Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1904-09-15
ACTION OF THE DEMOCRATS ON THE
MONEY QUESTION.

A Futile Attempt to Center Atten-
ton on other Issues-The Position
L. Has Taken on the Tariff Extreme
iy vulnerable.
IN its cowardly attempt at dodginS
the money standard issue--only an at
tempt, for in such case dodging is self
condemnation-th Democratic conven-
ton hoped to center attention upon
other issues, such as that of tariff re-
form" and accordingly put into its
platform IA rehash of the old parrot
cries about the burdens of protective
tariff upon the common people and the
Old demand for a tariff for revenue
only"
If Democrats want to fight their
campaign upon that line there is no
particular reason for fearing to meet
them upon it. On the contrary, they
are likely to find it IN uncommonly
vulnerable position for them to take.
1t is delightful spectacle, that of
party trying to impose upon America
Il system which is at this very moment
in danger of utter reputation by the
only important country in the world
that is practicing it. Let us recall the
opinions of some expert investigators
concerning the industrial condition OF
America under the operation of the
system which it is the bounden duty
of all good Democrats to hold anathe
ma maranatha.
We all remember the Mosely commits
sion, composed of the official represent
atives of twentythree British trade
unions, which came hither in Decem-
Der, 1902, and investigated the indus
trial condition of the United States.
Mr.. Mosely himself declared that its
Investigations showed beyond question
that American workingmen earned
higher wages than those of England
and that food was as cheap here as in
England, if not cheaper, While other
general neceSsaries cost about the
same. That was pretty good testimony
concerning the lot of Americans under
the protective tariff system. But it
Was not all Other members of the
commission were even more outspoken
than Mr. Mosely himself.
Nr ilolmshaw, Tie representative of
/ q Dhelheid cutlery trade, reported
thai wages in that industry were about
ICU. per cent higher in America than in
England. Mr.. Steadnan, of the trade
Union parliamentary committee, still
moro specifically declared that -Ameri-
cal, Workingmcn were generally better
nf
cost of food here was about the same
as in England. that wages averaged 80
per cClt higher here than there, that
men could save more here, and that the
proportion of workingmen dependent
upon public aid was smaller in Ameri-
ca than in England
Now, it is the boast Of England that
her Workingmen are better off than
those of any country of continental
Luropc. That is the stock argument
today of those who are opposing Mr..
Clamberlain'S tariff reform scheme. If,
then the English workingmen are bet
ter off than those of continental Eu
rope and if. as the best Eng,isl uu-
tAuritleS declare, American working
men are better off than those of Eng
land, what is the inevitable conclusion: ::
That American workingmcn, under
tie operations of this much reviled pro
tect!ve tariff are better off than those
OF any other country in the world
There is an old saying about the wis
dom Of letting well enough alone"
That wisdom is the more marked and
emphatic when the well enough is
the very best in the world. New York
Tribune