The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-05-24
VOICE OF The PEOPLE.
Continued from page Four.

Continued from page Four.
as wind and water and very attenuated
wind and water" at that.
Again as to the question OF selling
abroad for a less price than an American
manufacturer actually sells at home I
wish 10 state here and now that fercely
advocate a change in the tariff, when
ever and wherever by reason OF that
tariff an American manufacturer is able
TO sell abroad cheaper than ne sells at
home"
This writer fails to see why II Mr..
Littlefield correctly defines the Re-
publican attitude on the tariff. the Re-
publican party should be opposed by Mr.
Cochran and those who believe with him
that the extinction of all tariff taxes is
impossible"
II the attitude OF the Democratic party
toward the tariff is correctly portrayed
by Mr.. Cochran then the sooner the
people realize that fact the better. for
nothing Is moro certain than that the
people OF these United States are de-
termined that their government shall
cease to be made vehicle for exploiting
the many for the benefit of the few. II
Is not only untrue that ''the extinction OF
all tariff taxes Is impossfble." the con-
trary Is true: th7,extinctton of all tariff
taxes Is not only possible. but imperative.
II the Democratic party hasn't the
sense 90 see this and act upon It the
Democratic party will continue 10 feed
upon husks. In detailing the benefits of
protection, however, Mr. Lattaefield also
becomes dfsfngenuous or worse He
states: I'm 1890 the amount OF annual
production OF this country agricultural
m,ring and manufacturing aggregated
e12. .452. .193. co. In 1900 IL Aggregated sl7,-
SJ7. 7.c.6.272 This shows an increase OF
production of IS per cent. During this
period population Increased q per cent
40 that the increase of production was
double the increase of population"
This looks very we'll on paper, but Mr.
Littleheld fails to show us how this
wealth was distributed during these two
periods and until he does this we feel
compelled to withhold our judgment as
to the benefits OF protection
Let us try to supply the deficiency In
Mr. Littaefieid's story. We will deal
with the manufacturing industry, because
about thrce-fourths of the wealth pro-
duced is in manufactures. In 1890 4,zsi.-
61s workmen produced wealth to the
value OF 1882, 4s7. 2sa. or an average OF
2204 for an average wage OF s4A.
In 1900 6,s21, ,3S9 workmen produced
wealth to the value OF s13 oS9. 27s. .5se or an
average of 2450 for an average wage of
s4s7.
In 1890 the workman was permitted 70
retain $50 out Of each 500 OF the wealth
that he produced; in 1900 he was per-
mitted to retain only SIS out OF each 800
OF his production.
Row II there is one contention upon
which your protectionist may be depend
ed TO insist IL Is that the tariff raises
wages. But here we are told by the
through its census officers,
that the wages of men employed IN manu-
have Actually fallen during two
years OF the most outrageous protection
that has ever disgraced the statutes.
II Is too bad that Mr.. Jttlefeld failed
to explore the census tables iust a little
further while he was preparing his
syndicate article. 20 that he could have
explained 70 us this phenomenon so at
variance with protectiontst claims. But
perhaps he did explore the tables and.
having no liking to farther an explana-
ton that failed to explain. he wisely |
Ignored the lesson which the figures
teach.
But what necessity for tariff. either
for revenue or for protection7 Society |
employs government to attend to social |
concerns. Society Is possessed OF means |
10 defray the cost OF its employe These |
means are the values which attach TO !
natural opportunities to which all men |
have an equal right OF access. These |
embrace AL material Oh |
'ects. other than man and wealth. They |
are covered by the generic term land" |
Let society appropriate. through govern
ment for the benefit of all the people, |
those values created by society that /
attach to land. and we shall find II not |
,nly possible but easy to support gov |
ernment without tariffs or other taxes
Mr. Cochran and those for whom he \
speaks to the contrary, notwithstanding.
j. w.