The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1895-12-14
REPUBLICANS MUST HAVE
POLICY.

The apparent disposition, says the
American, of many republican members
of congress 10 do tnothing save attack
the administration, and, while losing no
opportunity to blame the democratic
party and democratic legislation and
incompetency fer thu continued depres-
sion of trade ard the !eplorable condi-
tion of our Industries, 20 propose no leg
islation, much iess endeavor to pass
legislation, LIS king to the alienation of
the sufferings of our people and the res
toration of prosperity is most unfortu-
nate, while the general lack of policy
and 1ndecision on the part of the repub-
lican leaders is objectionable.
The people expect more than fault
finding of the republicans in congress.
They look to them for leadership, TO-
a definite policy, for positive action.
They demand that every effo. be made
to enact such legislation as will tighten
the burdens of our people, protect our
producers from destructive competition
with degraded Asiatic and European
labor, give employment to our wage
the disastrous fail in prices and secure
to our farmers and manufacturers a
market for their produce at fair prices.
Mr.. Reed and others in congress may
deem it wise to put forward no definite
policy, may deem it best not to bind
themselves up with any policy, but,
standing for no principles, TO hold aloof
i "a 4 L. - D,I
illation, hedging, indecision, the eff1rt
to shift responsibility, is not what the
mass of republican voters expect, and
republicans in congress cannot afford to
shirk their responsibilities.
In the campaign of 1894 the lines be-
tween the protective system and the
Wilson German tariff were distinctly
drawn, and the large majority of the
republicans elected were pledged to put
forth every effort to restore a true pro-
tective system.
1t is then their duty, when now as
sembled for the first time, to present to
the president tariff bill that aims, not
only to provide ample revenue, but phi
marily to protect our producers from
unequal competition with well estab-
lished European manufacturers = who
stand ready to use their accumulations
of capital in an effort to crush out grow
ing competition in America by under
selling American producers even at a
temporary loss to themselves, if they
see the possibility of recompensing
themselves for such losses by charging
our consumers higher prices after they
have stamped out mpetition-and to
free our consumers from dependence on
foreign manufacturers and traders. In
framing such measure let republicans
keep in mind that the separation of pro-
ducer from consumer necessitates a sac
riice of large part cf the produce of
labor to pay transportation charges,
which amounts to tax on producers in
the form of lower prices, and tax on
consumers in the form of higher prices.
To adopt policy that drives US to look
to Europe for market for our agricul-
tural products, and to buy our manu-
sactured goods abroad, is to subject our
consumers and producers to this tax.
But this is not the only tax that such
separation is carried, the more COM
pletely are our people placed in depend
ence on foreign traders. To permit our
home industries to be destroyed is to
destroy the domestic market for our ag-
gricultural products and force our farm
els seek market abroad and to ac-
cept what the foreign trader offers, or
keep their produce unsold, for the for
eign buyer being the only buyer he
would be in position to dictate terms
while, on the other hand, the foreign
manufacturer finding no domestic COM
petition, would be in position to fix the
price on what our consumers bought
To reduce this separation of consumer
and producer to minimum is the aim
of protective tariff, and tariff condu.
Give of these ends republicans should
make every effort to pass.
The Office of road inquiry of the de-
rortpoant of ao,ricuofnro Iaa oor, ,,loto<l