IP" " " '
.
Conservative *
$4.85 and foreign plates ( in bond ) for
$8.70 per bos.
Figures are somewhat dry , but it pays
to study these , for the lesson will be
learned never to accept even govern
ment statistics without verification.
Senator Washburn was right and his
critics have put themselves in a very
undesirable position.
President Hadley , of Tale University ,
writes in Scribner's Magazine for
November , as Oockran spoke at Chicago ,
about that theoretical trust , without any
privileges. Such a trust never existed.
But in regard to the tariff he is plain
enough :
"It is safe to say that in those indus
tries which are at all thoroughly
monopolized public safety will generally
demand that duties be placed on a
revenue rather than a protective basis.
The fact that an industry can thus
organize itself shows that it has out
grown the period of infancy. If it con
tinues to demand a prohibitory tariff on
its products , the presumption is that it
is trying to make an arbitrary profit at
the expense of the consumer. "
Hlore Republican Opinions.
If President Hadley is not thought a
good enough protectionist to call as a
witness , there is no lack of orthodox
protectionist witnesses. Read what The
Philadelphia Ledger says :
"But , as a matter of fact , congress
has a weapon which readily can be used
to checkmate most of the oppressive
combinations against whose exactions
protests go up from the people. The
majority of the trusts deal in products
protected by the tariff , in whole or in
part , from foreign competition. "
And the good republican Commercial
Advertiser of New York :
"The time \\ill soon come when public
opinion will no more tolerate protective
duties on trust products , for protection
should logically promote home competi
tion , while trust organization de
stroys it. "
In the state of former President Harrison
risen , the republican Blairsville Courier
sounds no uncertain note :
"We are firmly of the opinion that it
is a high tariff , and only a high tariff ,
that is responsible for the multiplication
of trusts , and it is our decided opinion
that the only manner in which these
combinations can be wounded in a vital
spot is by modification of the tariff laws
which has made them possible and to
which they owe their existence. "
A trade paper ought to know what it
is talking about when it discusses its
own trade ; so the remarks of The
American Wool and Cotton Reporter , - a
protectionist journal , are worthy of at-
tentioa : \ < M
"Tfio situation , it seems to na has
v been made'a very complicated one by
the trusts a very dangerous one , we
may add. The democratic party , .by
boldly arraying itself against trusts and
by calling upon the people to support it
n its fight , would possess an opportunity
such as has seldom come to it. We
jelieve , as matters have now developed ,
that it would have a rallying cry that
would insure its success at the polls. It
would come into power pledged to reseal -
seal all tariff schedules favorable to
trusts , and this would mean the re
scinding of a very large part of the
existing law. In the matter , for instance ,
of schedule K , we must confess to feel
ing a little startled at hearing prominent
merchants previously good protection
ists , openly advocating a repeal on both
wool fabrics and raw wool.
"It is quite a common thing to hear
men of standing in the various callings ,
who have in the past been wedded to
protection views , declare that they
believe that the trust movement will
result in a very general repeal of tariff
duties ; and it is quite obvious that this
is a remedy which would meet with
; heir approval. "
Many other similar quotations from
high republican and protectionist
authorities might be cited. Senator
John Sherman said ten years ago that :
"Whenever free competition is evaded
or avoided by combination of individuals
or corporations , the duty should be re
duced and foreign competition promptly
invited. "
Many trust officers do not hesitate to
say that trusts depend upon tariff duties.
Those of the tin plate trust told the
Industrial Commission only a few days
ago that the removal of the tariff would
hurt their trust , and in fact , might kill
their industry.
Can any intelligent man hesitate to
urge the repeal of tariff privilege , or
can any one doubt that success awaits
the party that will fight the peoples'
fight by demanding the repeal of
privilege 1
Trusts can evade and nullify any
statutes passed to restrain them , but
against repeal of privilege every monop
olist cries out.
New York , October 81 , 1899.
Farmers' Leagues are being organized
in many counties in Maine , on a plat
form which demands a revision of the
tax laws , a tax on franchises , a horizon
tal reduction of salaries of state officers ,
a cessation of appropriations for private
educational institutions , homo rule for
the towns , and the abolition of free rail
road passes.
"American shipping needs no subsidy
except it be a small one for mail and
passenger steamers , which may be nset
in naval service during war , " the Port
land Oregonian ( rep. ) says , "but it does
need the right to meet the other nations
of the earth on an equal footing , by
having the world for a market on which
to draw when wishing to buy as well as
when wishing to sell. "
POLITICAL.
One rule , of many , adopted by the
democratic executive committee in
Reading , Pa. , provides that city candi
dates must not treat voters to beer or
other liquors either directly or indirect
ly , and that if this rule is violated by a
successful candidate he shall be put off
the ticket. The advocates of the no-
beer campaign are encouraged by its
success in the recent congressional
contest.
The gold democratic organization in
Maryland , in a declaration of its reasons
for urging support this year of the re
publican state ticket , assigns the fear of
the democratic state convention to state
its opinion on the financial question ,
construing its silence as an approval of
the democratic position elsewhere on
silver , and also the silence of the demo
cratic platform , on important measures
for the promotion of the best interests
of the state , in sharp contrast to which
is the promise of additional reforms by
the republicans , coupled with the carry
ing out by that party of the promises
and pledges in its platform of 1895.
One hundred " "
"leading" republicans
of Alabama met in conference in Bir
mingham on Saturday , "and adopted
resolutions endorsing the administration
of President McKiuley and his foreign
policy in particular , and demanding his
reuominatiou and reelection. " A cor
respondent of the Washington Post ,
who reported the meeting , adds the
illuminating fact that' 'among those in
attendance was National Committeeman
William Youngblood , who is Third
Auditor of the Federal Treasury. "
Both the republicans and democrats in
Haverhill , Mass. , according to a corres-
pendent of the Boston Advertiser , are
much exercised over the strength in that
city of the socialists. The latter won in
the city election last year , and with this
encouragement they are trying now to
get a majority in the city for their state
ticket and their candidates for the legis
lature. The republicans see the need of
making a hard fight to win in the city ,
and they are asking , and in many cases
receiving , the support of democrats.
The Philadelphia Bulletin ( rep. ) wnrus
the president not to attempt to retain
exclusive executive control of "our new
possessions. " "Such a policy , " it says ,
"would not commend itself to the
American people. It would arm the
democratic minority in the house and
senate with a weapon which they could
use effectively in assailing the dominant
party. It would not bo in accordance
with the president's own repeated asser
tions that the future disposition and
government of these territories is a
question which should bo decided by
both houses of congress , acting in their
capacity as the representatives of the
voters of the United States. "
' -f