Morris tribune., 1903-07-11

the present Clu0' IhTLISduSulp Who
never 40 weak, and principle never 80
strong IS at the present time The
peoble know what they want but not
being politicians they don't know how
to get it.
It is matter of common knowledge
that many commodities are absolute
ly controlled by great trusts, that 20
thoro and complete is this control
that the trust that exercises it pos
sesses perfect monopoly of he mar
ket, and fixes the prices of the raw
materials that enter into the compo-
sition of the commodities produced
by it, the work that creates them and
the price of the finished article to the
consumer; and the worker, the pro-
Queer and the consumer are at the
mercy of the trust. The people know,
or at least they ought to know, that
the only way in the world monopoly
can be broken up is by competition;
that domestic compptition c; mot ex
ist in domestic markets because the
trust contro.s them aud it is as alb
surd to think of a trust competing
with itself in it's own market as for
man to run a foot race with himself
in his own yard. They also know that
in many cases outside competition is
shut off by tariff. Not ten men in
thousand believe in tariff on trust
controlled commodities. Nc candi-
date for Office in the United States
| dare make specific declaration in
favor of such tariff before election.
| A tariff that shelters monopoly is not
tariff for protection but for plumber.
Yet such tariffs exist and will con.
tinue to exist until the people become
politicians and learn how to make
their desires effective.
The people know, at least they
ought to know, and [ believe they do
know, that certain industries ENJOY
ing the benefit of tariff sell their
wares in the markets they are pro
tected against cheaper than they do
in the home market; they know, ard
know full we'll that where such con-
ditions exists the difference between
the foreign price and the higher home
one is not protection to American
workingmen or to American producers
but it is simply tribute to the men
who own and control the industry.
American citizens, at least great
majority of them, believe in protec
ton, they are willing to pay for pro-
lection but they object and rightfully
object to paying tribute and they will
stop paying tribute when they become
politicians.
The people know, or at least they
ought to be aware of the fact, that
this government spends millions of
dollars every year to preserve our tim
bered territory and reforest our lands
that have been denuded and it places
tariff of two dollars thousand on
Imported lumber. It maintains an
extravagantly expensive fish commits
sion that spenps immense sums of
money in preserving and renewing
our almost exhausted fisheries and it
maintains half cent pound tar
if on imported fish. Such contra
dictory legislation is incomparably
silly, the people don't believe in it.
It is as senseless as it would be for a
surgeon to sew up wound with one
hand and tear it open with the other.
No man in Minnesota, candidate for
an executive or legislative Office dare
state in plain terms, at the beginning
of his campaign, that he is in favor
of the retention of the tariff on lumber
and fish;if he did he would always be
candidate and never an officer.
Yet these tariffs will be retained until
the people become politicians and
the many control the parties instead |
of the few.
Ninety out of ev cry hundred cit
zens of the United States believe in |
protective tariff but they believe in |
protection thai. protects industries
not brushes them. They believe in
protection that puts money in the |
pockets of the people and not levies
tribute on their resources. True
protection means benefit to the many
not special privileges to the few
Destroy this principle and it is not
protection, but oppression.
Let me give you sentiment worth
1;u;nop for ,r,orkl lr;o-. HA.l