Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-09-26

lev tar1n Invites COIDDlndLlOu anu mo
nopoly and gives justification to the
expression that the tariff Is the moth
er Of trusts.
For the above mentioned reasons
among many others. the people de
mand reform of these abuses, and such
reform demands and should receive i'm
mediate attention.
The two leading parties have always
differed as to the principle Of customs
taxation. Our party has always ad.
vanced the theory that the object is
the raising of revenue for support OF
the government whatever other results
may incidentally flow therefrom. The
Republican party, on the other hand,
contends that customs duties should
be levied primarily for protection, SO
called. with revenue as the subordinate
purpose, thus using the power of tax
alton to build up the business and prop
erty of the few at the expense of the
many.
This difference of principle still sub
sists, but our party appreciates that the
long continued policy Of the country
as manifested In its statutes, makes II
necessary that tariff reform should be
prudently and sagaciously undertaken
on scientific principles, to the end that
there should not be an immediate rev
olution In existing conditions.
In the words of our platform we de-
mand "a revision and a gradual re-
duction of the tariff by the friends OF
the masses, and for the common veal
and not by the friends of Its abuses
Its extortions and determinations"
It Ia true that the Republicans, who
do not admit In their platform that the
Dingley tariff needs the slightest al
teration, are likely to retain a major
ity of the federal senate throughout the
next presidential term and could, there
fore, il they chose. block every at
tempt at legislative relief. But II
should be remembered that the Re
publican party includes many revision
lists. and | believe It will shrink from
defying the popular will expressed un
mistakably and peremptorily at the
ballot box.
The people demand reform OF exist
ing conditions. Since the last Demo
cratic administration the cost OF living
has Rrieyously increased. Those hav
ing fixed incomes have suffered keenly
those living on wages, II there has
been any increase, know that sucn In
crease has not kept pace with the ad
vance In the cost of living, including
rent and the necessaries Of life. Many
today are out Of work, unable to BE
cure any wages at all. To alleviate
these conditions in so far as Ii In oul
power should be our earnest endeayor
Trust Remedies.
pointed out in my earlier Response
the remedy which, in my Judgment
can effectually be applied agains
monopolies, and the assurance wa!
then given that If existing laws, In
Guiding both statute and common law
proved inadequate, contrary to my ex
peotations, favor such further legis
lation within constitutional Imitation
as will best promote and safeguard I'M
interests of all the people.
Whether there is any common Law
which can be applied and enforced b!
the federal courts cannot be determin
ed by the president or by candidate
for the presidency.
The determination Of this question
was left by the people In framing thu
constitution to the Judiciary and no
to the executive. The supreme cour
of the United States has recently con
sidered this question, and, in the cas-
of the Western Union Telegraph com
pany versus the Call Publishing com
pany. to be found In the one hundred
and eighty-hrst volume Of the Unitet
States supreme court reports, at pag'
92. II decided that common law prin
ciples could be applied by Unitet
States courts In cases involving inter
state commerce in the absence OF Unit
ed States statutes specifically cover
ing the case. Such is the law OF thu
land.
Reciprocity.
In my address to the notification
committee | said that tariff reform II
demanded by the best interests o
both manufactures and consumer
With equal truth 1t can De SAID ina
the benefits Of reciprocal trade trea
ties would enure to both. That TIT
consumer would be helped Is ungues
tionable. That the manufacturer would
receive great benefit by extending hi
markets abroad hardly needs demon
stration. His productive capacity ha'
outgrown the home market. The yer,
term home market has changed II
its significance. Once. from the manu-
facturers' point of view, 1t meant ex
pansi0n today the marvellous grown
of our manufacturing industries hal
far exceeded the consumptive capacit.
of our domestic markets. and the tern
"home market" implies contraction
rather than expansion. II We woult
run our mills to their full capacity
thus giving steady employment to on
workmen and securing to them and Z
the manufacturer the profits accruinl
from increased production, other mar
kets must be found. Furthermore
when our manufacturers are depend
ent on raw materials in whole or par
imported, It is vital to the extension
of their markets abroad that they Sc
cure their materials on the most IA
vorable terms.
Our martyred president, William Nc
Kinley, appreciated this situation. He
nninfed out in his last address 10 the