The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-27
TARIFF REFORM.
should be the Democratic Battle
Cry.

Baltimore Sun.
The Democratic National Convention OF
1904 will make no mistake IL II adopts the
strongest sort of a tariff reform declara-
ton. There Is abundant evidence that the
present protective tariff system enables
the industrial combinations In the United
States to exact much higher prices Tor
their products from American consumers
than are obtained from foreign purchas-
ers. Representative Griggs, the chairman
of the Democratic Congressional Commit
tee. In an interview published In The sun
last Saturday. shows that the Dingley
tariff works q monstrous injustice 70
Americans. Mr.. Griggs has come into
count sheets issued BY leading export
houses. From these 1t appears that the
foreigner enjoys many advantages which
our Industrial combinations are not will
ling to concede to the tarim-oppressed
people of the United Ststes. Here are
some of the blessings which our brethren
across the Atlantic enjoy at the expense
of Americans:
For key Of wire nails the purchaser
in the United States ID compelled to pay
s2.25. The foreigner can buy the same
quantity and quality Of nails for u.s0.'
The American price for q coil of rope Is
S12, The foreigner can purchase It Tor
S.. For 50 our combine will give the for
eigner 100 pounds Of lead: the American,
however. must pay "a. The man across
the Atlantic can bJiy a dozen American
shovels for ssh; the man In the United
States must pay $50. Am srican wash
in the United States, for 50 dozen.
Our Tin-PIate Trust win sell the Eu-
ropean purchaser 100 pounds OF tfn-plate
for s. 10 When the American buyer gives
an order he must pay the trust sz.ls q
In the United states Is 500. in Europe
SIS. The foreigner can buy an American
sewing machine for $i7. The purchaser
In the United States must pay 80. Amer
leans have to pay N.1 for a lawn-mower.
permit the foreigner 70 purchase lawn
mower for $2,75.
This Is an abuse which American con-
sumers, who are heavily taxed to rnaln-
tain the high profits OF the industrial
combinations, will not tolerate Indefinite
ly The Democratic leaders are wise in
making 1t an issue In the Congregational
elections this year. The facts ought to
foundation laid for an effective campaign
of education in the next Presidential
contest. The tariff issue and the reia-
ton OF the alleged trusts TO the terifl
ity The platform adopted by the Dem
ocratic National Convention in 100.
should contain declaration on the sub.
iect SO clear and explicit that there viii
Be no doubt Of the party's attitude to-
ward a system of protection which dis
eliminates in favor of the foreigner and
AGAINST the American buyers Of Ameri-
IscaT1-made goods. 1t Ia clearer now than
ever before that protection Is only anoth-
er name for extortion What possible
Justification can be alleged for an eco
nomic system which makes Americans
pay nearly twice as much for articles
In common use as the European buyer Il
asked to pay7 Why should manufacture
privilege Of exacting tribute from con-
| sumers in this country SO that they may
unload their surplus products on the for
| eigner at ridiculously low prices? Why
| in fine, should Americans be taxed ex-
cessively for the benefit of Europeans
who have trade relations with our cap
| tains of industry?
The tariff issue affects the pocketbooh
Of every American. 1t is the one issue
upon which the party In power does not
| desire to try conclusions with the party
| now in the minority 1t is the most
urgent issue before the American people,
and IL 1t is presented to them in the
proper way, disentangled from other
questions which are either of minor I'M
portance or of no Importance at all, there
Is reason to believe that the tarin barons
will be dethrohed and the people relieved
of the burdens which now Cypress them.
The Democratic Party has won two
notable victories in the past eighteen
years on the tariff. The conditions are
more favorable now than they were in
1884 and in 1892 for a successful night
s@ainst monopoly and tariff plundering,
because monopoly Is now more aggressive
and oppressive and protection more bur
densome than they were in the carrier
campaigns for tariff reform. Chairman
Griggs and the other Democratic mana
gers ought to make the tariff, which Mr..
Havemeyer APPLY described as .'the moth
err Of trusts a leading issue in the Con-
gregsional campaign this year. The ques-
ton Is simple and readily comprehended
BY the sensible and practical American
people Shall Americans pay double
prices for ordinary commodities in order
that our Napoleons of Industry may cap
tl,re the European markets? Shall tar
IN system which plumbers the American
citizen for the benefit Of Europeans be
perpetuated? That is the Issue. and 1t
touches the sensitive pocket nerve Of ev-
arv American