Iron County register., 1904-06-09
MAKING A TARIFF PLANK.
A Task That Is Giving the Managers
of the G. o. P. Much Anxiety
Just Now.

Senator Aldrich says the republicans
will revise the tariff when it is neces-
sary to do so, but as the senator man
ages the republican tariff programme,
and in turn is controlled by the trusts,
the time for revision is certain to be
in the distant future. Thase OF us
with small incomes, at the mercy OF
high trust prices, have seen the neces-
sity for tariff reform ever since the
combines boosted prices beyond the
ability of the poor man to pay Inc
Rockefeller group of industrial trusts,
with whom Senator Aldrich is connect
ed, will hardly consider it necessary to
revise the tariff, unless to raise it to
a higher plane. The last republican
platform for Iowa declared that "Du-
ties that are too low should be in
creased, and duties that are too high
should be decreased" That was the
plank adopted to compromise the diff
ference between Gov. Cummins and
"the standpatters," SO that each could
point to it with pride. The follow
ers of Gov. Cummins who believe that
the tariff shelters trusts, could quote
that part of the plank which promises
that if duties were too high and were
fostering the trusts and allowing them
to rob the Iowa farmers, the duties
would be reduced. The standpatters,
on the other hand, who proclaim that
high duties bring prosperity, doubtless
feel that still higher duties would bring
about even greater prosperity. But
this Juggling with words that gave both
factions a chance to approve the plat
form, did not lead to any revision of the
tariff by congress, and, in fact, the
Iowa delegation, led by Senator Allison,
agreed to "let well enough alone"
That is, the trusts and corporations
had more influence with congressman
than their constituents, for Gov. Cum
Minis, who believes in tariff reform, was
elected by large majority, which
shows that most of the people of Iowa
favored revision.
The republican leaders are now try
, ing to agree on tariff and trust planks
1 to be incorporated in the platform tC
, be adopted at Chicago, and the same
: Juggling with words that will allow
both factions to stand on the platform
F is certain to be presented to the voters
Senators Aldrich and Lodge are said
p TO be preparing the planks under the
close supervision of President Roose-
welt, and the voter that will not be able
to find what he wants will be hard tc
please.
: Yet the fact remains that the pro-
tectionists and trust interests will write
y the platform, and also control the ac
ton of the republican national con
Il vention, and as every revision of th
u tariff by the republicans has resulted
II in increasing duties, it is certain tha
: if the republican party wins the election
= it will not be considered necessary t
revise the tariff, and more certain tha
n if any revision is attempted the pro
y lection the trusts now enjoy will b
:. maintained. Dun's index figures TO
II Nav show that high prices for all tn
n necessaries of life are still maintained
e and yet wages are declining, with
II vast number Of workers unem
poyed, and many important industrie
n running on short time, and yet tn
s. high tariff, which the republicans de
e clare produces prosperity, is in ful
,3 working order The price of man
d farm products is falling, and yet tn
cost of living shows but little, if any
"a decrease. The beef trust, the Goa
"a trust, the salt trust, the oil trust, tn
i sugar trust, and the minor combina
o. tions, are paying large dividends, fos
tered in most cases by the protectio
"a the tariff gives them.
i 1t would seem, therefore, Senate
~ Aldrich to the contrary notwthstant
c. ing, the republican national platforl
- should declare when the traiff will bt
~ revised, and il the revision shall pro
q vide for higher or lower duties, espt
~ cialy on trust products.