Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-09-29

kets lie needs and seeks abroad. Its
generally, forcing them to pay excess
i've prices for food, fuel clothing and
other necessaries of life. 1t levies du-
ties on many articles not normally inn
ported in any considerable amount
which are made extensively at home
for which the most extreme protec
tionist would hardly justify protective
taxes, and which in large amounts are
exported Such duties have been and
wilR continue to be Il direct incentive
to the formation of huge industrial
combinations, which, secure from for
sign competition, are enabled to stifie
domestic competition and practically
to moEopolize the home market
1t contains many duties imposed fol
Ine express purpose cnly, as was open
~ avowed, of furnishing a basis for
reduction by means of reciprocal trade
treaties, which the Republican admin
istration, impliedly at least, promised
to negotiate. Having on this promise
secured the increased duties, the Re
publican party leaders, spurred on by
protected interests. defeated the
treaties negotiated by the executive.
and now these same interests cling to
the benefit of these duties which the
people never intended they should have
and to which they have no moral right.
Even now the argument most fire.
quently urged in behalf of the Dingley
tariff and against tariff reform general
" is the necessity of caring for our in
fant industries Many of these indus
tries after a hundred years of lusty
growth are looming up as industrial
giants. In their case at least the Ding
ley tariff invites combination and 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 inn
mediate attention.
The two leading parties have always
differed as to the principle of customs
faxation. 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 1ow 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 it
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 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"
1t is 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, if they chose, block every at
tempt at legislative relief. But it
should be remembered that the Re
publican party includes many revision
lists, and l believe it will shrink from
defying the popular will expressed UNI
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 grievously increased. Those hav-
ing fixed incomes have suffered keenly;
those living on wages, if there has
been any increase, know that such in
crease has not kept pace with the adj
vance in the cost of living, including
rent and the necessaries of life Many
today are out of work, unable to Sc
cure any wages at all. To alleviate
these conditions in so far as is in our
power should be our earnest endeavor.
Trust Remedies.
l pointed out IN my earlier response
the remedy which. in my judgment,
can efectually be applied against
monopolies, and the assurance was
then given that if existing laws, in
Guiding both statute and common law.
proved inadequate, contrary to my ex-
pectations, / favor such further legis-
lation within constitutional limitations
as will best promote and safeguard the
interests of all the people,
Whether there is any common law
which can be applied and enforced by
the federal courts cannot be determin-
ed by the president or by candidate
for the presidency
The determination of this question