Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-10-28

you, MIR. Wilson was insisting that the
way to reach the trusts was thru the
tariff, but Mr.. Wilson, democrat tho he
was, had Thought the mater out with
so great care as to justify his going on
record With great firmness against the
Breckenridge idea of a removal of the
tariff on trust made goods. These are
his words:
Public sentiment, doubtless, would
approve such a measure, but 1t would
punish the innocent together with the
guilty; the independent refiners as well
as the sugar trust, and would unset
tile business and invite combinations
for mere purposes of speculation"
This language does not need further
calculation. think it is manifest that
lie there be sugar trust and 1t should
be sought to cripple 1t by making sugar
free, it would also cripple all independ-
sent refiners and it would certainly
make impossible the further develop
ment Of our beet sugar Industry.
Therefore, the Breckenridge idea would
be unwise as applied to sugar.
The entire output of rolled steel last
year was 1S,O00,O0O tons, of which the
United States steel corporation pro-
duced fifty and one-tenth per cent. On
til the election of William Mckinley.
we had never consumed 100000 tons.
When the mills are completed which
are now in process of construction our
productive capacity will be in excess
OF 24,00O,O00 tons. Thus we are quite
sure of domestic competition and our
greatest fear Is overproduction. We
can stand high prices far better than
we Gun idle labor. Germany has been
going thru a period of very severe
financial depression, and she has had
q very great surplus OF production IN
GLIDING steel. But for our tariff this
would have been unloaded on our mar
kets, regardless OF prices. and Que
plants would have been compelled to
close. Understand me, am not even
claiming that we can not produce as
cheap iron or steel as any country
in the world, but I am claiming that
we can not produce it in competition
with overproduction in a foreign coun-
try and at prices at which foreign pros
ducers are willing to sell during f1nan-
cial depression. Mr.. Wilson saw this
and was willing to declare with vigor
against the Breckenridge idea of re-
moving the tariff from trust made
goods. Should Iowa reach the conclu-
sion that Breckenridge was right and
Wilson wrong, then, doubt not, every
Iowa representative, loyal to this great
body Of progressive. aggressive. and
wise republicans, will obey the party
mandate but am OF the opinion 1t will
be necessary to express the Brecken-
ridge idea quite unequivocally in the
platform in order to hold even our own
delegation.
Without going on record myself, for
my official relations demand that j
shall not commit myself on subjects
wherein my chief has not spoken,
want to suggest some other arguments
that may be used should removal of
the tariff on trust made goods ever be
urged elsewhere than on the stump.
But before the remedy can be applied,
1t will become necessary to determine
the fact whether trust exists or not
and IL it exists and that fact can be
established, the Sherman law is quite
sufficient to correct the evil. Certainly
no one will wish to apply the Brecken-
ridge idea to an industry upon q naked
rumor that 1t is controlled by mon
opoply, but 1t will take no more evil
dence to throttle it under the Sherman
act than 1t will to lay the foundation
for the application Of the Breckenridge
idea.
II am correctly advised, there is,
considerable sentiment In the United
States quite adverse II not Antagonists
tic to the United States Steel Corpora
ton. and it Is quite possible that this
sentiment might find expression in leg
islation. If 1t We're not for the fact that
this concern could not be destroyed
without throwing more than 100000 la
borers out Of employment, and their
families into want. as we'll as de-
stroying Independent competition. Mr..
Wilson recognized that to remove the
tariff from goods produced by large
corporations until the principle con-
Germ engaged in their production was
destroyed, would also destroy all miner
competitors and prevent the creation
OF others, and would be in effect the
same as removing the tariff until all
labor employed in their production
went on the streets to beg.
nave HOI Oeen IN the habit of dis
cussing any phase OF tariff revision.
either as an economic measure or as q
cure for trusts. and shall probably not
refer to 1t again during the campaign.
! have said this much simply to show
that tariff legislation is very difficult.
This is a great country with many
and diversified interests. and when a
majority OF these representatives have
been elected as adherents of the pro-
tective principle, the country is always
blessed with a protective tariff. But
no tariff bill enacted by any party will
meet the wishes of all adherents OF
that party. The Wilson, German bill.
enacted to conform to the special mes-
sage of the president, so far failed to
conform to the wishes Of Mr.. Cleveland
that he absolutely refused to sign It
and declared that it was full of per
fdy and dishonor" The periidy and
d!shonor consisted in some measure Of
protection to certain Industries. and
was therefore out of harmony with the
platform upon which the congress and
the president had been elected which
declared 1t to be fundamental prin-
ciple Of the democratic party that the
federal government has no constitu-
tional authority to impose or collect
tariff duties except for revenue ONLY"
1 have spent some time. however in the
defense of the protective principle. but
/ have not sought to defend the details
of the Dingley law. assume that re-
suits have been quite sufficient to JUS
tify its passage. and why should en-