The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-05-24

what Vest had to say about him, Lew
is evidently did not familiarize him.
self with the opinion Of the Missouri
an in reference to Hill or else consid-
ers the senator as not SO we'll in
formed as himself. Vest, it will be
remembered, considered the New
Yorker possessed of no more
strength than the Nebraskan. Still,
Lewis is as much entitled to his opin-
ion as Vest, and for all that is known
at present both may prove to have
been in error when the time m
for the decision to be made.
Lewis also gave his opinion on an
other subject, the issue on which the
two great parties will line up for the
next battle, He said that according
to his way of thinking practical free
trade is the only solution of the great
industrial revolution which is now
impending. He did not go any fur
Their and in consequence the nation is
ignorant as to how the distinguished
gentleman arrives at his conclusion
that absolute free trade is to be the
panacea that will cure the evils which
he says now beset it. Like all other
free traders he probably concludes
that by removing protection and
forcing Americans to compete with
the cheap countries of Europe the
great combines, which they seem to
think threaten industrial and com
mercial ruination to the country, will
be forced to reduce the price of their
commodities to the same level that
now obtains in some OF the foreign
countries and thus by one stroke bring
happiness to all, except the combines:
Like the other free traders also, he
overlooks the effects his free trade
would have. on the wage workers of
the country. He overlooks the fact
that the first ones to be affected by
the adoption of free trade would be
the men who are compelled to toll
for their existence; the men who find
employment with the concerns which
he says are threatening the safety of
the nation. Like all demagogues of
his sort he is Indifferent to the well
fare of the masses, just SO that he
may exploit his ideas and pose as a
statesman and reformer. He cares
not that to throw down the bars and
open the markets of the country free
to the world would necessitate a re-
duction of wages in almost every
branch of commercial and industrial
activity to the plane of those which
obtains abroad.
If Lewis and men of his kind were
to have their way the conditions would
soon again prevail that obtained dur
ing the good, old days" of which
they love to speak, when men could
buy a pair of boots for a quarter, but
went barefooted because they did not
have the quarter. The testimony is
on record with the industrial commits
sion that to remove the protective
tariff on many of the articles manu-
factured IN the country would neces-
sarily be followed by a marked reduc-
tion in wages so that competition with
foreign countries could be maintained.
The combines would continue to make
a fair rate Of profit, but the men in
their employ would be the ones to
contribute that profit. All are agreed
that the existing tariff laws are cap
able of amendment and alteration,
but the proper way to effect the
changes is not by the adoption of the
Lewis idea. The republicans who are
responsible for the existence of the
laws are the ones OF make the changes
and not their enemies Those changes
will be made and republicans will
make them, not Mr.. Lewis and his
friends.