The Forrest City times., 1900-03-02
SOME TARIFF EVILS.
How Protection Takes Care of Com- binations Which Crush Out
 Competition.

W. Henry Loomis Nelson, of New Rochelle, \. r., who has achieved some distinction as a writer on political economy, now publishes a vigorous essay on the rise and growth of pro- tected interests which have become trusts that defy both state and econom- .c laws and run riot with production, and prices. He shows both by general argument and in specific cases, what W. Bourke Cochran declared, in a wide ly published interview on January 27, that "the tariff, if not exactly the mother of trusts, is to large extent their nurse"
 MT. Nelson says that "the protective system is for private gain. It is so- cialism whose beneficiaries form se- lected class. When protection is TO longer profitable it will be abandoned, but not before with the consent of tbe protected. If it is permitted to continue to be the economic policy of this coun- try, its beneficiaries will. in the future, reap larger profits than they have ever gained before. They will do this through combinations which will crush out all competition. The tariff pro- tects them from foreign competition. The combination will protect them from domestic competition. The exam ples given show the greatest tyranny that the protective system has yet set up. It's profits are enormous. The pro- tected trusts produce so cheaply be- cause of combination that they can sell abroad at comparatively low but profit able prices, but they draw the blood sacrifice to g1 ced from the American consumers"
 "Since 1s75." MT. Nelson declares, "eongress had not legislated on the tariff; it has simply affirmed or ratified the decrees of the benefciaries of the tariff" Gradually. and not very slowly, these interests have allied themselves more and more closely and have be- come more and more arrogant, dicta- torial and overbearing until to-day they are not only solidly united against the common interests, but they arc becom- ing high-handed in their methods of running our government, as is shown by their bold attempt in the Hanna Idf uc Shlp suDSiON Dlii, tO icS iSldlc money directly out of the pockets of the people and into their own pockets. MT. Nelson shows that the protected inter ests have been false to every claim or promise under cover of which they ob- tained protection.
 First.-They asked for protection dur ing infancy only; but as they grew older and stronger they have demanded and have received more and more pro- lection.
 Second-They promised to give the farmer a home market. They have got ten their own home market, but many a farmer is as far away from his market as ever, as is shown by the increased amount of farm products which each year must find market abroad.
 Third.-They promised lower prices, but so far have, as rule. given lower prices only to foreigners and have marked up prices at home to the tariff 1 limit.
 The whole system has been a de- fusion and ends in the device of the l protected interests to prevent the peo- | pie from getting the benefit of cheaper methods of production. As Mir. Nelson says there is a ready method of re- | lief" from the burdens imposed by these | tariff trusts. Why does not congress apply this ready method? - Albany Argus.