Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-06-22
When Twas aiboy back in the hill

er, declare that he Judged people by
their flesh marks, and SO do we all.
!! When the Fifty-eighth congress as
sembled, one Of the new members
who attracted my attention by his
handsome face and commanding
presence was Hon. Martin j. Wade,
the lone Democrat from Iowa. Every
body knows the Hawkeye delegation
is one of the strongestin the House.
The only trouble with them is their
naughty politics-the worst ever.
In ability Judge Wade is the peer
of any of them, and in politics he is
right. He has not been oafensively
intrusive, but be has not chosen to
remain silent. Whenever he has
spoken he has instructed and de-
lighted his auditors. He ought to
be returned to the House by an in
creased majority. On all hands he
is regarded as an able and valuable
member. He does not indulge
much in rhetorical frills, but talks
sound sense. The following excerpt
from his speech against the ship
subsidy steal is first rate campaign
material and illustrates his thorough
command of our vernacular:
Mr.. Chairman-I am opposed to
this ship subsidy scheme. 1t is
true that all that is now asked is the
appointments commission to in
vestigate as to the advisability of
establishing system of subsidy,
but we all know that we are taking
the first step in course which will
just as surely fasten upon the Ameri-
can people subsidy burden as it is
certain that the sun will rise on the
morrow.
l am opposed to this scheme, as [
am to every subsidy scheme, whether
the beneficiary be u person or q
corporation. | am opposed to it as
I am opposed to every project by
which the many are taxed for the
benefit of the few.
All through the ages noble self
Eishness which inspired men to labor
and to save has been the handspring
of progress. In every civilized por-
ttion Of the world individual men
have planned work which they
hoped would produce as result Of
their efforts the means of sustenance
for themselves and their families.
1t was thus that the little stores
were first established in the hamlet.
II was thus that the fearless pioneer
lentered the forest and carved out
for himself q home. It was
thus that the farmer of the west
broke up the prairie and in
defiance of storm and privation and
solitude turned it into garden
These pioneers in mercantile and
agricultural effort met many disap.
pointments and many failures
Thousands fell by the wayside,
broken in body and spirit, borne
idown by blasted hopes. Thousands
entered occupations which, unde,
the conditions, would not pay, and
disappointment came.
!. And who has ever arisen in con
gress with a proposal that these men
!! the merchant, the farmer, the labor
er struggling against the tide Of
i adversity, should receive govern
ment aid? Who has ever though
of subsidizing any of these common
nortals who have followed thos,
ordinary activities which, after all
have been the source of all stabl'
progress in the world?
| Competition is prevented b,
high tariffs, which enable the man
ufacturer to maintain high prices
The people pay these high prices
knowing that if competition were
4 permitted by lower tariffs the price'
3 of the goods would be lower. Henc,
the people contribute in the pric'
paid for nearly everything purchased
a part thereof, great or small, to aie
the manufacturer to make a prof
lin his business The only differ
Fence between this system and a sub
sidy is that in subsidy the govern
! ment collects the money from tn,
people and pays it directly to tn
favored beneficiary, the shipowner
in this case, while under the pro
tective system the people pay dir
ectly to the manufacturer their con
. tribution to his profit in the increas
ed price of goods, which price coul,
} not be maintained without the higl
tariffs.
So that the people are accustome,
to bear burdens for the upbuildinl
Of others. They have been liberia
indeed. They have consented t
live in modest houses, while th'
men to whom they pay tribute hav
built palaces. They have been con
tent to spend their lives in the quie
of the neighborhood in which the
were born, while the objects of thei
: generosity have travelled in luxur
in foreign lands. They have see
the little factories. which were strug
Cling few years ago-just as tn
merchant was then struggling, jus
as the farmer was then struggling
grow into giant industries, stron
enough to control the markets of til
world and still they pay tribut
! greater in amount than ever before
/ The people have been libers
indeed. but l do not believe ths
! they are ready to bend their back
to the additional burden contem
plated by this measure. l do ne
believe that they are ever going
} vote upon themselves ship sui
/ sidy in order to build up a new il
: dustry which after years of benefit