Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-05-19
REVISION TO DESTROY.

The democratic party in con-
sort with all free-traders declares
s'the tariff must be revised in Of
der to control the trusts" 1T
is we'll understood that control OF
the trusts is not the real purpose
of that party. We have seen
how it opposed all antitrust leg
islation. The leaders of the par
ty know that trusts are not the
offspring of a protective tariff.
They know that trusts exist IN
foreign countries as well as in
this country; under free-trade con-
ditions as we'll as under those OF
protection. They know further
that it is true the manufactur-
ing trusts are made necessary to
economic production and distri-
button of manufactured commod-
tiles. We repeat, the democratic
leaders know these things. Yet
they howl and wall over the
tyranny, greed, selfshness, wick
edness and liberty engendering
trusts. They have done all pos
sible to befuddle the people and
to excite prejudice and hate to-
ward the very name of trust.
The leaders of the republican
party knew the democrats were
not sincere in their professed alb
horrence of trusts; knew that
they were only setting the lines
for an assault on protection. All
may see it now for the assertion
is made that tariff revision is
necessary in order to control
trusts. ----.---
The trusts organized to control
the transportation business of the
country, the great railway mer-
gers, find that they must submit
to the governmental regulation,
whether the tariff be revised or
not. These are the combina-
tions doing and capable of doing
the greatest mischief. BY special
rates, rebates, drawbacks, ca1
distribution, etc., they have dis
eliminated against the individual
producer and shipper.
The republican party has en-
acted laws for control of such
trusts and those laws are being
enforced. But, say the enemies
of protection this does not reach
the manufacturing trusts. The
tariff must be revised. Protec-
ton enables them to hold up ou
own people for higher prices thar
are demanded of foreigners.
Just here we recall that during
the discussion of the McKinle,
tariff in 1890, and again in 189,
when the present tariff was dis
cussed the democratic argumen
was that ''protection shuts ou
manufacturers out of foreign
markets and therefore the princi
pie of protection is wrong
The argument now is, ''protec
ton enables the manufacturer t.
sell cheaper in foreign market
than he does at home, therefor
protection is wrong and shoult
be destroyed" Thus democrat
reveal their hatred to protection
The American people under
stand that they have never beer
so prosperous as at present. Th
manufacturer, merchant, farmer
mechanic and 1aborer alike know
this. They rightly attribut
their prosperity in large meas
ure to the operation of the pro.
tective tariff. They do not wisl
to see it needlessly disturbed
They have not forgotten the dis
astrous results of the democrati
tariff revision of 18o3-I8o4 an
do not desire to repeat the exper
iment. If the tariff needs revis
ion they prefer it should be re
vised by the friends of protec
ton. So it will be. Revisio,
is not, as some imagine an easy
simple thing. The moment tn
revision of one schedule is al
tempted the whole tariff law be
comes subject to revision and til
question of protection and no,
much, or free trade and why, ar
up for discussion. Discussion {
the Mckinley bill in 1890 occu
pied congress nine and one hal
months; of the Wilson-Gorma
bill in 1894, over eight mouths
of the Dingley bill in 1897, Owe
four months. In each instanc
business was virtually brought t
a standstil1. The manufacturer
could not make contracts for th