The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1902-08-21
70 ATTACK THE TARIFF
Democrats Plan to Assail the Ma
tional Prosperity.
PENNSYLVANIA MUST BE FIRM

Bryan In High elee Over the Pros.
pect-What Protection Has Done
For Pennsylvania's Industries, As
Shown BY Official Figures.
(From a Special Correspondent
Washington. d. c., Aug 19.-If ever
there was a time when Pennsylvania
needed to renew her loyalty to Re-
publicanism and the doctrine OF pro-
lection, which has made her great
among the states, this fall is that time.
A Democratic victory in Pennsylvania
i'll November would be the greatest
boon that the Democratic party has
known since Grover Cleveland crossed
the threshold OF the White House out
ward for the last time.
There IL no concealment of the fact
that the Democrats In the next Con-
gress hope to renew the free-trade agi-
tation with the aid of a small element
in the ranks of the Republican party
from the west William Jennings
Bryan, the apostle of Financial Ruin,
is publicly congratulating his party,
tossing his hat in air, over the Iowa
Republican platform, which declared
in favor Of such changes in the tariff
from time to time as may become ad-
visable through the progress of our
industries and their changing relations
to the commerce Of the world"
This much is seized upon with an
hurrah by Bryan, who, in an interview,
declares:
Il am glad to see that the Repubi-
cans of Iowa admit the necessity for
tariff reform, for while 1t will strength
en- the Republican party in this state
for the coming campaign, 1t will ulti-
mately weaken it, for the Republicans
cannot permit any reform in the tariff
without endangering their whole sys-
tenn"
The situation so far as the tariff is
concerned Is creating more comment
here in Washington than any other
subject. Experience has taught that
the slightest attempt Of Democrats to
tinker with the tariff has brought dis
aster to American industries and lower
wages or idleness to American work
men. No state has had such a bitter
lesson in this as Pennsylvania, and the
question is, will she encourage this at
tack on her unexampled prosperity by
electing Mr.. Pattison governor, and at
the same time increasing her Demo-
cratic representation in congress?
II the hope Of the Democracy can be
achieved the soup-house era will again
come to Pennsylvania; her mills and
factories will be closed and the output
of her furnaces restricted. This is no
idle assertion. Official figures prove
it. Pennsylvania Is the banner state
for iron, steel and textiles. 1t is these
industries, employing the great bulk
of her people, that will be most af-
fected by the proposed Democratic on
slaught on the tariff.
Now, what do the official figures
show? In 1896, when Grover Cleve.
land left the White House, there were
just 159 iron furnaces in blast In 1901,
under Republican administration, there
were 266 in blast. In that same period
the manufacture Of tin plate had grown
from 40,000,000 pounds to $4,000, 900
pounds. while the number Of wage
earners employed had increased from
+,25l, ,613 to 5,231,6S7.
The same ratio of increase can be
shown in the increase of farm values
under Republican administration. The
value of the live stock on the farms
of the United States, according to the
reports of the Agricultural Department
here, has increased $3.50, ,12S,031. And
with this increased value has come
| increased consumption, with greatly in
/ creased prices to the farmer for his
! product. The farmers of the country
realized in the year 1900 alone, $780,
/ 100000 more for their ceareals than
they did in 1896, the last disastrous
year of Democratic control.
1t is the popular thing when discus
sing tariff revision and its relation to
| Pennsylvania politics for Democrats to
eXclaim:
But what has that got to do with
state issues"
1t is the only way that a Democrat
can get out of corner, and the an
swer is: Everything"
There is one point that Republicans
must not lose sight of, and it is that
in addition to governor, there are
congressman and United States sen.
ator to be chosen as a result of this
falls election. These congressman anC
this senator will have all to do in hold
ing the balance of power iL favor o
non-interefrence with the tariff. In
deed they may prove to be the saliva
ton of the entire protective system o
this country. Is it any wonder tha
widespread interest is felt in the resul
in Pennsylvania?
In recent years the old saying that
as Maine goes so goes the Union" .ha,
been transposed to read, "as Pennsyl
vania goes so goes the Union" Thi