Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-10-17
SHOES OF Mr.. HARRIS
Will Be An Object Lesson in Kansas
Campaign.
They are American Made, but are Sold
Abroad for 20 Per Gent. Below Price
Charged American Buyers=-Why the Tar
iff Appeals to Every Voter.

| When Senator Harris, of Kansas, set
foot in Washington last week, after
his trip abroad, he wore pair OF shoes
that will become an object lesson in
the Kansas campaign.
''These .oes that l am wearing,
said Senator Harris to representative
of The Post last week, ''are of Ameri-
can manufacture. ] bought them in
London, and paid for them 20 per
cent. less than is charged for the same
make of shoes on Pennsylvania avenue,
in Washington.
Although he went abroad iii the in
terest of the St. Louis Worlds Fair,
Senator Harris did not forget politics.
He remembered that when he was
abroad ten years ago he found that
American goods were obtainable at a
much cheaper price than in this coun-
try, and this year, with the trusts and
the tariff the leading issue in the CAM
paign, be made some additional in
quiries.
AMERICAN GOODS CHEAPER ABROAD
''Everything of American make is
cheaper abroad than in this country"
be said. my work for the st. Louis
exposition took me to all the great
stock farms, and l was particular to
ask what the Englishmen paid for
American farming machinery, pitch
forks, hatchets, and other necessaries
of farm management, and found that
they paid great deal less than | am
forced to pay in, Kansas City for the
same articles. 1t seems a very great
injustice and imposition for American
citizens to be forced to pay such high
prices here when foreigners secure the
same things at much lower rate. 1t
is the high tariff that is to blame. The
American manufacturer says that he
must be protected against the for
eigner. This is not true. He has moth
ing to fear from the foreign manu-
facturer, because be is successfully IN
yading the foreign market. Neither is
it true that the American goods which
are sold abroad are surplus products.
The American manufacturer is selling
his goods at fair profit abroad and at
tremendous profit at home"
What is the remedy"
ut seems to me that it would be
very easy to lower the tariff, which
would give the American consumer an
opportunity to purchase American
goods at a decreased price, and, IL
necessary, the American manufacturer
could raise the price slightly abroad.
Something, however, ought to be done.
The present condition of affairs is not
| Just to the American consumer, and l
do not believe the American people
| will stand it much longer. Something
is radically wrong when | can buy
American shoes abroad for less than l
pay for them here, Notwithstanding
the fact that freight for 5000 miles has
to be paid upon them"
TRUST ISSUE APPEALS TO PEOPLE.
Although he has been abroad, Sen.
ator Harris has kept in touch with
political developments in the United
States, and said that he was not sur
prised that trusts and the tariff as 1t
affects the trusts were becoming the
principal isspes in the campaign.
81 said last winter" he remarked,
land still believe, that the Democratic
Senators were making mistake in
forcing the Philippine issue to the
front. | could see that the people
were not interested In the Philippines.
So far as the Democratic position con
cernipg the archipelago is concerned,
it is right. There can be no doubt OF
that. But being right is one thing
and arousing public interest is an
other. The fact is that the Philippine
lquestion does not appeal to the popular
mind. The average voter, on the
other hand, is vastly concerned in thu
price which he is paying for coal anG
beef. I am glad that the Democratic
Congressional Committee is emphasiz
ing the trust question. and especially
the prices which are charged abroad
for American goods. This is matte
that comes home to everybody"
when will you enter the Kansa
campaign"
! Immediately. I leave to morrow
for Kansas, and will go at once upor
the stump. 1 suppose l will make al
J least two speeches day until the cam
J lpaign is over. 1t looks as If We had
chance to carry Kansas. Mr.. Grad
! dack, the fusion nominee for governor
is making lively canvass, and th
1 fusion between the Democrats an
Populists is complete
: REPUBLICANS WANT DIVIDED RI
{ sPONsIBILITY.
} ''Do you think that the Democrat
: will carry the House?'
( 1.-The outlook is certainly better tina
D it was some time ago. Speaker Her
( derson's surprising action is An evil
8 ence of the growing sentiment of tt
y people in favor of reduction of tt
I tariff. Personally, l do not belle'
3 that the Republicans are very anxior
= to carry the House. They want divi
\ ed responsibility. 1t would be 90
q send to them to be relieved of enactir
= the legislation which the people d
\ mand. For the same reason. l thil
q that the Democrats will not achie
> substantial victory if the next Hou
\ is Democratic, because they will
playing into the hands of the Repub
= cans. l, for one, will not be moved
profound regret if the Democrats
not carry the election"