The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-22
The Voice of
The People
w. w. AND THE TARIFF.


Editor Providence News:
w. w. asks from others and comedies
TO others, courteous treatment, though
he Is well aware that, however. absurd
and grotesque they may be. peoples idols
must at least be treated with the
appearance respect. The somewha,
abustive letter OF "Life long
wage earner's advocate" assumes that w.
w is "a free trader" and upon that. Tor
which he has not a shadow OF founda-
tion. charges me with glee as he ve-
held us tramping the street in vain TOR
work at almost any price"
Again he says, I'VE did not laugh. but
w. W..who occupied the orchestra chairs,
must have enjoyed the comical drama" !"
or course this Is, as II was doubtless IN
tended TO be. offensive. w. w has ror
years refrafned from the discussion or
theological subjects. 1t is evident that
he must also preserve silence on the
tarin cne Ion. unless he Is prepared to
make ~"mself the target for offensive
perso
w. v. would like a straightforward an
swer 10 the question whether the Life
long. etc. ever road the present tariff
He will not ask whether he understands It
for w. w. Is quite sure on that point. ana
w. w. would Ike to ask IL that is not It's
condemnation. W. w. would also like
TO know whether the sale OF American
goods at much reduced price In Eu-
rope land w. w. knows IL Is SOD is fair
and Just TO the people OF our own country
for II Is absurd to suppose thar merchan-
disc Is sent to Europe with additional
cost OF packing. freight, insurance. cart.
age and then sold at loss. What tnen
must be the profit when sold at an en-
HANGED price at homer
w. w. does noS believe himself to be
he at,A h.x I~zl
upon the universe, he pereeives that notn-
Ing Is stationary. And as he looks upon
the works OF man he observes that man
himself recognizes this eternal principle
(which man can only neglect at his perfD
and yet he perceives that either from
prejudice. cowardice or stupidity. or.
probably combination OF all three, a
great political party refuses to recos-
nize the necessity OF adapting a tarifr to
changed conditions.
w. w. would merely add that the Will
son tariff was deliberately wrecked by fits
opponents before n was enacted and els
failure to create favorable conditions was
not entirely caused by the tariff itself,
but by the deplorable condition in which
the treasury had been left.
w. w. is not In Its generally accepted
free trader" He Is well
aware that Vt Ia impracticable both from
the traditions OF our people, and the con-
oition oI tne country, Dut w. w. 10 a
hrm. answering believer In an intelligipls
system OF tariff, Tina flexible currency,
and q system OF taxation that will not
throw the greater part OF the burden upon
the wage Garner. Ediors life long ad-
vocates and others may delay the con-
but dawn will break with pa
tience and courage. w. w.
PROTESTS AGAINST INCREASE
Providence, r. l.. Nov. %. 1909.
Editor Providence News:
Talking to several of our taxpayng |
citizens on the proposed salary grab OF |
the fire commissioners said we ought TO |
write protest to our paper as the best |
way to at least show we were thinking.
Now the answer was no local paper |
would print a protest when a graft was !
going on. as they were fixed before hand. |
Now The News claims to be printed I'm |
the interest OF the whole people.
As humble taxpayer l wish TO make |
a protest against this salary raise. 1t is |
lncalled for and just as unnecessary as |
ls the fire commission itself. good |
chief with his deputies could perform all /
the duties OF these self-seeking office fire |
commissioners. The same could be said |
Of the police commission.
We In Elmwood know one of these fire |
commissioners has been pulling strings !
for years TO get on the commission join |
ing every. society that could influence his |
raise. Now he knew the salary before |
he worked TO get there. / call this the |
worst kind of socialism. hoisting your |
self on the public and then trying TO |
divide the public moneys for self. Yours !,
for justice. j. F.. u.