Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-10-08

Gordian knots. Rev. II. L. Atkinson,
pastor of the Christian church at Ge-
neva. O., proposes that we cede the
Philippines to Japan in exchange for
the service of Japanese coolies in dig
ging the isthmian canal by either the
Panama or Nicaraguan route. He ar
CUES that the United States has no need
of the Philippines except for coaling
stations, which could be reserved in the
trade; that Japan, with 100000 in a
territory the size of California, needs
room for expansion: that the Philippine
climate is better adapted to Japs than
to Americans; that the Japs would give
the islands good government; that Jap
anese lab6rers would not die so numer-
ously as our laborers in digging the
great ditch, and that to be rid of the
archipelago would strengthen the pres
tige of the United States among the
nations. All of which has been for
Brother Atkinson can induce the gov
eminent to adopt his plan, millions of
Americans yet unborn will arise and
call him blessed and he will be entitled
to monument tall as Washington's.
Wherefore?
There is considerable talk of holding
the next national Republican conven-
ton in New York, which would be a
most unusual occurrence considering
the fact that President Roosevelt is al
most certain to be nominated. The con-
vention is generally held in a city re-
mote from the principal candidate or
candidates. The explanation is sug-
gested that Colonel Roosevelt is really
looked upon rather as a western than
an eastern candidate, and that if the
convention is located in New York it
will be for the purpose of increasing
his strength in that vicinity.
A Warning Voice.
The Washington Post claims to be an
independent paper. 1t believes reli-
giously in the high protective tariff and
The single gold standard. Nevertheless
it sounds this friendly warning to the
Mark Tapleys who are look
ing so cheerfully to next years cleo
tons:
There will be much discussion during
the approaching session of congress con-
corning the tariff and the finances and
reciprocity and other grave questions of
state. Politicians from the rural districts
will orate solennly upon the relations be-
tween Tie United States and the rest of
the world, and issues warranted to stir
the popular heart will be forged with
tremendous blows upon the legislative
anvil.
The leaders of both parties will be WISE
however, if they will -salize that the aver
age citizen does not feel the slightest in
terest in abstract propositions. The Re-
publican party lost the election which
followed the enactment of the Mckinley
tariff bill-overwhelmingly lost it. in fact
because of the rapid and universal in
crease in the cost of the necessaries of
life. Conditions which exist today recall
that famous campaign. 1t is fact that
the salary of the wage worker now pro-
cures for him the minimum of necessary
things. The cost of living is abnormally
high. The grocery bills and the meat
bills are out of all proportion to reason.
The man who would live decently on
small salary, who would provide sufficient
food and proper clothing for his family,
finds it impossible to save.
There would be some satisfaction for
the wage worker if he knew that the
money thus wrung out of his pocket went
into the purse of his fellow laborers
throughout the country, but he knows
that labor does not get the benefit. He
might even be complacent if the proprie-
tor of the corner grocery profited by the
high prices but he knows that the mer-
chant is selling on the smallest margin of
profit. With neither the producer nor the
merchant benefiting from the rise in
prices the question is naturally being
asked, Who is the beneficiary? If there
shall be a very general belief that the
extortioner is a syndicate or corporation
which controls the output of beef or
sugar or canned goods or other necessary
of life. there will be a swing of the politi-
cal pendulum equal to that which brought
the Democrats into power some years
ago. To the average citizen the price
which he is compelled to pay for the
things which go upon his table or upon
his back is of more vital and personal
concern than the enactment of financial
legislation or policy for the Philippines.
The constantly increasing cost of living
is a political factor not to be overlooked.
The Turk Must Go.
Some years ago Denis Kearny Of the
San Francisco sand lots made the at
mosphere of the Pacific coast vocal
with the shout. 1.-THE Chinese must
gor' Now everybody who loves jus
tice and common decency is thinking
if not saying, ''The unspeakable Turk
must go from Europev' and the sooner
the better. He is a cumberer of the
ground, public nuisance which should
be abated, an anachronism no longer
to be tolerated. Let him go and not
stand upon the order of his going.
"a Pertinent Modification"
Under the above caption Marse Hen
ry WatterSon remarks:
President Roosevelt has referred to tine
finding of the anthracite commission as
authority settling legal principles precise
ly as if it were the decision of a regular
court of last resort. In this connection
the Springfield Republican makes a rather
neat point with reference to the removal
of Miss Todd as postmaster in a Delaware
town By a slight modification it makes
the finding of the strike commission read
as follows:
s'It is adjudged and awarded that I"
there shall be no discrimination against