The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-11-14
PRICES AND THE TARIFF.
Advance In Cost of Staples Fully Met
by Incremsed Demand and
Rake in Wages.

The orators and editors of the ops
position who spend so much time in
condoling the people because of the
rise in the prices of the necessaries of
life attribute the increase to tariff and
trusts fostered by the tariff. If they
would go into particulars they would
find that many of the, necessaries OF
life which pay the highest protective
duties have advanced the least during
the past four or five years, says the
indianapolis Journal Take clothing,
for instance; the range of duties is
higher than on anything else except
glass and a few other articles. Re-
ferring to Dun's index number of age
gregate prices it appears that the
same quality of clothing which cost
$1435O in October, 1898, cost $15.77E
last October-an increase of less than
10 per cent. By the same authority
the quantity of meats which could be
purchased for $7.62S in October, 1898,
would cost $1o.279 last month-an in
crease of nearly 35 per cent. Now, no
man of intelligence and candor will
claim that the tariff on meats has
anything to do with the price. For
25 years the United States has been
the greatest exporter of meats, and
has made prices. The reason thai
meats are high is that here in Indian-
apolis, and in any cattle market, cat
tie which were worth from $4.25
to S5.25 few years ago have
been selling at from So to $3.50 hun-
dred pounds, and hogs in the same
proportion. Beef trusts are not re-
sponsible for this, advance in cattle
and hogs, but the conditions. The
consumption of meat has increased
very largely since the date when the
mass of people have had the means
with which to purchase, and for such
increase of consumption the repub-
icans can be held responsible. For
the short corn crop of 1901, due to-
drought, which temporarily advanced
prices, it is not quite fair to hold the
party in power accountable. Short
supply and increased demand are the
causes.
Again, all the staple products of the
farm are higher. The era of 45-cent
wheat, 30-cent corn and Decent oats
seems to have passed. The Journal
hopes that it has passed never to re-
turn. The advance in these staples
since 1S94-1.96 has been remarkable.
Turning to Dun again. it appears that
the quantity of breadstuffs which cost
$11.759 in October. 1898, cost $17.494
last October-an advance of nearly 40
per cent The journal does not accord
to these index numbers that sacred-
ness of iIfallibility which the frees
trader ana the calamityite attach to
them. Nevertheless. they must stand
by them and admit that unless rice is
| classed as a breadstuff the tariff does
not. directly affect the price of one of
them. Indirectly? Yes; there were
several million people in this country
during the period of 1S94-1S96 who
could not get as much wheat bread td
eat as would satisfy their desire. Nc
| Kinley. 'sthe advance agent of pros
perity," brought occupation and good
wages to the bread-earners of these
millions. and they haze had bread and
meat since and have consumed so
much as to make demand that has
caused an advance of prices. The re-
publican party accepts the RESPONSE
bility for the advance. even if the tar
! lift has no direct effect upon it.