Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-06-02
is PROTECTIVE TARIFF ROBBERY
1t Seems Very Strange That the Point Is Not
Generally Conceded.

10 6hO GS 1--WE lRhlfF hOoOChr
1t Seems Very Strange That the Point Is Not
Generally Conceded.
Ell. STANDARD:
/ answer most emphatically, YES.
There are many who think that a
common clodhopper or hayseed has no
business meddling with political ques-
tions, but wish 10 impress it on the
minds of every intelligent man that OF
all men on the face OF this green earth
the farmer is the most interested in
the political world, and it is because OF
his apathy in this respect that be is
continually swindled, and of all the
schemes for this purpose the protec-
tive tariff is the boldest. What is a
tariff? Simply tax on everything
we eat, drink or wear. If it were SIM
ply for the purpose OF defraying the
expenses of the government, no one
would kick for no honest man would
object to paying his share for that pur-
pose. We are living under the high
est protective system the country has
ever known. BY what party was it
engineered? The d. o. p. For what
purpose? To plunder the consumer.
For whose beuefit7 For the benefit Of
manufac turers and trusts. How has
it worked? Admirably for the object
intended. 1t has made more million
aires and more paupers than any other
scheme ever devised by the brain OF
scheming scoundrels. 1t is so insid.
ious that millions are plundered with
out their knowing it, and are really
made to believe they are benefited.
II they would only look at tariff
schedule, they would be benefited at
their ignorance. Does any sane man
suppose for moment that any man
could accumulate millions in the
space of 10 or 20 years without special
protection? Are they not doing it
right along? How many millionaire
farmers are there? You can easily
count them on the fingers of one hand.
Why? Not because they don't create
wealth, Tor they create more than all
other industries combined. 1t is SIM
ply because they are filched of their
earnings by the protective fetch.
They are compelled to buy more goods
from the protected manufacturer than
any other class, and yet / have seen
some OF them going around with their
hair sticking out at the top OF their
hats and the neither end OF their shirts
sticking out of the seat of their pants,
whooping 'er up for protection, or
which is the same thing, the d. o. p.
Funny isn't it? Well it simply shows
the fools are not all dead yet. / am
not surprised at q protected manufac.
turer or trust magnate extolling the
system. He is simply feathering his
nest, which is human nature, but for
. farmer, or q wage Garner or ordinary
mechanic. it simply indicates soften.
ing of the brain. ! believe that liberty
of com merce is just as essential and
just ss sound as liberty of conscience,
liberty of speech, liberty of the press
and liberty of the person. Liberty is
just as safe and just as necessary in
commerce as in anything else. Henry
Ward Beecher promulgated an immor.
tai truth when he said: 81 reject the
doctrine of Protection" az opposed
not only TO the principles Of liberty
but TO the essential principles OF
Christianity. regard it as in its very
essence anti. Christian and immoral.
And the fact that such theories as
have been advanced by the high pro.
tectionists have found so much favor
in this country is not creditable to its
Christian character" And l will add:
It is common sense. Now, while /
am opposed to Beeoher's religious doc.
trines, heartily endorse his ideas on
protection. may be q" "damphooP
part OF the time, but don't believe
am all the time. J.C. Coo.
YELM, June !, 1905.