The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-22
THEIR BOOK.
The Democrats Issue q Volume
of Campaign Literature.
1t Dwells Principally Upon the
Protective Tariff.
PROSPERITY FIGURES.
Are Declared to False and Mis-
Leading.
Say 1nvestigatiOn of Postal
Frauds Was Stified.

New York, Sept. 22.-The Democratic
campaign book has been completed and
is about to be issued. 1t makes a vel
ume of 314 pages, discusses the issues
of the two parties and represents j
number of speeches by leading Demo-
crafts. The following synopsis of the
book has been prepared by the Demo-
cratic campaign committee:
by the way of emphasizing the is
sue of constitution opposed to i'm
perialism' the Democratic campaign
book contains as preface the text of
the constitution of the United States.
The place of next Importance is accord
ed the Tariff and the trusts so of the
314 pages of the volume being devoted
to this discussion.
Concerning the trusts, much space
is given to evidence, showing a tariff
monopoly in our home markets. is COM
pelling Americans to pay much higher
prices for manufactured goods than are
paid by foreigners. The export and
home prices of hundreds of articles are
compared. Nearly all kinds of haE-
ware, implements, machinery, tools.
paints, oils, ammunition, watches, bak-
ing powder, condensed milk and every
kind of steel products are sold to our
consumers at prices averag ging about 25
per cent more than those paid by for
eignerS for the same goods. Quoting
industrial commission that goods We're
always sold cheaper for export, the eV-
idence before the Chamberlain tariff
commission in England and numerous
statements from export journals, trade
journals and commercial papers, the
conclusions is drawn mat nearly all our
exports of iron and steel goods amount
ing to Sill, 100000 last year are sold 10
foreigners at an average of about four
fifthS of the price charged to Ameri-
cans. Never before was so much Spec1-
fic and unequivicol evidence presented
on this point
surd methods of the Republicans in
making averages and juggling statis-
tics are exposed. Particularly IS the
bureau of labor scored for making sta
tisticS to order for use of the Repub-
lican campaign mittee-sta tistics
that raise wages and reduce prices, on
paper, and produce statistical or artih-
cial prosperity. The figures OF the bu-
,reau, which show an increase of only
Is per cent in the cost of living since
1897 are contrasted with the figures OF
r. G. Dun & Co., which show that the
cost of living was Al per cent greater
last March than on July l, 1897, just
before the Dingley bill became law.
Based uron Dun's figures and upon
the full and complete reports of the
railroads, covering over 1,300,0 900 work |
ers which embrace both union and nom
union labor, and showing that wages |
rose at most only seven or eight per
cent from July, 1897, to July, 1908. when
they were highest, diagram is pre- |
sented which shows that the purcnas- !
ing power of wages has declined rap |
idly so that wage earnerS in 1908 could |
purchase only IS per cent as much as |
in 1897. The conclusion is reached that |
if the dinner pail of today is to be full |
it must be only three-fourtns as large |
as before the 'Dingley trusts began |
their era of prosperity
Zone of the most interesting chapters |
under tariff and trusts is the one show |
ing the average family pays a tribute |
of $94 a year to the protected trusts. |
Taking in detail the important items of |
the tariff taxes on each |
item are carefully estimated. The total |
is Sill, of which only $16.52 goes in |
taxes to the United States. The bal |
ance $94 per family, or 1000 millions for |
the II, 600 families in this country |
goes to the protected trusts.
Under the heading Business and In |
dustrial Records of 1903-19O4'' is given a |
list of Ill important wage reductions |
and 169 closed mills for the last half of |
1903 and the first half of 1904 These |
$50 items contrasted with the list of 109 |
similar though less specific items print !
ed in the Republican campaign book
gives the industrial record for 1893 and |
1894. 1t is thus declared that the bus
mess depression of this year is greater
than was that of 1898 and 1894-the most |
of which occurred under the Mckinley |
bill.
"The chapter on the postal frauds
contains a complete history of the
scandal from the beginning. Evidence
is produced showing that the investi-
cation was suppressed and although |
the administration was officially in
formed of frauds as early as 1899, no
investigation was ordered till 1903.
The refusal of the Republicans to per-
NIT a congressional investigation by a
party vote of both houses is discussed
and the detailed action of the house
and senate is given. The chapter de-
voted to the civil service abuses makes
a strong showing against the present
administration of law in comparison
with the strict compliance of the
Democratic administration.
"OficiaI corruption in the interior
is described as widespread
and evidence is produced to show the
extent of the land frauds and the
secrecy that has been maintained as to
the result of any Investigations that
may have been undertaken
1.-THE other more important issues
somewhat fully are the Phil
and the Panama affair.
Irrigation, ship subsidy and the ex-
ecutive pension order are discussed
briefly. The vacillating records of the
Republican party and President Nc
Kinley and Roosevelt on the silver and
showing how they have
played fast and loose with the min
erals, make very interesting reading
when put alongside of President
s positive assertion in his let
ter that the gold standard as fixed by
and that the only real way to keep
the question from becoming unsettled
is to keep the Republican party in
mower. -