The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-22
THE TARIFF AND THE Trusts.

Nothing has occurred In years to so
grouse the republican leaders and press OF
the country as has the evidence OF Henry
Havemeyer before the industrial commits
sion.
The tariff has been their slogan since the
birth Of the party. and in each succeeding
campaign have they been louder and louder
in Its advocacy.
They have deluded the people upon this
question till today we have tariff that
viii average nearly or quite so per cent
on every article of Import that we con-
sumo. The declaration, then OF one OF the
most successful tlnanciers OF the country
that this great pet OF theirs Is the mother
OF the trust--that monster that is absorb
ing all tho wealth OF the country, and
practically putting an end to all business
competition--has exploded like dynamite
bomb In their camp. Especially Is this
true in view OF the fact that these leaders
themselves had pretty well all declared
uncompromisingly against the trusts-that
very monster that their own party had
given birth to.
1t Is amusing to see these leading papers
comfort and writhe in vain effort TO deny
Mr.. Hayemeyer's unanswerabie arguments,
Indeed many OF them are candid enough
TO admit the truthfulness OF the great
sugar refners testimony. but claim that
tariff to protect our infant" industries
--many of them two hundred years old
is an absolute necessity, and that the
fault must bs remedled by breaking up
the trusts. This is easy for them to say,
but not one OF them has suggested foas-
ibls plan to kill the offspring OF their
petted progeny. and there is no doubt that
they will find this herculean task for
this republican fetch is prolihc breeder
The Boston Herald. republican paper
with independent leanings. has this 70
say OF the Hayemeyer testimony:
whatever may be thought Of Mr.. Have
meyers Industrial opinions. there Is not thu
least doubt that he il entirely Justified II
this particular part Of his general statement
NE do not moan BY this that trusts are i'm
ossible in the absence OF a protective tarin
but II caia pe said that a protective tarin i
as trust creating in its influence as no
weather in the spring is potent cause for tn,
bringing into life OF many insects that hav'
rested eitner dormant or In embryo during
the wintei months The protective tarln Il
based ul tue idea that BY means OF Il a highe
scale OF iiges can be established for com
modify IN tins country than would be the cas'
II the tariff was non-exlstent This high scal
Of prices piiHgs into existence a large numbe
of competing producers. larger number thai
would enter the field II prices we're low. TN
tendency II this competitions Is, no doubt. t
reduce prizes. but realizing this, trust I
formed latu which the various Independent
competipg individuals and companies arr
swept, and ~ this way one, or possibly two
great concerns dominate the trade OF the en-
tire country They may export enormous
QuAptltier OF their outputs selling thes
abroad 1T prices that more than meet foreign
competition. But 90 far MS the United Stnte
u concerped they maintain prices here which
they believe to be profitable to themselves
and DO tnis hscause the protective tarin pre-