant is manifestly losing
its effect , and should the Republicans
win it is an open secret that to bring
about another "boom" it Aviil be neces
sary to increase the dose , at our further
expense ; as well as to add ship subsi
dies . , and so on. If , on the other hand ,
the Democrats should vin , revision ,
properly managed as it would be by
the friends of .our country ( in place of
friends of the tariff beneficiaries , and
the Republican corruption fund ) , and
with honest reciprocity treaties , so far
froj n checking prosperity would give it
a 1 ifealthy impulse by throwing open
. to us the field : of international trade ;
in which , just as fast as our necks are
. freed from the millstone of protection
ism , with our natural resources , in
cluding brains , we would lead the
world. Tlie rich employers would be
come richer. Steel rails , for example ,
at $28 Avould lose the $ S Ave are now
robbed of , but th remaining profit
of $8 on the added enormous output
for the vast increase in the foreign
trade Avould more than .nake up the
loss. These employers , also , could ob
viously afford to ( and so long as a good
ratio of our land to our inhabitants
continues would have to , give as good
wages as now , or better * and instead
of the present alternating feasts and
famines there Avould be more steady
employment.
Best of all , perhaps , as tlie tariff
robbery was lessened its artificially en
hanced cost of living would be reduced ,
and ( say ) fifty cents Avould provide
what now costs a dollar. It has been
the Avriter's lot to spend most of his.
grown life abroad , and although novr
some years at home he still feels hu
miliated Avhenever , as often , lie finds
that in his own enlightened country ,
of Avliich he had been so proud , he
now has to pay for inferior quality
double Avhat he has been used to pay
ing in the benighted worat outside.
Besides the sense of humiliation , how
ever , there is also a distinct inclination
to kick somebody. AVliat justice is
there in robbing us to make other men
rich , or to swell the Republican cor
ruption fund ? From their own selfish
view point the Republicans do well to-
fight ; tooth and nail against change ,
except to make the duties higher.
Even ten years under a scientific tariff
would make my countrymen amazed
that they could have been so fooled.
After fifty years , our historians would
group the protection craze Avith the
tulip ; mania and the South Sea bubble.
A RATHER POOR COMPARISON.
Alleged "statistics" being circulated :
by tho Republican Campaign Commit
tee assert that there has been no very
considerable increase in the cost of liv
ing as compared to the wages earned ,
and one of the comparisons made is
with regard to building materials. It
shown that Avhiie bricks have in
creased 30.3 per cent , putty has de
creased 20.5 per cent. This it is con
tended is an offset , but a contractor
figuring on the construction of a house
would hardly be willing to offset the
increase in the cost of bricks by the de
crease . in the cost of putty. Many
other such comparisons are made in
schedules furnished from the Na
tional Bureau of Labor.
FRYE'S HOME DEMOCRATIC.
Lewiston. Me. , the home of Senator
Frye , and for many years the home of
Nelson Dingley , author of the present
tariff , is one of the bright spots in the
"Pine Tree" State. At the recent.
Maine election Lewiston gave a large
Democratic majority , although it has
usually giAen a larger one for the Re
publican tickets. Biddeford , Saco and
Watervilie. ; which , like Lewistou , are
manufacturing cities , where thousands
men and women are employed in
protected < industries , all show heavy
Democratic gains. In Biddeford and
Saco more than 0000 persons are em
ployed in cotton mills and 1200 in the-
manufacture of cotton mill machinery. .
Apropos of Roosevelt's letter : ,
'Whoever does these boots displace
Slust meet Bombastes face to
