The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-01
WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS.
Governor La Toilette Opens the Cam
paign I'm the States Metropolis.

MILWAUKEE,. Sept. Ex-Governor Rob-
ert NJ. La Toilette opened the campaign for
the Republicans of Wisconsin at the West
Side Turner Hall in this city tonight be-
fore an audience that overlooked the hall.
Governor La Toilette was enthusiastically
received. He spoke as follows:
Though there may appear to be differ
ences among Republicans on the tariff is
sue, it would seem to arise from misun-
Outstanding rather than disagreement
From Hamilton to Clay and from Clay to
Mckinley the principle on which pro-
tective tariff has rested for support has
not changed. The true measure of pro-
tective duty when Hamilton wrote his great
report on manufactures in 1871 and the true
measure OF protective duty to-day is the
difference between the cost or production
in this and the competing country. "A tarin
that is either higher or lower than that
should not be called protective tariff
IL 1t is higher, 1t is prohibitory; II II Is
lower, 1t is not protective.
ut is charged that the tariff is RESPONSE
BILE for trusts. This charge is most strong
ly pressed by those who opposed protection
before trusts were known. They ignore the
fact that the organization of trusts and
combinations began but few years ago,
and that they are fast gaining the control
of business everywhere. They are not con-
any tariff policy. They rule the market in
free-trade products in this country and I'm
whatever products they choose in free
trade countries. But the fact remains tnat
the organization or combination of capital
great enough to master the production or
and fix the price of articles embraced with
in protective tariff schedules brings on that
system the popular disapproval which the
public entertains towards trusts generally.
"A new law, an artificial law, is sup
planting the natural law of competition.
Ru
articles limit the number or quantity pro-
duced and fix prices. Combination is de-
stroying competition.
81 believe that the hour has come when
tariff revision must stand close guard over
tariff schedules. But this revision should
be on the true protective principle of guard
with cheaper foreign labor, and yet take the
place of suppressed competition. l believe
that not only all Republicans. but all citi-
zens. independent of political consideration.
would concede that tariff revision cannot
effectively grapple, indeed would be but a
feeble inadequate and uncertain remedy
for the trust evil which confronts US to-
day. Their gigantic power, their mastery
of the Industrial world, cannot be exagger-
ated.
Anthracite coal is not protected by the
tariff; but glance at the situation-the
problem il presents. Ninety-five per cent.
OF the entire coal field is owned and con-
trolled by eight railway companies. The
lines of these eight railways furnish the
sole available means for transportation OF
anthracite coal to market. In pursuit of a
settled policy these railway companies have
forced private owners TO sell their coal
mines and coal lands at half value, first
by increasing the freight rates and second
by refusing TO carry the coal for private
owners at any price whenever such owners
could not be brought TO terms by the es-
Enlistment of exorbitant transportation
rates. Owning the coal and owning the rail-
to market, they fixed the freight rates al
an exorbitant figure in order to make div
idends the over-capitalization of the
railroads and coal mines. While rates for
other and like products have fallen, anthra-
cite coal rates have been advanced by the
railways until they are nearly twice as
great as on cotton or wheat. They limit
| the supply in order to force a strong de-
| mand and high market price.
This coal trust bears harder upon the
unfortunate, helpless labor that mines the
products at the wage level of a generation
| ago. than upon the consumer, who, in these
days, must purchase, hat in hand. It's at
| titude of indifference to appeals of press
and pulpit suggests utter contempt fol-
public opinion. This Is typical of the op-
preston which awaits the people of this
| country unless the federal government is
| empowered to strip these combinations OF
| their unlawful power.
1.-The plan developed and consummated in
| building up the anthracite coal trust is in
| dicative Of the power Of the railroads in
| combination. AS the magnitude of the
| question presented is understood il be.
comes manifest that no power outside OF
| the supreme power of the land can control
| the situation. These great combinations
| of wealth, owning most of the material
| products of the earth, controlling what
| they do not own, and combining with the
railroads, forget, in their greedy strife for
more, that all men are born free and
| equal, and with certain inalienable rights
1--WE believe with the President that these
| great monopolies constitute the foremost
| of national questions. We uphold his
| hands in his efforts to curb these trusts
by the enforcement of laws on the statute
books. There is probably not an important
| trust in the United States which does not
| have the assistance of railroads in destroy.
| ing its competitors In business. The linn
| itation and control OF these public service
/ corporations in the legitimate field, as com
| mon carers, Is an important element in
the practical solution of the problem with
| which we have to deal"