Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-08-20
EARsAS AGTArQR, GARaE71. KANSAS.
. Won't Be Permanent.

81 do not believe i'll the single gold standard, y
said ex-Chief Justice David Martin to report
er for the Journal.
81 do not believe that we can have permanent
prosperity under the operation of that policy
think this country should have double stand
ard The change from single standard, in my
opinion, was made without consulting the will
of the people and in violation of the constitu
ton of the United States. do not believe the
United States will prosper, and do not believe
the people will secure such benefits under the
gold standard idea as would accrue to them
were both money metals given an equal oper
tunity. Prosperity can never come to people
who ale doing business on an appreciating
standard of value. 1t works untold hardships
and believe will result in great damage to oul
business industries"
Passing the money question, Judge Martin
discussed briefly the tariff He said among
other things
81 have always been something of aprotect-
ionist | am not extremist i'll my views
but am inclined to have upon the free list such
articles and necessities as we are not able tc
produce in this country, and this idea might
require rather high protective duties upon other
articles in order to raise sufficient revenues.
Where products of factories or mills coming
from other countries enter into competition with
those which we produce ourselves, | am i'll IA
vor of levying protective duties upon them
"rhe greatest difficulty we have experienced
with the tariffs of the past is the fact that they
have resulted in fostering monopoles and trusts,
and have brought small benefits to the operat-
ives in the factories and msls. This is wrong.
The advantage should accrue largely to the
American workingman This has not Teen true
in years past, although political orators often as
sert it."
Judge Martin says he is not familiar enough
with the provisions of the Dngley bill as yet
to pass an opinion upon it. In further discuss
ING the idea that tariffs often fail in their sup
posed mission, Judge Martin said:
"The coal miners of the East are out on a
strike to-day because they have been subjected
to heavy reduction of wages In 1893 they
received from 60 to rs cents ton for mining
coal, the price being regulated or determined by
the thickness of the vein in which they were
operating. Before the strike, the wages were
reduced from 81 or SIS cents, or Whereabouts.
This is very great reduction. Who gets the
benefit of it Not the consumer, assuredly.
Our coal is no cheaper. Yet, venture the as
sertion, that not a single man in this country
would object to paying 10 cents more per tor
for coal which he uses, were he 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
com plain and will suffer no increase i'll wages,
Notwithstanding the fact that their profits are
greater than they were four years ago. Oh
course, they are in pool, and one man cannot
act unless all consent to do SO. The miner also
finds himself i'll similar position. He belongs
to an organization, and its head officers order
him to strike. He is compelled to do so, and
must obey this order regardless Of his own opin-
ion. The operators are practically in the same
positon No difference what may be the opin-
ion of some of them that the miners are not be-
ing 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 i'll use by the
mine operators so as to take for themselves more
and more out of the mine run and the eXtorion
of the truck stores are abuses that also need
correction "-Topeka State Journal.
Churchac PraiSa eedV