The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-03-30
Nor DIE 10 rARIFF.

Copies of an address by Mr.. Alfred
Dodge of Dolgeville, N. Y, having been
distributed in this state and widely
elsewhere, and a marked copy of the
DolgevilIe Herald of Feb. 1, containing
it, having been forwarded to me, evid-
entity for criticism and comment, some
reply seems to be called for. Mr. Dodge,
| it should be explained, is a large manu-
facturer of woolens, felts, shoes, piano
sundries, etc, and like the many other
manufacturers who have been compel
led to close their factories by the stress
of hard times naturally seeks for the
causes which have brought misfortune
upon him. The address in question ex-
plains, or purports to explain, the ex-
listing depression in all lines of manu-
featuring and business generally, and
it is hardly necessary to add that the
explanation is given from the one-sided
point of view taken by SO many per
sons in the east In short, according
to Mr. Dodge, there are just two causes
for present troubles-silver and the
proposed reduction of the tariff.
My attention having been especially
directed to the matter by some of the
readers of the address-it having been
widely circulated here through dealers
in Mr.. Dolge's goods-permit me to
avail myself of your valuable space to
discuss it in some detail, to the end
that those who look upon the utter
o.ococ II, 77oe4ioy, &c oO,7DI G,
may not be misIed, as their author
himself has been.
Mr.. Dolge's factories have been oper
ated on an Notwithstanding plant
which is to be commended. 1t has
been the custom for the employees at
Dolgeville TO hold an annual meeting
at which reports for the year are pre-
scented. 1t was on the occasion of the
twenty fifth annual reunion that this
speech was delivered. Instead of the
annual dinner the proprietor assembled
his workmen around empty tables.
made them a speech, telling them why
in his opinion-the factories had to be
closed Dec. Is last and why they
should have to look for reduced wages
and less work in the future.
The speaker said that in reviewing
the business for the years 1891 and
1892 he had been able to report that
they we're the most successful years
ever had, and that these years
"will be known in the history of our
country as the two years Of sound eco
nomic policy embodied in the McKin-
ley tariff law, of course" Of course.
Unfortunately for this explanation,
however, it happens that the general
business depression throughout the
country began during that very period
began while the Mckinley law was in
full force and long before it was sup
posed that the elections in the fall of
1892 would bring a low tariff policy to
the front. True, the full force of the
panic did not come until June of las
year, when a sudden break was precipi-
tated by the action of the India coun-
Gil in closing the India minis to silver
Yet Mr.. Dodge, because his own factor
les were enabled to show a profit for
1892, assumes that the whole country
was then equally and greatly prosper
Gus, and that ''all the factories through
out the land were busy every working
day of the year, that ''the home mar
kets consumed all that America could
Make" and that "an were making
money and happy"
And now, he says, all this is reversed
and he is compelled to offer aid to men
who have worked with him, who can
and are able to work and yet are forced
to the level of mendicants merely be-
cause supreme ignorance and conceit
reign in Washington. Well, we in Col
orado are quite willing to unite with
Mr.. Dodge in ascribing our troubles
largely to vicious legislation, but so
far from this being due to ignorance
we are ready to give full credit to the
representatives of the money power in
congress for having very shrewd idea
of what they were and are doing.
It is all the fault of the Democrats, |
according to Mr.. Dodge, who speaks of
them as 'the party now in power, true
to its old time hatred of industry and
thrift" 1t is only natural that he,
speaking not as a philosopher taking
judicial, dispassionate view of the stu
alton, but as an extreme high protec- |
ton Republican politician, should pitch
into the other side and call names.
But this is not argument. Those of US
who are neither Republicans nor Demo-
Gratis, but can regard the actions and
records of both parties impartially, see
that both of the old parties have alike
sinned in their dealings with the peo-
pies interests.
The first year of the reform era
says Mr.. Dodge, sis the darkest, page in
the records of business Does he-then
forget that we are still living under Re
publican laws; that'the Mckinley tariff +
is in full operation; that the Wilson
bill has not yet. passed the senate that
even if it is not Indefinitely postponed
by nonconcurrence on items it cannot
take efecs for many months to come,
and that so far as the. business of the
year 1893 isseoncerhed, which iszsthe