The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-08-20
For the REPORTER.
Use Common Sense.

questions which effect ali business and
industrial interests. Il is not strange
therefore, TO find business men in hest
fancy and doubt. The average bust
ness man has but little time TO study
financial questions, he usually takes
his opinions from his favorite political
journals and puts them on. as a man
puts on ready made suit of clothes.
or in other words, his opinions are made
for him. Taking this view of the sub
jeet, it is quite necessary for business
men to keep their heads clear in order
TO avoid.ruinous blunders.
There are two leading questions at
issue in the coming election, one is in
relation to the tariff duties, the other
to the currency. The economic prn-
cipals governing both are absolutely
interchangeable, aud it should not be a
difficult matter TO foretel with reason
able certainty as TO the practical results
that must follow If either policy is fol
lowed out. The effect of tariff changes
we know by past experience, and the
result is still fresh in our minds. We
know to a certainty that the first effect
produced by a protective policy, is to
raise or maintain the price of home prod
uct against foreign competition, thus
stimulating our industries and giving
more employment aud increasing the pur-
chasing power of our people.
We also know that the talk about
such duties being special favors to GER
tain individuals and moLoplies is abso-
lutte rot because it is an axiom in
human affairs that wherever there is
profit there is competition. therefore all
individual advantages must be temper
airy and unimportant, as all the benefits
must ultimately reach the people either
in lower prices or higher wages to the
workman.
Many political organs four years ago
by misrepresentation induced the PEG
pie to vote against protective system
with a promise of greatly increased
prosperity. The change was made,
what was the result? Surely not great
er increased prosperity. and the proof
is so positive and overwhelming that
these same organs and their party did
not dare again TO face the issue. They
had the alternative of either owning up
to their past blunders and falsehoods,
or else lodging to new ISSUE since
which time we have heard great
"howl" about the currency.
They could not have selected better
subject on which to quickly reach the
people than this. 1t is an old saving
and true one, That you touch a man )
pocket- book you touch his soul" Moth
ing is more timid than capital, nothing
gets under cover and out of sight quick
er than money and nothing can be in
duced to come out and show itself
through flattery and false promises
quicker than money.
We are told that there is no money,
that we have not accumulated capital
in proportion to the increase in popula-
ton, and the increased demand for bust
hess purposes. believe we lose sight
of the fact, that IA large proportion of
the wealth of this country is practically
carried about in the pockets of its eiti-
1ens which its holders are ever ready to
part with whenever they choose or they
see it for their advantage to do 50.
This has been clearly demonstrated in
our own community in the past few
weeks. 1t has been said that about
one hundred and fifty cook-stoves have
been sold in our town and surroundings
at siXty-nine dollars each. How was
this done? Simply because the people
wanted them, and they had the money
10 pay for them.
Give us a good system of protection
and we should soon find our circulating
medium expanded sufficiently to cover
our needs. 1t is not a lack of money,
but a lack of confidence which has been
brought about by set of fanatics which
has always been a destroying element
IN this country and the world at large
1t is not my purpose to discuss the
currency question, it has been discuSscp
too much already, but what we want
i, that all should use common sense
which must al once decide that currency
at bests minor factor. True, changes
in money may cause trouble for the time
being. but money after all is only the
measure of wealth, not wealth itself.
We can use different measures in cloth,
without changing the cloth itself.
What we want is increased production
of actual wealth, and how can we get
this other than by sufficient protective
system.
| fully believe that the question of
tariff is the all important one to-day on
account of its direct influence on the
production of wealth. | believe we are
making a mistake when we as party
avoid the discussion of this great ques.
ton of protection and allow ourselves
to get ratified by set of men who are
trying to make a corner on silver.
Every business man, every working
man, every farmer, no matter what
his political views have been, knows
and feels in his own heart, that it is
the lack of proper protection that has
taken away much of his means of sup
port. Why not then preach the good
old God-given doctrine of "self-protec-
ton principle which stands above
every law, Il principle upon which we
maintain our standing as individuals,
communities, state and nation.
The tariff question is simple and
easily understood, especially so after
four years of practically free trade.
We can easily understand any question
that proves itself to US by actual exper-
fence, while the question of currency
can be surrounded by fogs and mists,
and long columns of figures and mis-
leading statements, many of which are
absolutely false. Thus, say, let every
man use his good common sense and
not allow himself to be logged and
mystitied by clapp trap speeches or
high sounding arguments, which would
make us believe that this great question
of currency is the only question at
issue. The platform adopted at st.
Louis leaves the currency question where
it should be left. 1t does not propose