The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-10-08
The Issue in q Nutshell.

1lOn oil tne ttepuDHcanS ol tne
Twenty-third New York congress
district, placing in nomination
Hon. George n. Southwick, of Albany.
one of the most efficient representatives,
that the Empire state has in recent
years had in the lower branch OF con-
gress, Walter j. Ballard, of Schenec-
tady, a frequent contributor to these
columns stated forcibly and concisely
the paramount issue now before the
voters. His statement of it is just as
applicable to Northeastern Pennsylva-
mia as to central New York. Mr.. Bal
lard said:
"The policies of the Republican party
are like ingots of pure gold which can
be coined into currency to meet the
pressing needs of the day. The most
pressing need of today in the continual
tion of our present prosperity, and it is
only to the Republican party that the
country can look for such policies and
methods of administration as will in
sure Il continuation of that prosperity.
senator Gallinger sounded the key
note for this campaign when he said on
the floor of the senate, Prosperity is
the issue-all other questions are sec
ondary.' The vital question before us
today is not what our opponents may
| think of our army, our navy or our
| Washington administration, but how
can we keep our factories busy, our
weekly pay rolls heavy and our wives
and families contented and happy,
| There is one way to effect all these
most desirable objects and that is to
| protect our protective tariff. Under
that tariff has arisen our present pros
perity, and with that tariff will that
prosperity stand or fall. 1t is not vital
whether we have too much duty in one
place or too little in another, but the
vital point is-what is the general re-
suit of the Republican protective tariff
as a whole? That result | assert to he
the condition of affairs today. by which
any man who wants to work can find
work and draw his pay for full time
every Friday night with unfailing regu-
larity.
Was that the condition of affairs
during the years 1898 to 1896, when We
We're afflicted with that malignant dis
ease known as Democracy, or the con-
| dition of affairs ON the day when the
Dngey tariff was adopted, July "a
1897, and we threw off our hablliments
of commercial and industrial woe al
the trumpet call of William Mckinley.
| Was that the condition of affairs dur.
ing the years when Grover CLEVELAND
was selling government bonds at re.
duced prices to pay the government
daily bills? No, gentlemen, no. Ther
we were living from hand to mouth ant
did not know one day what would hap
pen the next. Now we know that if thu
tariff is preserved and the Republican
party continues in control of our af
fairs, national, state and municipal
each Monday morning will give us al
opportunity to resume work and eacl
Friday night will give us our weekl.
pay.
Il could quote you miles of statistics
to prove along industrial lines tha
under Republican policies and contro
our country has, in the last five years
ness, paid out millions upon million
more wages and made millions upol
millions more homes happy and givel
millions more children better educa
tion than was ever accomplished in tn
aggregate years during which our af
fairs have been under Democratic con
troll. Just let me quote one item, viz
that the total product of our factorle
during the fiscal year that has jus
closed was over $4,000 millions of gol
dollars. Not the Kansas City platform
kind of dollars, but real dollars wort
their face the wide world over.
But they tell us-you are robbing III
| people under this protective tariff i
that you are selling goods abroa
cheaper than you do at home. Gentle
men. that charge Is made. We answe
to the charge and face the jury, bu
what does the charge amount to? |
/ amounts to practically nothing, becaus
, of the $4,000, 900. 900 worth of goods W