The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1902-10-01
PROTECTIVE TARIFF Is NOT RE-
sPoNslBLE FOR THE CONNER
ClAL COMBINATIONS.
S0-CALLED TRUSTS TOOK
ORIGIN IN RECENT YEARS
They Are Not the Result Of the Tariff
and the Tariff, II Abolished, Would
Not Solve the Problem-Governo La
Toilette Of Wisconsin Explains Some
Things on Opening Campaign.
[BY ASSOCIATED pRFssl

Milwaukee, Wis, Oct I.-.Gov. Robert
La Toilette opened the campaign for the
republicans of Wisconsin at West Side
Turner hall last night before an immense
audience. He was enthusiastically cheercd
and said, in part, as follows:
Though there may appear to be diff.
ference between republicans on the tariff
issue, it would seem to arise from mis-
understanding rather than disagreement
From Hamilton to Clay and from Clay
to Mckinley the principle upon which
protective tariff has rested for support has
not changed.
ut is charged the tariff is responsible
for trusts, This charge is most strongly
made by those opposed to republicans be-
fore trusts existed. They ignore the fac.
that the organization of trusts and com.
binations began but few years ago and
that they are fast gaining the control of
business everywhere. They are not con-
fined to any country, nor are they the off
spring Of any tariff policy.
Free Trade Cut No Figure.
"They rule the market in free trade pro-
ducts III this country and in whatever pro-
ducts they choose in free trade countries
but the fact remains that the organizations
OF combinations of capital great enough to
master the production and fix the price of
articles embraced within protective tariff
schedules, brings upon that system the
popular disapproval which the public en-
tertains toward the trusts generally.
"A new law, an artificial law, is sup
planting the natural law of competition.
By secret agreement the producers of like
articles limit the quantity and fix the
price.
II believe the hour has come when
tariff revision must stand close guard over
the tariff schedules, but this revision
should be on the true protective principle
of guarding American labor from free
competition with cheaper foreign labor
and yet take the place of suppressed COM
petition.
The Anthracite Coal Problem.
Anthracite coal is not protected by the
tariff, but glance at the situation and the
problem it presents. Ninety-five per cent
of the entire coal field is owned and con-
trolled by eight railway companies. The
lines of these eight railways furnish the
sole available means for transportation of
anthracite coal to market In pursuit of a
settled policy, these railways have forced
private owners to sell their coal mines and
coal lands at half their value. first by in
creasing the freight, and second, by refus-
ing to carry the coal for private owners at
any price whenever such owners could not
be brought to terms by the establishment.
OF exorbtant transportation rates.
Owning the coal and owning the rail-
roads over which the coal is transported
to market they fixed the freight rates at
an exorbtant figure in order to make con-
sumers pay dividends OH the over-capital-
ization of the railroads and coal Mines
while rates for other and like products
have fallen, anthracite coal rates have
been advanced by the railways until they
are nearly twice as great as on cotton or
wheat. They limit the supply in order to
force strong demand and high market
price. AS shown by testimony upon
trials and investigation, more than $780,
100000 in excess of a fair market price
has been exacted from customers.
Contempt for Public Op Nor.
"This coal trust bears harder upon the
unfortunate, helpless laborcr that mines
the product than upon the consumer in
these days. Its attitude Of indifference to
the appeal of press and pulpit suggests ut
ter contempt for public opinion. This is
typical of the oppression which awaits the
people of this country unless the federal
government is empowered to strip these
combinations of their unlawful power.
WHO will not agree with the president
that all possible control should be exer-
cised and all possible relief be afforded
the people; that law on the statute book
looking to this end--the Sherman law and
the Interstate Commerce law--should be
enforced and should be amended, strength
eneu and made effective to the constitu-