The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-26
SATURDAY, MARCH 20, 1904.
PRo-TRUsT AND ANTl-REcIPRoc.
ITY,

trict have emphatically Endorsed Con-
gresham Volstead whose only record
is his bitter speech against reciprocity
with Canada On the same day by
strict party vote the house commit
tee on ways and means at Washington
turned down motions made by Demo-
cratic members to report favorably
bills placing salt, coal, hides, wood
pulp, agricultural implements and
some other articles of general con-
sumption whose manufacture is con-
trolled by trusts on the free list.
Do the people of Minnesota believe
in reciprocity? Do they favor that
policy both with reference to our trade
in general and with reference to our
commercial relations with Canada?
Do they believe that the trusts are not
entitled to protection; and that where
the manufacture, sale and price Of a
commodity of general consumption are
controlled by a tariff combination of
capital aided, abetted and shielded
from interference by the protective
tariff, such reductions in these duties
should be made as will at least par
TALLY restore competition? If they do,
they must bid long farewell to the
Republican party.
The Republicans of this state are
close pressed between the devil and
the deep sea. They are by Inheritance,
by intelligence. by disposition and by
self-interest in favor of moderate tariff
taxation. Their newspapers of stand
ing and ability all declare for, it..
There is not a state in the Union
where a stronger tariff reform senti-
ment apparently exists than in Mime
sofa They are also almost unani-
mously well disposed toward reciproc-
ity. The gain to this community in
particular by cutting down the bar
riers between us and our neighbors to
the north would be SO immense in ev-
cry way, we should profit so greatly
without any sacrifice on our part, that
+ we not desire liberal trade relations
with Canada. Both Of these reforms
are CONTEMPORARY, totally and finally
negatived by official and authoritative
Republican action.
The Republican party is against rec
iprocity. This is on the record. 1t
has permitted such reciprocal agree
ments as once existed between us and
other countries to lapse without re-
newal. It has postponed. pigeonholed
or defeated outright all proposed reci-
proeity treaties of late years. 1t has
not word to say in favor of reciproc-
ity with Canada. Its late convention
in this state passed befuddled reso-
luton which means. If it means any
thing, that reciprocity and protection
are identical, and that where we have
one we do not need the other. 1t is,
therefore, idle for any Republican to
pretend that he can support the Re-
publican ticket, in the face of the
Minneapolis resolution and the in
dorsement of Volstead, who has alb
his anti-reciprocity speech, without
abandoning and rejecting the reciproc-
ity idea.
With equal fnality every Republican
voter must conclude that he cannot
support the Republican ticket without
making his salaam Of subsection to
the tariff and the trusts. There are
no monopolies in this country today so
real, so infamous and so oppressive
as those which the tariff has created
and yet maintains. Take this list of
articles upon which Republicans have
refused to remove, alter or reduce
duties as given above. Salt is the
commonest necessary Of life. 1t is on
every mans EaDte. In proportion TO
his income it is a tax upon the poor
man out of all proportion to the rich.
Its production is absolutely controlled
by monopoly; so much so that this is
one of the combinations of whose ex-
istence reluctant administration has
been compelled to take official note
With the salt trust in control and with
suits against the salt trust pending,
congress declines to touch duty
which must be confessed protective"
in this case. 1t is, therefore, the mis-
sion of the Republican party. among
other things, to protect" the most
Objectionable of the trusts.
Wood pulp is another case in point
There is no greedier or more relentless
combination in the United States than
the paper trust. It's control is abso-
lutte. Its product also enters into ev-
cry household, and every addition to
the price of it is a tax upon intelli-