Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-09-26

sldll We ~ dioHE bAHtl anu NuNll'u
paths hitherto stunned by all, fol.
lowing blindly new ideals, which
though appealing with brilliancy TO
the imagination and ambition. may
prove will o the wisp, leading us
into difficulties from which II may be
impossible 10 extricate ourselves
without lasting injury 10 our national
character and institutions?
The Tariff and Trusts.
Tariff reform is one of the cardinal
principles Of the democratic faith,
and the necessity for 1t was never
greater than at the present time. II
should be undertaken at once in the
interest of all our people,
The Dingley Tariff is excessive in
many of its rates, and, as to them at
least unjustly and oppressively bur-
dens the people. 1t secures 10 domes.
tic manufacturers, singly or in com.
bination, the privilege Of exacting ex.
cessive prices at home and prices fer
above the level Of sales made regu.
larly by them abroad with profit,
thus giving a bounty to foreigners at
the expense of our own people.
Its unjust taxation burdens
the people generally, forcing them to
pay excessive prices for food, fuel,
clothing and other necessaries Of life.
II levies duties on many articles not
normally imported in any consider
able amount, which are made eXten.
sively at home, for which the most
extreme protectionist would hardly
justify protective taxes, and which
in large amounts are exported. Such
duties have been and will continue to
be direct incentive to the forma-
ton of huge industrial combinations.
which, secure from foreign competi-
ton, are enabled to stifle domestic
competition and practically to monop-
olize the home market.
II contains many duties imposed for
the express purpose only, as was
openly avowed, of furnishing a basis
for reduction by means of reciprocal
trade treaties, which the republican
administration, impliedly at least,
promised to negotiate. Having, on
this promise. secured the increased
duties. the republican party leaders,
spurred on by protected interests. de-
scated the treaties negotiated by the
Executive, and now these same inter
ests cling to the benefit of these
duties which the people never intend
ed they should have, and to which
they have no moral right.
Even now the argument most fire.
quently urged in behalf of the Dingley
| Tariff, and against tariff reform
generally, is the necessity of caring
for our infant industries. Many Of
these industries, after a hundred
years Of lusty growth, are looming
up as industrial 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 aforementioned reasons,
among others, the people demand re-
form of these abuses, and such reform
demands and should receive imme-
date attention.
The two leading parties have al
ways differed as to the principle OF
customs taxation. Our part:y mas al
ways advanced the theory that to
object is the raising Of revenue for
support of the government whatever
other results may incidentally flow
therefrom. The republican party, on
the other hand. contends that customs
duties should be levied primarily for
protection, so called, with revenue as
the subordinate purpose, thus using
the power OF taxation to build up the
business and property Of the few at
the expense Of the many.
! The difference of principle still
subsists, but our party appreciates
that the longcontinued policy Of the
country, manifested in its statutes,
CONTINUED on Page Two)
MITcHELL's CORN PAL.
ACE EXHIBIT.
MITCHELL, S. d., Sept. 26.-The
great quantities of corn, wheat and
other crops raised in South Dakota
this year are illustrated by the elab-
crate exhibits at the sixth annual
corn palace exposition which opened
today and will continue until October
1. The exposition has been enlarged
since last year and all departments
are well filled. Notwithstanding the
wheat rust, South Dakota has raised
an immense crop this year as is
shown in the county exhibits, which
1 Il II