Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-09-17

derive a benefit by tax on coal? Tho
great state of Iowa produces thou-
sands and thousands of tons of coal.
We export to foreign countries vast
quantities and yet the beloved states
man of Iowa wishes to "stand pat'
upon this proposition in order that
he may be true to party and keep out
the vision of tariff reform. and prevent
a possible breaking away from the
eastern protectionists. They offer
you no excuse The price of coal has
risen constantly, but the benefit which
it brings to you, wish some one would
explain.
They say 1t is in the interest Of
labor. OF what labor? The only labor
can see is the labor of the operator
in the energy he uses in conveying the
emoluments thus derived from his
office to a bank. The greatest labor
strike ever known Vas in the coal
trade, in the year 1902. One hundred
ard forty-seven thousand men stood
out for six months, demanding an in
crease in their wages proportionate
with the increasing cost of living. The
value of coal to the mine owner or
operator and the increase in the cost
Of living to the laboring man is nearly
forty per cent more than it was prior
to 1897. Tariff upon coal is indefensf-
BILE. 1t is a monopoly and it is no won.
der that the great Republican state of
Massachusetts in the year 1903 enact
ed such drastic legislation on this sub.
ject. The sop Of placing it on the free
list for one year will fool no one. II
it should be on the free list for one
year. it should be for all time
Here is one of the very important
products of nature. intended for the
use of humanity, cornered by few
men who reap the entire benefit. When
these few men controlling the coal
and railroads of Pennsylvania can mo-
nopolize and dictate to the people. the
quantity and price of this product of
nature, then, indeed, l say it is time
that the people of this country should
assert their rights with greater force
than mere declaration, they should
strike down this great evil at the bal
lot box. Every one of these men are
today, heart and soul, supporting
protective tariff policy which is exact
ing tribute from every home in this
land. 1t is not in the interest of the
laboring men, for they are refused
even living wages. They refuse 20
give the laboring man single penny
unless wrung from them by the dire
necessity of the times or by order of
a court or arbitration tribunal. Any
one who will read tie testimony taken
before the arbitration committee of
the coal strike will turn with horror
and alarm from a policy so detrimental
to human rights and against every
welfare and perpetuity of republican
institutions.
"stand Patters" and Coal Trust.
Yet, you are appealed to in this hour
by men who even call themselves
Democrats to give support to law that
shelters monopoly; not an effort has
been made to dissolve this coal trust.
ratters." The coal trust thrives today
III the atmosphere it loves, surrounded
by men high in the council of the Re-
publican party, and not one effort Ia
made to disturb or destroy it, If it
were the last act of my life | would
condemn it with all the power possible
and | will to the last moment be OPP
posed to a policy that will take from
one man dollar and give to another
without any compensation therefor.
Democracy believes in the CONNER
cial supremacy of our nation, not in
challenge the "stand patters" to show
the Iowa farmer how he is benefited
by a tax on coal and lumber. With
market in which he must compete with
the world in everything he produces
why is he not entitled to a similar
market for what he purchases and
especially for the necessaries of life
which he must buy. The tariff on oats,
wheat corn and cattle is no reply. The
pauper labor of Europe is not crowd
ing the Iowa market with corn and
cattle. 1t would be like an April show
er to the Iowa farmer if little Cana
dian lumber could enter into competi.
ton with the present lumber trust.
The protective policy has assisted
in the building up of every trust ana
combination today in existence. Every
trust formed today is in some manner
aided and abetted by protective tar
if until finally they have acquired
complete monopoly.
Morgan's Steel Trust.
We have but to examine the steel
trust, the most wonderful combina-
ton man ever knew Its total capt.
talization of bonds and stock amounts
at this time to nearly s1,40O,00O,0OO
and upon that gigantic capital divi-
dends are paid, aggregating from if
teen to twenty per cent It's annual
product is beyond comprehension. 1t
controls the source of supply of the
iron ore Of the United States. 1t con.
trolls the transportation of all the iron
of the country. 1t controls eighty per
cent or more of the iron mills of the