The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-21
LETTERS FROM THEPEOPLE
Where Does Our equal Share" in Pro-
tection's Benefits Come In

The president in his letter of acceptance
indorsing the old Republican doctrine of
protection to American labor said that
the American manufacturer, .by reason of
the tariff, had been placed at the
head of the worlds manufacturers; that
consequently general business, had pros
pered to an unprecedented degree, and
that the people had shared equally in the
prosperity
Does any thoughtful man really believe
this bare claim. unsupported by proof and
susceptible of none-this self-Satisfied eX-
hibition of political Dowieism? Ii So we
are sorry for him; and the fact that our
people have for years been fooled into
accepting such a piece of political NEGRO
NANCY as good politics will forever remain
an example of one Of the cleverest tricks
OF legerdemain ever. practiced on the
sovereign voter. Share equaly-indeedi
The subject is too simple to admit of
argument. 1t is simply question Of
where do you stand? Are you in favor of
giving our wealthy manufacturers some
thing for nothing, Or not? They are now
so independent and wealthy, at our ex-
pense. that they are selling their wares
to Europeans cheaper than they sell to
us-the ones whose hard earned dollars
have made them richly law. A nice
way to requite charity, isn't 1t? Yet
they tell us the subject is so deep and
complicated and the results SO far-reach-
ing that few-none but those who have
made study of 1t can fully understand it
none but great statesmen (successful poll
ticians). Then why do we take their word
for something we can not understand and
and wear fer their unsupported "Say so,'
that we get it back. somehow, some
where, with interest? They must admit
that protection is but a doctrine
that its effect can not be automatically
demonstrated. Yet it can be mathemati-
cal1y demonstrated that it costs cash
money to practice this doctrine; and they
blandly ask us to pay tribute on the ne
cessities of hfe-to pay it to the wealthy
manufacturerS-and tell us that as a re-
suit of this taxation we "share equally in
the general prosperity which we have
bought and paid for in adyance-that we
share equally in the profits of our manu-
facturers! What have the public schools
been doing?
The manufacturers are very careful not
to be deprived of absolute free trade in
labor Does that agree with their doc
trine" of "preteetien?
The point usually overlooked is the loss
to the consumer by being forced to buy,
in the highest instead of the lowest mar
ket. The poor consumer seems to have
been almost lost sight Of To make the
protective doctrine valid and legitimate
reason for a regular tax on the people 1T
must be shown that the tariff robbed con-
sumers get back the money taken from
be allowed. to set off fanciful theories
against cash payments. That is the crux
of the position 1t ought to be simple.
yet it appears to be a hard question And
when an association of wealthy manu-
facturerS can influence politics to such an
extent that the people will tax themselves
on every Thing they cal and wear Tor the
admitted benefit of rich men--when this
happens. as it has happened. We wonder IL
universal suffrage is not failure.
The politicians ought TO go a step far
Their ,(for amusement) and try to make
the consumers of the United States be-
lieve that water ought naturally to flow
uphill. We have prospered in spite OF
tariff tax. not by reason of it.
Our protected barons must enjoy quiet
laugh by themselves sometimes. Have the
uiisiic schools of this country been teach
q slf mathematics
e. A. Benjamin.
lis, Mimi. SEPT. II.