Fair play., 1903-12-12
TARIFF REDUCED YVES.
Cost of Living Increases Vie ,b.
Worl<ingman's Pay
Decreases

Thirty-two thousand operativin the
cotton mills Of New England he had
their wages cut 10 per cent. andey do
not view lower wages and highst of
living as prosperity for them wteyer
1t may be for the protected trustsrhen
again the employees of the African
llnplate company-part of thsteel
trust-have returned to work ga 20
per cent. reduction of their wag and
they do not feel prosperous. II re-
publican party had permitted the and
ment to the Cuban reciprocity bilbol-
lShlng the differential-eXtr dutton
refined sugar, the saving of $70OO,C or
SS,OOO,OOO to the cotton and tin,te
operatives, and other consumers, Wild
have helped to tide over the longld
winter that has just begun. Buthe
sugar trust was more influential IN
republican congressman than the peie
and by taking off 90 per cent. of the cv
on Cuban raw sugar they presentedle
| sugar trust with the opportunity q
make, as increased profit. almost Ia
| dollar what the people would he
saved by the abolishing of the extra dr
on refined sugar which the democra,
amendment proposed TO abolish. II
leaders of this same republican congre
have agreed with President Rooseve
that reciprocity for the sugar trust al
the Cubans was the most important le
lslation that was necessary and tn
have further agreed that no reform
the tariff in its shelter to the trusts /
needed With no reduction or abolition
OF tariff taxes the numerous trusts, tha
are protected like the sugar trust. cal
continue 10 eXtOrt their enormous
profits. II the tariff taxes were reduced
to reasonable figure, enough to pro
duce what the government needs. hol
estly administered, the trusts woul,
have TO reduce their profits TO corr,
spending rates, or competition ,frol
abroad would come in and supply thu
market That most of the trusts art
able to make ample profits without any
protective tariff is shown by their eX
porting their products to foreign coun.
tries and selling them in competition
with the foreign manufacturers afte,
paying the high duties which are de.
manded there In many instances it ha!
been proven that, the price the trust,
obtain abroad are much less than the,
charge our own people.
If the trusts were making no profit O,
the goods they export. they would no
long continue such business, or be s,
anxious to extend this trade. by sendini
agents to increase it. so the excuse tha
the trusts are losing money on the GOOD
they are selling in foreign markets. O
dumping their surplus for whatever
will bring, Is not borne out by the facts
The trusts, like other people, woul,
not contiue to do a losing business an
be seeking more at the same unprofitabl
rate. The steel trust is bidding on for
eign contracts against the English. Ger
man, French and Belgium manufactur
ers, and successfully, too, at SO per CEN
less on some of its products. To enabl
1t to compete with the foreigners o
their own ground, it reduced the wage
of its employees, but does not lower tn
! price Of its products at home. The work
men, the farmers and the balance of u
would all be better Off, If the tariff wa
reduced and competition was allowe
| to keep the trust prices down. If th
| cost OF living was reduced one-third. th
workmen could afford to labor for les
wages and what a blessing the lowe
| cost of living would be to those wit
| limited incomes. The farmer would o,
the same price for what he raises undC
a low as he does under a high tariff, b,
cause the price of agricultural product
are based upon supply and demand an
no tariff can change that immutf
| bic law and the farmer has no prcie,
tion TO aid him except the duty on wo,
and that has proven 10 be hoomeranl
| The wholesale and retail dealers make
larger percentage of profits the cheapC
they can buy the goods they sell so the
would gain by tariff reduction. III
whole army of those who work fC
wages, be the wages large or small, al
benefited by reasonable price for a
they buy, The high tariff adds to thos
prices directly and in a much great,
proportion through the increased prof
the trusts and protected monopo!lt
charge under the shelter of high prott,
tion. The republican masses feel tn!
protection is robbing them and are pr.
testing, the Iowa Idea" being a samp
protest, but the republican leaders ha,
succeeded in putting even that sma
effort to sleep.