The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1904-10-07
TRUSTS AND TARIFF.
Honest Treaties RouIi Ezpani An.r-
icsa Commerce


Francis E. woodruff writes TO the
Evening Post q. ", the following IN
tsrestng letter on Protection"
Sir-The Republicans ceclafatiOn
that I'VE insist upon the maintenance
OF the principles OF protection" is a
challenge to make the question
whether the principle OF protection is
right or wrong a campaign issue
This leaves the clean-cut Issue. Is
protection IN principle right or WrODgg
The only argument that has been ad-
Tanced for the former Is that We see
II accompanied BY prosperity: and a
similar argument would equally prove
that the sun goes around the e0rth-
An argument against il IS that. simply
because something cannot be. made out
or nothing. protective" duties can 90
no more than to divert production from
its natural channels: that IS. from the
lines Of least resistance. and therefore
OF least expenditure of effort and so
OF least cost OF production Converse
", such diversion from natural chan
nels must increase cost or production,
and, therefore. other things being
equal. lessen profit
Tariff duty is only one Of many fac
tors. but 50 far as it goes the argu-
ment IS confirmed by the fact that
tariff, when our manufactures came
nearest to following the natural chan
uels OF production. their ratio OF in
crease, which is largely dependent on
relative profit, was greater than ever
before or since. Under the crowniDg
iniquity, so far, of the Dinghy tariff.
while the ratio Of increase. and so the
profit to the Nation. is less, corrupt
legislation has diverted the lions share
OF the DIMINISHED profits into the peck
cts OF & privileged few-tO the
building up OF huge Individual for
tunes, that by their evil example and
evil use in cOrrupting our legislators
and voters are endangeriug our repub-
lie. It is true that, thanks to abund-
ant crops. and to other causes with
which protection has nothing TO do
except to do harm, there are crumbs OF
the resulting prosperity for the rest
OF Us; but Under the Walker tariff.
while individual fortunes would not
have been so dangerously overgrOwn,
the people would have had full lOaFes.
Besides, despite the delaying Of the
end by Trust combinations, the aTti-
fetal stimulant is manifestly losing
its effect, and should the Republicans
win it IS an open secret that to bring
about another boom IL viii be neces-
sary to increase the dose, at our further
expense: as well as TO add ship SUbsi-
dies, and so On II, on the other hand.
the Democrats should win. revision,
properly managed as it would be By
the friepds OF our country Gn place OF
friends OF the tariff Denefciaries, and
the Republican corruption fund.-, and
with honest reciprocity trea ties. so Tar
from checking prosperity would give IL
a healthy impulse by throwing open
to Us the field Of international trade:
in which. just as fast as our necks are
freed from the milestone Of protection
ism, with our natural resources, in
Guiding brains, we would lead the
world. The Fich employers would De-
come richer Steel rails, for example,
ut SIS would lose the IS We are now
robbed OF. but tn remaining profit
Of IS on the added enormous output
for the vast increase in the foreign
trade would more than make MP the
loss These employers, also, could OBJ
viously afford to land so long as a good
ratio OF our land TO our inhabitants
continues would have to give rs good
wages as now. o. better and instead
OF the present alternating feasts and
famines there would be more steady
employment
Best OF all, perhaps. as the tariff
robbery was IesSened is artifcially en-
HANGED cost OF living would be reduced,
ard SAY fifty cents would provide
what now costs a dollar 1t has been
the writer's lot to spend most Of his
grown life abroad, and although now
some years at home he still feels hu-
inflated whenever, as often he finds
that In his Owl enlightened country,
Of which be had been 50 proud be
now has to pay for inferior quality
double what be has been used 10 pay
ing in the benighted word outside
Besides the sense CT 5unsfliat ton how
ever. there Is also a distinct inclination
TO kick somebody What justice is
there in robbing Us 10 make other men
itch. or TO swell the Republican COR
ruption fund.- From their own selfish
view point the Republicans do well .
fight tooth and nail against change,
except TO make the duties higher
Even ten years under a scientific tariff
would make my cOuntrymen amazed
that they could have been 50 fooled.
After fifty years, cur historians would
group the protection craze with the
tulip mania and the South Sea bubble.