The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-31

zen unbiased by interest that the spirit of
a high protective tariff grows by indul
gence and moclls what it feeds upon and
that its progressive greed and ruthlessness
Is becoming more and more a menace to
the welfare and happiness of our people.
How long has it been thought decent. or
even safe. to cheat consumers of coal by
putting it on the free list, but dishonesty
prov iding for it's custom taxation in anCIh-
er cunningly constructed provision of The
law? How recently have the friends Of
the tariff had the holiness to perpetrate
such a triclr a nd. "a he the chances III fac
ing the people when in the painful stress
of threatened coal famine, It should be
exposed?
L have called your attention to the faci
that in 1887 competition which, if unre
stricted. might modify the effect upon our
consumers of a high protective tariff, was
spoken of too often straDgled by COM
binationS' quite prevalent at this time. and
frequently called trusts which has for their
object the regulation of the supply and
price of commodities made and sold by
members of the combination When this
written I suppose the trusts had COM
binations mentioned as quite prevalent 50
far they were at all important might
have been counted on the fingers of the
two hands. When the friends of the tariff
last took up the work of its reconstruction
these trusts and combinatlons had m
creased by the hundreds. The consequence
of their operation could not fail to be tn
derstood. it was as plain then as now that
a high protective tariff defends them
against foreign competition and that by
agreed association and confederacy IN pro
duction and price they defend themselves
against competition at home. 1t was per-
fectly apparent that under the broad wings
of high protection and fattened by IN
earned accumulation they could cornpla-
Gently close their ears to the troubl eSome
cry for easier living from the every day
consumer
NEW REASON FOR TARIFF REFORM
rs it not true then that the encroach-
ments of the doctrine of nigh protection
have been constantly progressive? Is 1t not
true that the heedlessness of it's expectant
beneficiaries and their disregard for the
welfare Of the great mass of consumers
4 is more and more impudent1y exhibited.
! and is it not true that to all other reasons
for a. reform Of our tariff laws there IS
and unmerciful progeny of trusts and
combines which stand guard acainSt all
attempts to seek relief in the field of free
competition?
THAT the present tariff conditions nave
assumed a complexion which not only
actual amendment, is at least admitted
among those responsible for these condi-
lions. Such concession was made when
! a dozen or more reciprocity treaties were
of the concession and the honest intention
to surrender the least advantage as long
as it can be held is emphaticaUy disproved
by the fact that session after session OF
least action of these treaties.
| 4 need hardly refer to the prevalence
/ just at this time among the supporters OF
/ high protection, of declarations and pro-
hear it on every side What does it mean
1t means that they see the handwriting
on the wall as they have never seen II
before. Does it mean that they are sin
cereIy willing to do something FOR the PEG
pie against old comrades who have
heretofore paid well for the neglect of the
How can we believe this when we sec