The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-07-25
NOAO0 Of
tho Po0I9l0



Editor Providence News:
An interesting sidelight is thrown upon
the sincerity OF the crusade against the
TRUSTS" by the Roosevelt outfit in the
revelation OF the fact that Secretary OF
the Navy Morton is one OF the principal
stockholders in the Omaha branch of the
Beef Trust.
benefciaries OF the Dingley tariff. II
benefits through the duty OF Is per cent
ad valorem imposed by that instrument
on hides, which under both the Mckinley
and the Wilson tariffs were admitted
free. II benefits by the duty OF two cents
per pound levied on beef. pork. mutton
and veal. II benefits by duties OF greater
or less amount upon every one OF Its bye
products. The schedules OF the Dingley
tariff relating TO beef trust products car
ry upon their face indisputable evidence
that they were written into the law by
the beef trust for the beef trust.
BY surreptitious and illegal agreements
with railroads, transportation OF cattle 10
others than the beef trust is placed at
prohibitive rates so that the western
raiser OF cattle Is able TO find but one
customer for his product and the eastern
consumer OF meat has only one source OF
supply Small wonder that the westerner
makes "holler' about low prices while
the easternar makes a similar "houer'
about high prices. Only the trust can
indulge In the serene smile OF content
ment for II has them both skinned; like
the nigger's coon dog. 1T catches 'em
comm, and IL catches 'em gwine.'
Now II the president were really In
earnest IN bis professions OF zeal 10 put
a stop 10 the illegal exactions of the
Beef Trust. DO you imagine for minute
that he would have given to ono OF the
principal stockholders in that piratical
combination the portfolio Of the secretary
OF the navy? OF course he wouldn't
Neither would he stand pat" on the tar
ifr. The only way TO destroy the trusts Is
TO remove that which causes trusts 10 be
formed. That is the tariff on imports
which so narrows the field OF competition
in the protected article that the combina-
ton OF domestic producers for the pur-
pose Of monopoly is rendered possible II
not easy. The remedy is 10 broaden the
field OF competition by removing the tar
IN so that combination for the purpose oil
monopoly will be rendered not only diff
cult but impossible.
We are told, however that the tarifr
makes 'Jobs." Well slavery made Jobs
too. who ever heard OF a slave looking
for work? And protection furnishes
'tobs'' on the same terms that slavery
furnished 'jobs." Slavery and protection
are twin devices, designed TO secure 10
the few the results Of the labor of the
many. The STAKEHOLDER dictated or de-
creed the compensation OF the slave. The
beef trust tries 10 dictate the compensa-
ton of It's employees Because the latter
demand a voice in the naming OF the
compen nsation that they shall receive in
return for their labor 10000 OF them are
today denied the right TO work, and that
denial. unless they can find some one who
will permit them to labor. Is equivalent to
sentence of death.
Now the question comes: Ought con-
ditions In which IL In possible for one man
10 exercise the power OF life and death
over another TO be maintained2
II you say no, Why don't you assist
in bringing about different conditions
conditions In which shall exist equality Of
opportunity: conditions in which the man
who is unable TO sell his labor on terms
satisfactory to himself shall have the
alternative OF self-employment? That is
the only way that offers n solution OF the
question OF employer and employe. No
man Is in equity bound TO buy arother's
labor any more than Is one man In equity
bound TO sell his labor TO another. Equity
demands, and demands only. that the
buyer 0nd Seller or SHdll De pit'Nu
on an equal footing In relation to natural
opportunities.
To secure that equality OF opportunity
and thus 10 do all that equity demands
should be done In the interference by gov
ernment between capital and labor, It Is
only necessary that we abolish all taxes,
save one tax upon the value OF land,
irrespective OF improvements. That we
make this tax equal 10 the full rental
value of the land. This will at once
destroy speculation In land which is the
locking up of natural opportunities from
labor. and thus deprivtng II OF that alter
native OF self-empfoyment which would
put Il on an equal footing with capital
when arranging terms OF employment.
The trust question. and the tariff dues-
ton and the labor question will be quickly
and easily solved when tho people will
so far forget their prejudices as 10 try
solve them on their merits. rather than
on the determination Of whether II is a
fact that the hero OF Kettle Hilr' is
really the hero of Kettle Hill"