Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-05-15
SOME TARIFF EVILS
How Protection Takes Care of Com.
binations Which Crush Out
Competition.


w. Henry LOOMS Nelson, of New
Rochelle, N. Y, who has achieved some
distinction rs writer on political
economy, now publishes vigorous
essay on the rise and growth of pro-
tected interests which have become
trusts that defy both state and econom-
lie laws and run riot with production,
and prices. He shows both by general
argument and in specific cases, what
w. Bourlse Cochran declared, in a wide
ly published interview on January ~,
that "the tariff, If not exactly the
mother of trusts, is to large extent
their nurse"
Mr.. Nelson says that "the protective
system is for private gain. 1t Is So
cialism whose beneficiaries form Sc
lected class. When protection is no
longer profitable it will be abandoned,
but not before with the consent of the
protected. fit 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
pies given show the greatest tyranny
that the protective system has yet set
up. Its profits are enormous. Thepro
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 greed from the American
consumers"
"Since 1875" Mr.. Nelson declares,
congress had not legislated on the
tariff; it has simply affirmed or ratified
the DEGREES 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 are becom-
ing high-handed in their methods of
running our government, as is shown
by their bold attempt in the Hanna
Payne ship subsidy bill, to legislate
money directly out of the pockets OF the
people and into their own pockets. Mr..
Nelson shows that the protected inter-
ests have been false to every claim or
promise under cover Of which they OBJ
tanned 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 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 a 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
limit
The whole system has been a de-
fusion and ends in the device of the
protected interests to prevent the peo-
pie from getting the benefit of cheaper
methods of production. AS Mr.. Nelson
says there is ready method of re-
lief from the burdens imposed by these
tariff trusts. Why does not congress
apply this ready method? = Albany
ARGUS