West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-09-10
ESI0N COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA TO- 1908
BROKEN PROMISES.
How can the Republican. Ne rx-
peeted to Reform the rartGt

pected to Reform the Tart2e
The drift OF the Republican leaders
'rom reciprocity. 60 which they wcrc
ardently committed undor the leader
snip OF Blaine and indorsed by McKin-
Icy Is reversal OF party policy that 10
remarkabie. when Mr.. Dingiey and
his Republican associates devised tho
tariff bill OF 1897 they Incorporated IN
IL reciprocity clause, and from the
unanimity with which the bill Was
passed the whole Republican party nm.
peared TO indorse IL. To appeasc tho
ultra protectionists many OF the iu,,es
provided for In the schedules were Dur,
posciy placed beyond the bounds OF
reasonable protection, In some cases
higher than the protected interests
asked for. 20 that when the rates were
revised by reciprocity treaties they
would stll be high enough to protect
the tarin barons from foreign competi-
uon. The bin having expressly pro.
vided for reciprocity treaties tho Me-
kinley administration at once pro
ceeded 10 negotiate with foreign coun.
tries. Treaties were made with nearly
every country, but the senate refused
TO ratify them, and the schedules are
sull retained at tho extreme high rates.
This evasion OF the intent and tho
letter OF the Dingley bill is n fraud up-
on tho taxpayers of the country. per-
petrated In the interest OF the trusts
and combines. Tho few who gain by
the tarlff have obtained control OF tho
machinery OF Legislation 10 the dctri-
ment OF the many who pay the tax or
the exorbitant profit to the trusts.
The speaker OF tho house OF repre-
sentatives is selected and the commit
tees are appointed 20 conserve the In
forests OF monopoiistic combinations.
President Roosevelt falls into line with
the majority and agrees that we must
"let well enough alone"
The symptoms OF revolt against this
policy among the Republican leaders
have been curbcd. but In the mindsof the
people they are rampant and cannot be
obliternted by the actions OF president
or congress. The promise to reform the
iniquites OF the tariff after election
VIII probably be made In the platform
or the Republican national CONVENTION.
but the evident intention being TO catch
the votes OF reformcrs and then still
let well enough alone" will be too
paipablc to fool the voters. High trust
prices are an object lesson that too
many are suffering from and the prom
ise OF reform at some distant date will
hardly curb their impatience.
When the tnriff barons refuse 10 al
low the ratification OF the reciprocity
treaties which were intended 10 aid our
export trade, how can the Republicans,
no matter what promises they may
make In the national platform, be ex-
pected to revise the tariffi When they
decline to carry out law OF their own
making which would reduce In q small
measure the profits OF two or three
small monopolies. OF what value aro
their promises to pass law that would
force competition on all the tariff mo-
nopolists7
With the Republican majority In
congress bound by fetters OF steel to
the tarir barons IL is absurd to expect
them 20 strike OF the shackles, and
they never will do II.