Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1894-11-02
A LAST WORD TO THE VOTER.
OF ALLEeANY COUNTY.


which illustrates the unfairness Of the pro.
tected interests and teaches valuable lesson
to the mass of the people. A bicycle fac
tory located there employs q number Of
Democratic voters. Mr.. Williams, our can
didate for Congress, called upon the super
intendent Of the works, a Mr.. Crawford,
and asked permission TO GO through the
building and see the men. Somewhat rough.
ly the request was denied, Mr.. Crawford
stating to Mr.. Williams that he would op
pose his election with all the resources at
his command, and that the election of such
fellows as he-Wiliams-to Congress meant
the loss Of thousands Of dollars OF the profits
of the factory. This concern makes about
twenty-seven per cent. profits.
No one will dispute Mr.. CraWfords right
to his political views, but 1t is worth noting
that the head Of a great manufacturing con.
Germ is unwilling TO have the men in his
employ hear the fair discussion OF public
questions or TO meet the candidate OF their
choice. This gentleman is typical Of his
class, which for years terrorized the wage
earners under them, and welded an infiu.
ence at elections cut OF all proportion to
their interests.
But the incident furnishes food for refiec.
ton in many directions. The profits Of this
concern are net greater than the profits OF
many other protected industries in this coun.
try. These profits are many times greater
than those enjoyed by unprotected indus
tries, and largely in excess of the percent
age which would be earned In market reg.
ulated by the natural laws Of supply aud
demand and active and healthy competition.
They are the direct result of the policy OF
protection. 1t is self.evident that these ex-
cessive and unjust profits must como out Of
the consumers, and unless the consumers
profits, in his line Of business, equal those of
his protected neighbor, the consumer must
become poor while the manufacturer grows
rich. II is impossible 10 state with any de.
gree of accuracy what the excessive profits
Of protected industries are, but the figures
are startling even when the lowest estimate
is considered. We speak only Of the profits
which result from protective tariff, and
which are over and above fair percen tage
upon the capital invested. A conservative
estimate places them at ten dollars per head
of the population, or about 81 4 hundred aud
fifty millions OF dollars per year. They are
derived mainly from articles of general con-
sumption, 50 that all classes contribute to
the exaction. TO bring it home to our PEG.
Pile, let us suppose that this enormous sum
were levied as direct tax. Montgomery
county, with its thirty thousand inhabitants,
would pay three hundred thousand dollars,
demanding a tax rate Of two dollars and
seventy three cents on the hundred dollars
OF assessment--more than three times the
present rate. IL this sum were 30 levied for
the benefit OF few persons engaged in Ger.
tain industries, revolution would follow
within thirty days
But it is not the less certainly levied be-
cause it is not paid to the tax collector. 1t
is exacted day by day in every transaction
over the counter, and is paid as tribute or
bounty to the protected manufacturer
Viewed in this light We see the manifest in
justice OF the protective system, and it makes
very clear and just the Democratic conten.
ton that Congress has no constitutional
right TO levy taxes for any other purpose
than the necessities of the government econ.
omically administered.
II is natural, perhaps, that those engaged
in the protected industries should combine
to continue system which contributes so
much and so easily to their wealth, aud we
A.. Al
McKinleyism as they have heretofore baud
ed together to prevent its overthrow. Why,
in the name OF common sense, should not
the masses of the people, from whom this
Ubiquitous tribute is exacted, combine to
throw off the burdenp The people only are
strong enough to do 1t, and the opportunity
is at hand.
The great battle which has waged for 90
many years, 10 more than half won. The
lines which will confront each other mex
Tuesday are the same that have met on 80
many fields, the banners that wave over
them bear the same devices a. Of old, and
the battle.cries are lsmil lar to US all. The
Democratic column will not prove recreant
in such a contest. Remember that 1t is
McKineyism, with all its unconstitutional
oppression, for which Mr.. Wellington stands
He stands also for the National Republican
platform of 1892, and that platform endorsed
all that was done by the Fifty first Con.
gress-its force bill, its billion dollar appro-
priations, the continuing expenditures which
it imposed upon the people, as well as the
nf tva ~ u latyfa
lation.
TO all Of these things the people Of this
county have twice given the most pro
nonnced condemnation There 10 absolute
ly nothing in the present campaign TO cause
the change of q single Democratic vote--on
the lines should be more compact than ever
in order that the policy begun after 90 much
labor shall bear Its perfect fruit through the
years of prosperity that await US under new
and better conditions.
MIR. Ferdinand Williams deserves the sup.
port Of his party. His campaign has been
clean throughout. There have been no IN.
worthy Establishments in his talks to the
people. In plain, Straightforward, able
way he has t)ld US what his honest con
victipns al Q, making no promises which b,
cannot fulfill, and giving an unsullied char
acter as the best pledge he can offer of hi
fidelity and earnestness in the peoples cause
Under these conditions, Montgomery coun
~ owes it to herself TO make new recor'
in the race for the pennant of Democracy.
Mr.. G. A. Evans, staff correspondent
the Pittsburg DispatcA, 9 strong Republican
paper, who has been following Mr.. Wilson