The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-08-10

YeSdepGTtInentSSSo t1e govern
1ament since March 4th, 1857, e there
/ has been neither reduction nor an at
tempt at reduction in tariff duties
iIt is not unrea sonable to assume, in
the light Of that record, that future
Congress of that party will not under,
| take revision of the tariff downward
1 in the event that it shall receive an
| Endorsement of its past course on that
subject by the people. 1t is a fact
and should be frankly conceded, that
| should our party be successful in the
contest we cannot hope to secure a
| majority in the Senate during the
next four years, and hence we shall
be unable to secure any modification
! in, the tariff save that to which the Re
publican majority in the Senate may
consent. While, therefore, we are I'M
able to give assurances of relief to
the people from such excessive du-
ties as burden them, it is due to them
that we should state our position to
be in favor of a reasonable reduction
of the tariff; that we believe that it
is demanded by the best interests of
both manufacturer and consumer, and
Of the tariff can be accomplished as
soon as both branches of Congress
and executive in favor of it are elect
ed, without creating that senseaof I'M
certainty and instability that has on
other occasions manifested itself.
This can be achieved by providing
that such reasonable period shall
intervene, between the date of the en-
actment of the statute making a revis
ion and the date of its enforcement
as shall be deemed sufficient for the
Industry or business affected by such
revision to adjust itself to the changes
and new conditions imposed. So con-
fident am l in the belief that the de
mand of the people for reform of the
tariff is just, that l indulge the hope
that should Democratic House OF
Representatives and Democratic ex-
ecutive be chosen by the people, even
a Republican Senate may heed the
warning and consent ito give at least
some measure of relief to the people.
The combinations, popularity called
trusts, which aim to secure a monop-
oily of trade in the necessaries of life
as well as in those things that are en-
ployed upon the farm, in the factory
have been encouraged and stimulated
by excessive tariff duties. These op-
crate to furnish a substantial market
in the necessities of eighty millions
of people, by practically excluding
competition. With SO large a market
and highly remunerative prices con
tinuing long after the line of possible
competition would naturally be reach
ed, the temptation OF all engaged in
the same business to combine SO as
to prevent competition at home and |
a resulting reduction of prices, has
proved irresistible in a number of |
net result Of enacting laws that foster !
such inequitable conditions, is most |
for the people as a whole,
and it would seem as ii all ought to
agree that the effective remedy would i
De to appropriately modify the Offend
ng law. The growth of monopoly,
IF which complaint is justly made,
cannot be laid at the doors of the
courts of this country. The decisions
If the Supreme Court OF the United
States, the Court of Appeals OF this
State and the courts of last resort
n many other States, warrant the as
'ertion that the common law as de-
'eloped affards a complete legal rem
1dy against nlonopolies. The fact
hat they have multiplied in number
md increased in power has been due,
lot to the failure of the courts to APP
by the law when properly moved by
officials or private in
lividuals, but to the failure OF officials
charged with the duty of enforcing
he law to take the necessary pro-
'edurc to procure the judgments OF
he courts in the appropriate jurisdic-
ion, coupled with the fact that the
legislative departments OF some of
'ur State governments, as well as
congress in the manner already re-
erred to, have, by legislation. encour-
ged their propagation. What is
eeded-in addition TO the passage of
statute revising the tariff duties TO
reasonable baSis-is not so much
ther and different laws, as officials
aVing both the disposition and the