Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-01-08
THE OUTLOOK FOR REFORM.

Republicans ON the Tariff Question-The
Democrats WIN Keep the Question Open
For the Battle of '9z.
Congressman William NJ. Springer
was recently in New York, and while
there he was interviewed by member
of the Reform Club on the present. out
look of tariff reform. The Illinois
Congressman said:
s'The Republican politicians of Wash
ington are now endeavoring to divert
public attention from the principal issue
upon which they were repudiated at the
November election. They seem to be
OF the opinion chat there is but one way
open through which success is possible
in 1892. Upon the tariff question they
have been thoroughly repudiated. They
now hope by reviving sectional issues,
Through and by means of the force bill
and appeals to- sectional prejudice, to
reform political issues upon other lines
than tariff and taxation. In this they
will be as much disappointed as they
were overwhelmed by the result of the
recent election. The people of the coun-
try have pronounced against taxation
of the many for the benefit of the few.
They will not give up this issue until it
has eventuated in practical legislation
in accordance with their demands II
we were now living under the form of
government which prevails in monarch
ical England, the new Congress would
be at once convened and the Mckinley
bill would be repudiated Immediately;
but under our conservative methods we
must abide the constitutional forms re-
quired for securing results.
''On the tariff question the Republic
ans can neither go forward or backward
with any prospect of lettering SheF
condition. To stand still is conceded de
feat; TO move in the other direction ofe
fers scarcely less advantage. - they
50 forward they must rely upon the
fulfillment Of pledges made before the
election and pending the passage OF che
Mckinley bill, to the effect that while
prices OF articles affected by the tariff
might be temporarily advanced, yet,
ultimately and in the near future, by
means of competition, such prices could
be greatly reduced and articles would
be cold cheaper than before the passage
OF the bill, thus placing their reliance
in the future for reversal of the pop
ular Judgment in November upon claim
that competition is TO come to their re-
lief, AND. that by che time OF the next
Presidential election the people will be
in che full enjoyment OF cheap neces-
saries OF life secured through competi-
ton. This hope is . hattexing one; 10
can never be realized.
Competition has already done its
perfect work in this country In the mat
ter OF reducing prices. Soperfectly has
competition been carried ON that com
bination for the purpose o. arresting
competition has been resorted to. ell
along the line. There is scarce
y 3 manufacturing industry in the
United States that is not more or. less
controlled by some kind Of com bination
for the purpose of limiting the output
and regulating the prices. IN some
cases this combination has taken the
form OF trusts, or organized monopolies.
These trusts have secured the eoncentra-
zion OF nearly all the capital engaged In
given industry, and by this oombina-
ton q complete control OF the output
and prices has been secured. In other
cases Q more mild type of com bination
has been resorted TO. In some cases
the combination has been secured by
means Of correspondence between the
yayious interests and a tacit agreement
reached as 10 output and prices, year
after year. But through one form or
another scarcely an industry can be
mentioned in which further competi-
tion il not prevented or made 2mpossi-
BILE by che mutual concurrence Of those
engaged in the business.
'sThose, therefore, who look TO com
petition for q reduction Of prices
wi2 be deceived. Prices Of manu-
featured articles can only be reduced,
| while che Mckinley bill is in force, by
the reduction Of wages or by the adop-
ton Of improved processes. The 1atter
| viii come without the tariff; it is en-
tirely independents Of II. In most lines
! Of industry il would seem that the pro-
cesses of manufacture were almost per
feet at this time; but still we may hope
for continual Improvement in this di-
rection. although such improvement
will scarcely be perceptible in the brief
space of two years. Lower prices, Sc
Cured by reduction Of wages, would be
attended with greater disaster than Il
present prices should be maintained aud
wages increased; so that wherever
cheapness is secured by reduction OF
! wages the remedy will be worse than
The disease-speaking in q political
I seuse-as it will affect the interests OF
che Republican party. Hence Il seems
conclusive that the Republican party
can not improve IFS position ON the
tariff or on taxation by adhering to the
Mckinley bill.
| eff, however, Che leaders of the party
should determine to reverse their posi-
<ion, overturn the leadership of Harri
son, Mckinley and Reed, and put Mr.
Blaine forward with the implied prom
Use of the repeal OF the Mckinley bill
The enlargement of trade through reel
procityo and the lettering of their condi
ton by eepudiating all that the Repub
hcan party has done since il came int
power, it will find this latter condition
more hopeless than Che former.
president Harrison in dis message q
Congress pointed with pride to th'
fact that there had been, recently, al
increase in Che prices Of agriculture
products, such as corn, wheat ETC., ant
he endeavored to convey the impression
thas such increased price of agricult
ural products was the result of the Ac
Kinley bill. Nothing could be Aurthe
from the truth. If he had taken pain
to examine the report on the conditio,
OF the crops-which issued from sh
Agricultural Department almost simul
| taneOuSlv with his message - b