Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-07-05
THE TARIFF AS. A BRIDE.


- Tho Farmer.
wepublicans always resent the charge
nat the grand old party is subservient
10 the manufacturing interests OF tho
sDountry and 10 dependent upon them for
financial and moral support in return
Tor tariff laws made for their benefit
When these laws are put through Con-
Gress the manufacturers are expected to
show their gratitude by supporting the
high tariff makers for recollection and to
contribute q liberal supply Of fat 'or
campaign expenses. This is the theory
OF the celebrated 'fry-the-fat circul ar, "
In which prominent Republican, SEN
ator from Kansas or Vermont claimed
chat the manufacturers got practically
che sole benefit Of protection and that
they should therefore come down liber-
ally with their cash.
An interesting practical illustration Of
all this is found in the case OF
Congressman Bayne, of Pittsburgh,
Pa The other day he declined to run
Tor Congress again, after having been
Eenominated by the convention of his
district.
Colonel Bayne gave as q reason for
mis- declination the fact that he had
grown weary Of public life and he had
Intended for some time to quit it for
private life.
But why is he tired OF politics? One
reason given is the ingratitude Of the
eich manufacturers OF his district Col
0nel Bayne is the author of the metal
schedule in the Mckinley bill, and for
years he has done the tariff work for
Ehc iron and steel men of his district,
many of whom are now millionaires.
He succeeded in getting tho metal duties
Through the House without amendment
-tin-plate duty and all.
Notwithstanding all this the iron and
steel men of his district were seeking
the defeat of the very man who had
Hooked after their interests so carefully.
But the Tariff bill had in the meantime
gone over to the Senate, and the news
had gone forth that the Senators were
going to butcher the metal schedule to
such an extent that it would not
be recognized when it got back
into the House. Under the fear
of such a calamity the Pittsburgh
1ron and steel men decided four
days before the primaries that they
would rally to the support of Bayne and
have him renominated. This was done
and the maker of cast-iron tariffs was
again honored with nomination, but
he declined, and the high protectionist
Ehick-and-thin party organ of Pittsburgh
speaks of "a base conspiracy" Of 'the
whole disreputable business" and ac-
cuses Bayne ''of most wanton and in
defensible act Of bad faith"
But 1.-The whole disreputable business"
1s very instructive in one way; it fur
nishes proof-if proof were needed-of
what tariff reformers have all along
been saying of the evil effect of class
Legislation.
The protective tariff Is the best ex-
ample we have of this legislation. 1t is
enacted into law for the benefit of
class, as was confessed by the prominent
Republican Senator referred to, and
Legislation for the benefit of any class
of men clearly acts as bride for the
support of these men. To buy vote is
everywhere among honest men looked
upon as corrupt and criminal. Is it any
less corrupt and criminal for a great
party to pass laws for the enrichment Of
q class of citizens in order that they may
gain their votes and also fry the fat
from them for use in ''blocks-of-five"
campaigns of direct bribery?
Furthermore, we usually look upon
the poor devils who are out Of a job and
60 whom few dollars mean bread and
butter for week or two, as the men
WhO are most susceptible to a bribe.
Everybody who uses money in elections
approaches the poor fellow who Is hard
up; nobody will make an attempt on the
9ich, well-fed man who drives up to the
poIls in his carriage.
But is it certain that he is above taking
abr be? Is it certain that Congress has
not put him into ''block OF five" for
election day? Look below the surface and
both these men have sold themselves
and are therefore equally base.
But with the bribe-givers the case is
diferent. When q Dudley writes a
lstter from his party's headquarters di-
Eecttng that the loaters be divided into
ssbIOcks of FIVE" that is case Of very
grave corruption-but it is the corrup-
-Gion in the management Of q particular
,party only-what on the other hand,
shall be said of this party when 1t uses
the lsw-malxing power OF the Govern
rment in such q way as to divide
che manufacturers into "blocks Of five"
for the support Of that party? Is
not this . prostitution of the Govern
ment to the basest party uses; and
rs Il not . corrupting OF the people in
che most insidious and dangerous man
.anra What shall ha thnnnht Of man