The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-13
WON'T BE PERMANENT.
Can't Be Any Lasting Prospect
ty in United States
Says David Martin, Republican
Ex-Chief Justice,
Under a Single Gold Standard-Judge
Martin Approves Protective
Tariff-His Views on the
Coal Strike.

81 do not believe in the single gold
standard" said ex-Chief Justice Day.
id Martin to a reporter for the journal
today.
4 do not believe that we can have
permanent prosperity under the opera
ton of that policy. I think this coun-
try should have a double standard The
change from a single standard, in my
opinion, was made without consulting
the will of the people and in violation
of the constitution of the United States
L do not believe the United States will
prosper, and do not believe the peo-
pie viii secure such benefits under the
soid standard idea as would accrue to
them were both money metals given an
equaI opportunity. Prosperity can new
CT come to a people who are doing
business on an approaching standard
OF value. 1t works untold hardships and
! peneVe VIII result in great damage
TO our business industries"
RAISING the money question Judre
Martin discussed briefly the subject of
the tariff He said among other things:
nave always been something of a
~ ,t.7c am not an extremist
IN my views, but am inclined to have
upon the free list such articles and ne
cesSltles as we are not able to produce
IN TINS country, and this idea might re-
qulre rather nigh protective duties up-
on other articles in order to raise sIIf
nclent revenues. Where products Of
factories or mills coming from other
tp polierleS enter into competition with
those winch we produce ourselves /
am in favor of Ievying protective din
ties upon them
The greatest difficulty we have ex-
peIIencso win the tariffs of the past
IS the tact that they have resulted in
fostering monOpOlies and trusts and
have brought small benefits to the on
eralVes IN the factories and mills This
Is wrong The advantage, should ac-
crue largely to the American working
man. This has not been true in years
past, although political orators often
assert it,
Judge Martin says he is not familiar
enough with the provisions of the Ding
ley bill as yet to pass an opinion upon
H. IN further discussing the idea that
tariffs often fail in their supposed mis-
sion, Judge Martin said:
Inc coal miners of the east are out
on strike today because they have
been subjected to a heavy reduction of
to rs cents a ton for mining coal, the
price paid being regulated or deternin-
ed by the thickness of the vein in
which they were operating. Before the
strike, the wages were reduced from
81 or 55 cents, or therea bouts This is
very great reduction. Who gets the
benefit of it? Not the consumer, as
Suredly. Our coal is no cheaper Yet
I venture the assertion, that not a sim
gle man in this country would object to
paying 10 cents more per ton for coal
winch ne uses, were ne convinced that
the extra money went into the pockets
of the miners. 1t does not follow any
such course.
This money goes to the operators
and the transportation companies. Yet,
the operators complain and will suffer
no increase in wages, Notwithstanding
the fact that their profits are greater
than they were four years ago. Of
course, they are in a pool and one man
cannot act unless all consent to do So
The miner also finds himself in a sim
liar position. He belongs to an organi-
cation and it's head officers order him
to strike. He is compelled to do so,
and must obey this order regardless of
his own opinion. The operators are
practically in the same position. No
difference what may be the opinion of
some of them that the miners are not
being paid enough for the work which
they are doing, they cannot make any
concessions until all of their associates
consent to do so.
1.-THE change of the screens in use by
the mine operators SO as to take for
themselves more and more out of the
mine run and the extortion of the truck
stores are abuses that also need correc-
fiOn