The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1904-06-18
REVISION OF THE TARIFF.
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. Those 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 nan to pay. The
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," 20 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 we'll 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 a 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
to be incorporated in the platform to
be adopted at Chicago, and the same
juggling with words that will allow
both factions to stand on the platform
is certain to be presented to the voters.
Senator's Aldrich and Lodge are said
to be preparing the planks, under the
close supervision of President Roose-
welt, and the voter that will no be able
to find what he wants will be hard to
please.
Yet the fact remains that the pro-
t~ectionists and trust interests will write
the platform, and also control the ac-
ton of the republican national con-
vention, and as every revision of the
tariff by the republicans has resulted
in increasing duties, it is certain that
if the republican party wins the election
it will no be considered necessary to
revise the tariff, and more certain that
if any revision is attempted the pro-
lection the trusts now enjoy will be
maintained. Dun's inaex figures for
May show that high prices for all the
necessaries of life are still maintained,
and yet wages are declining, with a
vast number of workers unem-
ployed. and man. important industries
running on short time, and yet the
high tariff, which the republicans de-
clare produces prosperity, is in full
working order. The price of many
farm products is falling, and yet the
cost OF living shows but little, if any.
decrease. The beef trust, the coal
trust, the salt trust, the oil trust, the
sugar trust, and the minor combina-
tions, are paying large dividends, fos-
tered in most cases by the protection
the tariff gives them.
1t would seem. therefore, Senator
Aldrich to the contrary notwithstand
ing, the republican national platform
should declare when the traiff will be-
revised, and if the revision shall pro-
vide for higher or lower duties, esre-
cially on trust products.
The people would be dee-lighted
to have the e. O. p. reduce the cost OF
living for political effect, pending the
fall election.-Atlanta Constitution.
1t is a pleasing republican tradi-
ton that the democrats can never be
trusted in matters of finance. Heaven
knows, democratic leaders have often
enough tried to make a mess of it, but,
on the other hand, the sober historic
truth is that the greatest financial perils
of the past 25 years have been the di-
rect result of republican fnanciering.
and that the country was saved from
them by a democratic ADMINISTRATIONS
N. Y. Evening Post