The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-09-17

derive a benefit by tag on coal? The
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 it is in the interest Of
labor. Of what labor? The only labor
1 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 Was in the coal
trade, in the year 1902. One hundred
and forty-seven thousand men stood
out for six months, demanding an in
crease in their wages proportionate
value of coal to the mine owner or
operator and the increase in the cost
CT living to the laboring man is nearly
forty per cent more than it was prior
to 1897 Tariff upon coal is indefens1-
bic. 1t is monopoly and it is no won
der that the great Republican state of
Massachusetts in the year 1908 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 If
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 a 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 a
protective tariff policy which is exact
ing tribute from every home in this
land. 1t is not in the interest of the
laborlng men, for they are refused
even living wages. They refuse 20
give the laboring man a 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,
by men who love to be named "stand
J patters." The coal trust thrives today
| il the atmosphere it loves, surrounded
by men high in the council of the Re-
publican party, and not one effort is
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 op-
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
the interest Of few, but for all. /
challenge the stand patters" to show
4 the Iowa farmer how he is benefited
/ by a tax on coal and lumber With a
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 necessares 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 AMI
cattle. 1t would be like an April show
| er to the Iowa farmer if little Cana
/ clan lumber could enter into competi,
ton with the present lumber trust.
The protective policy has assisted
in the building UP of every trust and
combination today in existence Every
trust formed today is in some manner
aided and abetted by protective tar
iff until finally they have acquired a
complete monopoly.
Morean's Steel Trust.
We have but to examine the steel
trust, the most wonderful combina-
ton man ever knew It's total capt.
talization of bonds and stock amounts
at this time to nearly $1,4e0, 100000
and upon that gigantic capital divi-
dends are paid, aggregating from fit.
teen to twenty per cent. Its annual
| product is beyond comprehension 1t
controls the source of supply of the