The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-17

Iu1oeoUtD Of the Consumers.
There n stock phrase IN constant use
BY Democrssic speakers. which IN itself
shows the fundamental difference In the
attitudes with which the two great poiiti-
cal parties Of the country approach all
scoAomic questions. These Democratic
speaker IN always speaking Of the "in-
serests % me consumers" as though those
alone were really worthy OF being consid-
cred By Legislators. Every speech on the
Democratic side. on the tariff question.
for example. relies Tor tn weight In ar
gunAent upon the showing attempted to be
made that the lmposition Of a protective
tariK bears hardly upon the "consum-
ers" Tha recent Democratic speeches
upop the bill TO cut down the war taxes
are run Of this same argument.
Fer exampse. Mr. Duissr. who aspIres to
the Democratic leadership of the house.
announced in his speech on that subject
that he was In favor 'of exemptins con-
suapsAon." 11r. Richardssn. the real
DsmoeFatlc leader. moved TO recommit the
bill win instructions to the committee to
frame measure to raise revenue for ths
needs u government with taxes more
equally and jsstly distributed. and to re-
move them from articles (which generally
enter into consumption" Mr. Newiands.
who 10 now acting entirely with the DEM
ocrats also desired to have the taxes on
beer still further reduced In the inter-
ests Of the consumers,
The attitude Is typical The sympathies
+ Of the Democratic party. as a party, are
entirely enlisted on behalf OF the consumer.
and It II assumed. with some reason. that
much Of the Republican legislation h more
favorable to the producers Of tae coun-
try than the consumers
Now. OF course. all of the people OF the
United states are. In q sense. consumers
The great majority OF them are also pro-
ducers. The consumers who are not also
producers arr an extremely small class.
and not one which Is In especial need OF
legislative favors. or legislative assistance.
Every farmer In the United States is a
producer; as is every manufacturer. every
mechanic. every miner. every fisherman.
every dny laborer. and. I'm the larger
sense. every transportation line ana its
employees. Each individual. In each one
Of these glasses. Is necessarily more Of a
producer than a consumer. At the very
least. he must produce In value AZ much
- he consumes. or SO In debt The pro.
ducing classes, In the aggregate. produce
an amount enormously sreaser than they
consune. for they procure sufficient no,
oais 10 supply their own necessities and
those Of the non-psodacing classes In this
country. but an enormous surplus over
FOR export FAR IN excess OF the Imports
from other countries for consumption
here.
The consuming classes who are not also
producers comprise In the nrst instance
the wealthy leisure classes, living upon
Investments outside OF Industrial bust
ness, the bankers, the professional men.
the brokers, factors and mlddIemen
generally, and TO some extent the mer.
camille classes Each Of these consumers
takes a tribute directly or Indirectly from
the labor ana capital Invested In the pre-
duetion OF articles for consumption.
II Is the producers who add directly to
the wealth Of the country. on their pros.
peri,y, the whole eeononlic fabric OF the
country rests The prosperity Of the pro.
dncins classes Of the country Is indispen-
sable for the prosperity of those OF the
consuming classes who are not produo-
ers Therefore u foissxs that legislation
which adds to the prosperity Of tho pro-
dncing class is not class legislation, be-
cause Its effects are beneficial to all alike
The protective tariff is the illustration In
point. Theorists of the Democratic xehoo,
Assume tina, the protective tarin imposes
an unfair burden upon the consumlns
ssses Tha fact IL that thu con.nm,,s