Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-23
FOR CAM PAlGN.
Continued from page ~

july. 1897, to July. 1908. when they were
| highest, diagram IS presented which
shows that the purchasing power Of
wages has declined rapidly 50 that
wage earnars in 1903 could purchase
| only 10 per cent. as much as in 1897
| The conclusion is reached that if the
! dinner pail of today is to be full it
must b" only three-fourths as large as
| before the 'Dingley trusts began their
era of prosperity.
! One Of the most interesting and in
structlve chapters under tariff and
trusts is that showing that the avera G.
family pays n tribute of $94 a year to
tie protected trusts. Taking in de-
tail the important items of expenditure
the tariff taxes on each item are care
fully estimated. The total is Sill. of
which cnly $1G.52 goes on taxes to the
United States. The remainder S94 per
family. or $1.f00000 900 for the 1000
900 families in this country. goes to the
protected trusts.
Under the he; business and in
dustrial record ,.i ~ a.t',nt are given
n list of III inn g.: @e reductions
and 1863 closed mills far the last half
VI i''o anu tIit i'll ~ nun VI i'Nf. IL
2S0 items are contrastcd with the list
Of 10J similar though less specific items
printed in the Republican campaign
book. giving the industrial record for
1893 and 1894 1t is thus declared th"t
the business depression of this year IS
greater than was that of 1898 and 1894.
the most of which occurred under thu
Mckinley bill.
"Tfe chapter on the postal frauds
contains complete history of the
scandal from the beginning. Evidence
is produced showing that the inveeti-
CATION Of the department was sup
pressed and that although the admins
tration was officially Informed OF
frauds as early as 1899, no investiga-
ton was ordered until 1908. The re-
fusal of TIE Republicans to permit a
congr essional investigation by a party
votes of both houses is discussed ana
the detailed vote Of the House ana
Senate is gwen. The chapter devoted
to civil service abuses makes 4 strong
showing against the present adrlinis-
tration of the law in comparison with
the strict compliance of the Democratic
administration.
Official corruption in the interior
department is described as widespread
and eviderce is produced to show the
extent of the land frauds and tile So
crecy that has been maintained as {"
the result of any investiga tons that
may have been undertaken.
TIE other more important issue. |
treated somewhat fully. are The Phil /:
iprines.' Republican Extravaganza |
Reciprocity and The Panan Affair |
Irrigation. snip subsidy and the ex-
ocutive pension order are discussed .
briefly.
The vaCcilatinG records of the Re-
publican party and of Presidents Nc
Klnley and Roosevelt on silver and BIZ
metallism. showing how they have
played fast and loose with unsOund
money. make very interesting reading
when put alongside of President Eoosr-
Nelts positive assertion in his letter
Of acceptance that we believe in the
gold standard as fixed by the United
States oi America and verdict OF the
business world and that the only real
'Tay to keep the question from becom-
ing unsettled is to keep the Republican
party in power"