The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-10-03
Against Tariff Revision.
New York World

NeW I Ofk WOfl0.
 President Roosevelt's speech at Cincin- natl leaves no doubt that he squarely op- poses the Iowa Republican platform de- mand for such modification of the tarin schedules" as may be required to pre- vent their affording shelter to monop ply" He puts himself in line with Speaker Henderson, who denies that there are tariff schedules that afford shelter to monopoly" and says:
 "The real evils connected with the trusts cannot be remedied by any change in the tariff laws. The trusts can be damaged by depriving them of the benefits of a protective tariff only on condition of damaging all their smaller competitors and all the wage-workerS employed in the industry.
 No declaration could be more clear and candid than this. The President has not beaten about the bush. and deserves credit for tho frankness with which he has taken the people into his confidence. He has committed himself without re- serve against any attempt to correct or curb trust extortion and oppression by a cutting of the tariff rates that put the people at their mercy.
 The numerous trusts that are using the Dingley duties as Notifications of their monopoly of the home market, and charg- ing anywhere from 20 to 40 per cent. higher prices to American than to Euro pean b1yers, will hail with unbounded satisfaction this pronouncement by the President against any disturbance of their indispensable tariff defenses. The steel trust. for example, which fills the steel manufacturers of Europe with alarm because of It's demonstrated power to un- dersell them in their own markets-except when, as at present, the American de- mand is so great that 1t has no surplus production to export-will rejoice that it's excessive profits are stiIi to be protected by tariffs levied to keep out European competitors who have ceased to compete 80 long. at least ,as MT. Roosevelt re- mains President.
 The beef trust. the sugar trust. the printing paper trust. the barbed wire trust, the harvester trust and the numer- ous other combines that are based and built on the existing tariff rates, and which without them could not go on their products than they are profitably selling them for in Europe, Asia and C"enri~0. need no longer fear anything from President Roosevelt He has pro- nounced against the one thing which. with good reason, they most dread-the re- vision of tariff schedules that shelter Iyuopo.y.
 It is difficult to treat seriously the President 8 claim that all the monopolies that are squeezing the people so merci- lessly must continue to have their tarifr shelter lest their smaller competitors should be damaged. Who are the smaller competitors" of MT. Morgan s mammoth steel merger: or of MT, Havemeyer's sugar combine or of MT Cudahy's meat merger" These mono polies have no real competitors; otherwise they would not be monopolies. The Presidents solicitude for the imaginary Independent steel, sugar ana meat pro ducers raises a doubt as to the depth of his study of the trust problem. It is plain, however, that his sympathies are warmly enlisted in favor of continuing protection to the big trusts, their small competitors and everybody-except the