Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-09-15

When We take up tho great question Of
the tariff we are at once confronted
by the doubt as to whether our oppo-
nents do or do not mean what they say.
They say that protection In robbery
and promise to carry themselves accord
ingly II they are given power. Yet prom
inent persons among them assert that
they do not really ruean this and that II
they come into power they will adopt
our policy as regards the tariff. while
others seem anxious to prove that It Is
safe TO give them partial power because
the power would be only partial. and
| therefore they would not be bile to do
mischief The last Is certainly a curious
plea to advance on behalf Of a party
seeking to obtain control Of the govern
ment.
At tho outset It is worth while to say a
word as to the attempt TO identify the
question of tariff revision or tariff reduc-
| ton with solution Of tho trust quee-
ton. This Is always a sign Of desire to
avoid any real effort to deal adequately
with tho trust question. In speaking on
| this point al Minneapolis on April I. 1903,
| said:
The question Of tariff revision. speak
| ing broadly. stands wholly apart from the
| question Of ling with the trusts No
| change IN tariff duties car have any sub
stantial cffec, in solving the SO called trust
problem Certain great trusts OF. great cor
mr.
tariff. Almost all the others that are OF
.rv irrnort,rro tove "a a matter 81 fact
numbers Of smaller American competitors.
| and Of course change in the tariff which
| would work injury TO tho large corpora
tion would work not merely injury but
| destruction to It's smaller competitors
| and equally ri course such n change
r,ou,d ,neen disaster IN all the waecwork
| ers connected with either tho large or the
! small corporations Fror, the standpoint
| ~ tboao Interested IN the solution OF the
,ruet nroblor, such n change would there
| Tor. rncro,v mean that the trust was re.
| uoyod NJ tho comnet,tio, OF It's weaker
American counetitors and thrown only
into co,noetition with foreign competitors
| and that tho first effort to meet this new
| co,nne,ition would 10 made by cutting
dou,, u,spee and would therefore he pri-
r,or,i, at tha cost Of labor In the case
| Of some Of cur greatest trusts such
chance rntrh. confer ,lpor them a pos-
tive Ionoet cnea king broadly " Is evi-
| dom, that tho chanres in the tariff will
| offec, tho trusts Cor veal or for woe sim
| nlv as they affect the whole country The
| tor,N affects trusts only as II affects all
| other interests It makes ali these inter
este large or ANAL profit Bile and i's
| he,onte cap l.. Talon from, tho large only
| nr,cr rorol+, ~ taxing Thorn from the
! .r,,li a,eo
| ~. t. ,,,.,o ,or r,,o 70 ,ad 70 +b,.
| :. I. So, 60 ,.o.rs s,,co tbo Iost otten,nt
| ,s 800 -, ,,,on1s 81 ,oIv.r,no tho Tar
| tse r.,~, s,,-,n r,oari, ,ro-, nros,or-
to- ,oo ,-,,t rrho sttsr,nt vas entirely
! ..s r,, +o-;~ ,a,r -. NO, gao,
! ~ $50, .L ,,o,,.,s ,,.b,ct &, +b,, yoor
| w., .,.a5 oe,o,,oII,.
| a,..n,..i a,,.,od, tror, nro.rertp1 TOO
n, 49,, itor tro.,, ,,ro,rsrire, az oil
| r-,,,h..,, +, o,,t, ~ ,oss,hio \. 81 .
| ,ro..,, 49, 70 r-o,..,r, a,,, ~ tho tr,sts
| fror, ro-,at,,,o nros,o-o,s NV no s,,,nie
|