The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-10

powers in government, one the power
/ of the sword, sustained by the hand
| that yields it, and the other the power
of the law, sustained by an enlightened
public sentiment. The difference IN
| those powers is the difference between
a republic-such as ours, based on law
and a written constitution supported
by intelligence, virtue and patriotism
and a monarchy-sustained by force ex-
erted by an individual, uncontrolled by
laws other than those made or sane
| tutionalism, and other Imperialism
Tariff Law Unjust.
The present tariff law is unjust in it's
operation, excessive in many OF It's
rates and so framed in praticular
| instances as to exact inordinaSs prontS
from the people. So well understood
has this view become that many prom
| inent members of the Republican party
and at least two of its state cenVen-
TONS have dared to voice the general
sentiment on that subject. That party
seems, however, to be collectively aple
to harmonic only upon a plank thal
admits that revision may from time 10
time be necessary but 1t is so pnraseu
that it is expected to be satisfactory
to those in favor of an increase OF duty
to those who favor a reduction thereon,
and to those opposed to any change
whatever
Judged by the record of perform
ance, rather than that of promise, on
the part of that party in the past, II
would seem
event of it's success, would ge TO grau-
fv the latter class. With absolute con-
troll of both the legislative and eXecu-
tive departments of the government
since March 4th, 1897, there mas peen
neither reduction nor an attempt at
reduction in tariff duties. 1t is not UNI
reasonable to assume, in the hght OF
that record. that future congress Oh
! that party will not undertake a re-
vision of the tariff downward in the
event that it shall receive an endorse
ment on it's past course on that SUP
ject by the people. It, is a fact and
Should be frankly conceded, that
| though our party be successful in the
coming contest we cannot hope to Sc
cure a majority in the senate during
/ the next four years, and hence we
shall be unable to secure any modifi-
cation in the tariff save that to which
the Republican majority in the senate
may consent. While, therefore, we are
una BILE to give assurances of relief to
the DeoDIe from such excessive duties
as burden them, it is due to them that
we state our position to be IN faVor
| of a reasonable reduction of the tariff
| that we believe demanded by the best
interests of both manufacturer and
consumer, and that a wise and benefi-
cent revision of the tariff can be &C
complished as soon as both branches
! of congress and an executive IN 1aVOr
of it are elected, without creating that
I sense of uncertainty and instability
that has on other occasions manifested
itself. This can be achieved by pre-
| Viding that such a reasonable period
4 shall intervene, between the date of
/ the enactment of the statute making
| a revision and the date of it's enforce
ment, as shall be deemed sufficient for
the industry or business affected by
! such revision to adjust itself to the
I changes and new conditions imposed.
So confident am l in the belief that
/ the demand of the people for a reform
of the tariff is just that 1 indulge
the hope that should a Democratic
executive be chosen by the people.
even a Republican senate may heed
least some measure of relief to the
people.
Trusts Are Fostered.
l. The combinations, popularity called
trusts, which aim to secure a monopoly
of trade in the necessaries of life as
| we'll as in those things that are en-
/ ployed on the farm. in the factory and
in many other fields of industry, have
cessive tariff duties. These operate to
| furnish a substantial market in the
necessities of eighty millions of people,
! by practically excluding competition.
| With SO large market and highly
remunerative prices continuing long
after the line of possible competition
would naturally be reached, the temp
tation of all engaged in the same bust
ness TO combine so as to prevent COM
petition at home and a resulting re-
duction of prices, has proved irresist-
ible in a number of cases.
All men must agree that the net re-
suit of enacting laws that foster such
inequitable conditions, is most unfor-
tunate for the people as a whole, and
it would seem as if all ought to agree
that the effective remedy would be to
appropriately modify the offending law.
The growth of monopoly, of which COM
plant is justly made. cannot be laid at
the doors of the courts of this country.
The decisions of the supreme court of
the United States, the court of appeals
| of this state and the courts of last re-
sort in many other states, warrant the
assertion that the common law as de-
veloped affords a complete legal remedy
against monopolies. The fact that they
have multiplied in number and in
creased in power has been due not to
the failure of the courts to apply the
law when properly moved by admin
istrative officials or private individuals
/ but to the failure of officials charged
with the duty of enforcing the law to
take the necessary procedure to procure
the judgments of the courts in the ap-
propriate jurisdiction coupled with the
fact that the legislative departments of
some of our state governments as well
as congress in the manner already re-
ferred to nave, by legislation, encour-
aged their propagation. What is need
ed-in addition to the passage of a sta
| tute revising the tariff duties to a rea-
sonable basis-is not SO mucn other and
different laws, as officials having both