The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-09-26

Hldiiy VI ltS rates, anu, DIS " lucIIl dt
| least, unjustly and oppressively bur-
dens the people II secures to domestic
manufacturers singly or in combina-
ton, the privilege of exacting excess
sive prices at home and prices far
above the level of sales made regular
ly by them abroad with profit, thus
giving a bounty to foreigners at the
expense of our own people. 1t levies Op
pressive and unjust taxes upon many
articles forming, in whole or part, the
so-called raw material of many of our
manufactured products. not only bur-
dening the consumer, but also closing
to the manufacturer the markets he
needs and seeks abroad. It's unjust
taxation burdens the people generally
forcing them to pay excessive prices
for food fuel, clothing and other ne
cessaries of life. 1t levies duties on
many articles not normally imported
in any considerable amount. which are
made extensively at home. for which
the most extreme protectiOnists would
hardly justify protective taxes, and
which in large amounts are exported
Such duties have been and will con-
tinue to be a direct incentive to the
formation of huge Industrial combina
tons, Which, secure from foreign com
petition, are enabled to stifle domestic
| competition and practically to mOnop-
Ollie the home market.
1t contains many duties imposed for
| the express purpose only, as was open
~ avoWed, Of furnishing basis for re-
| Guction by means of reciprocal trade
treaties, which the republican admin
! isrratiOn, implicitly 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 trea-
! now these same interests cling to the
benefit of these duties which the peo-
| pie never intended thy shauld have
| and to which they nave no moral right.
Even now, the argument most fire.
| Guently urged in behalf of the DinSley
tariff, and against tariff reform gener-
| ally, is the necessity of caring for our
| infant industries. Many Of these in
/ uustries, after hundred years Of lus-
! ty growth, are looming up IS indus
trial giants. In their case. at least, the
! Dingley tariff invites combination and
monopoly, and gives Justification to the
expression that the tariff is the
mother of trusts.
For the above mentioned reasons,
among many others, the people demand
| reform Of these abuses, and such re-
| form demands and should receive i'm
mediate attention.
The two leading parties have always
differed as to the principle of customs
taxation. Our party has always adj
vanced the theory that the object is the
raising OF revenue for support of the
government whatever other results
may incidentally flow therefrom. Ane
| republican party on the other hand,
contends that customs duties should
| be levied primarily for protection, So
called, with revenue as the subOrdi-
taxation to build up the business and
property 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 coun-
try, as manifested in its statutes, makes
! it necessary that tariff reform should
| be prudently and sagaciously under
| taken, on scientific principles, to the
mediate revolution in existing condi-
tions.
In the words of our platform we
| demand "a revision and a gradual re-
! duction Of the tariff by the friends of
the masses, and for the common veal.
and not by the friend of its abuses, it's
eXtortiOns and determinations
1t is true that the republicans. who
do not admit in their platform that the
Dingley tariff needs the slightest alter
alton, are likely to retain q majority
of the federal senate throughout the
next presidential term, and could.
therefore, if they chose, block every
attempt at legislative relief. But it
should be remembered that the re-
publican party includes many revision
lists, and I believe it will shrink from
defying the popular will expressed I'M
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