The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-06-26

ueul vi the sugar tTuSl, appeared ut-
fore the industrial commission as an
! advocate of the tariff-for-revenue the
DRY, and that the cheap raw material
doctrine finds favor with the great com
mercial organizations anxious to buy
where they can buy the cheapest, and
at the same time have the advantage
of the best home market in the world.
Indeed, these great trusts, worldwide
in their scope and power, would find
of inestimable advantage the oppor-
tunity which Democratic leadership
proposes TO give them, namely, to
plant their factories abroad, where Ia
Dor and raw material are cheapest,
and bring the products of their estab-
! lishments into this richest market of
the world, free of the duty that stands
! for the difference between the Ameri-
| can standard and the foreign standard
| of wages and living. Under such cir
cumstances the independent manufac.
! turer could be quickly swept from the
! field of competition, and this is exactly
what the trust seeks.
Assisting Corporate Rapacity.
The truth is, as every intelligent and
sincere student Of pubic affairs must
admit, that the trust is form of COM
mercial organization, result of indus
trial evolution, which is a problem in
itself-a problem which must be met
intelligently by legislation calculated
to curb corporate rapacity-not by
playing into it's hands, as Democratic
leadership proposes. Trusts are plen-
tiful in England, free trade country
were plentiful in this country under
the only tariff-for-revenue law enacted
since 1860. The idea that the tariff
of 2 cents per pound on fresh beef,
veal, mutton and pork is responsible
for the doubling of prices of fresh
meat by the trust, is the height of
puerility, and would not be advanced
by a leadership honestly seeking TO
find a remedy for corporate oppres-
sion. The beef trust wants free raw
material. Controlling as it does the
great slaughtering establishments, re-
frigerating plants and refrigerating
cars, with the command of practically
every retail market in the country,
the removal of duties on dressed meat
would only render the meat trust more
independent of the home producer of
| live stock. The idea of Gripping the
meat trust by cheapening the market
in which it buys is conceived liz insin-
cerity and is put forward as a substi.
tute for something tangible, practica,
| and honest. All that Democratic lead
ership proposes as a remedy for the
most threatening evil of modern COM
mercial development, is an attack on
the producers of the Iarm, range or
chard, garden, field, forest and flock,
by giving to the trusts dealing in food
products, the opportunity to buy
abroad without curtailing their oppor-
tunity to sell at home at whatever
price they please, the difference in
purchase price going into the pockets
of trust magnates, rather than those
of the people.
The Interstate Commerce Commission.
The demand for added power for
the interstate commerce commission is
Republican proposition borrowed for
Democratic use The only measure
looking to this end was introduced by
Senator Cullom, and it is pending in
congress with the approval of the adj
ministratior. That it will become a
law under this administration if con-
doubt. Every power belonging to the
interstate commerce commission was
conferred upon it by Republican con-
gress. For two years Democratic lead
ership was in control of every branch
of the federal government, without
taking a step toward the widening of
the authority of the commission.
The Philippine Question.
The proposal of a compromise with
men whose guns are pointed toward
the American soldier and the Ameri-
can flag will not meet with favor.
There will be time enough for assur-
ances when the Filipinos cease the
warfare against American authority
begun so many months ago, and con-
tnued by reason of the encouragement
imported from Democratic sources in
the United States. 1t will be time for
the republic to offer terms to those
who fight it's armies when it is unable
to sustain its own authority. Until
that time it will prefer to make its
terms with insurrectionists after they
have laid down their arms The prop
osition for compromise with persons
engaged in rebellion is suggestive of
the Democratic state platform of 1862,
In which the Republican party was
criticized for rejecting all PROPOSE
lions likely to result in a satisfactory
adjustment Of the matters in dispute. %
The Republican position at this time
Is as wildly suggestive of the Indiana
Union Republican platform adopted In
1864, which declared: THAT we hail
with joy the indications of approach
ing peace, not by a compromise with
rebels in arms, but by their complete
and utter subjugat.on to the laws and
constitution of the United States"
The Remaining PIanks.
To the remaining affirmative planks
little attention will be attracted. The
construction of an isthmian canal and
the election of senators by popular
vote are not party questions in any
sense. The declaration in favor of lib
eral pensions is a repetition of what
has been appearing in Democratic