Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-25
KEEPING FEET OUT OF THE TROUGH.


The New York Tribune suggests that
If the standpatters stir up much more
of a fuss over the purchase of canal
supplies In the cheapest market they
will precipitate tariff revision senti-
! ment months before it is due on the
| regular schedule. Probably" says the
| Tribune, "a majority of the republic
cans of the country who believe in the
general principle and policy of protec-
made eight years ago has in some re-
spects been outgrown.' Three success
sive state conventions of Iowa repubi-
cans have demonstrated this to be
true by their tariff planks The plat
| forms of other states, the last ma
| tional platform and the leading repub-
lican clubs of the east have all given
voice to the same belief. Therefore,
the wisdom of the Tribune is patent
when that paper writes the warning
that
when the 'standpatters' drive home
| to the people a realization of the fact
that steel rails can be purchased
abroad for the Panama railroad at $50
a ton, whereas they would compel the
government to pay our manufacturers
$50, though our manufacturers would
deliver those same rails in Great Brit
ain for S22 ton, which cost them at
| Pittsburg about $12 a ton, instead of
winning sympathy for our traders so
| abused by their own government
they will awaken sympathy for our
private consumers"
The American people are prosperous
now and would be willing to pay fair
price for American goods even tho
American manufacturers continued the
practice Of dumping" their surplus in
foreign markets at a cut price. This
same thing is done in the home mar
ket by almost every class of trades
men, but the tariff schedule which en-
ables a protected manufacturer to ex-
act more than fair profit from the
home market is not likely to be con-
ure to build up home industries, but
rather as an instrument OF extortion.
Hence the standpatters should beware
Of agitating so sensitive a subject as
steel rails so per cent higher at home
than the same rails abroad and the
United States Steel Corporation Of the
mo f,11a haf iS
The Washington correspondent of
this same New York Tribune, and up
to-date standpat papers have not ac-
cused the Tribune of being democrat
ic sheet, writes that
"The president is resolved to bring
the trust magnates to realization of
their debt to the people of this coun-
try, AMI Will accomplish that result
even at the risk of bringing storm
about his ears. He wishes to make
congress act on the tariff question, and
the sooner they take action the better
he will like it. There will be very few.
supplies. relatively speaking, purchas-
ed by the canal commission between
now and the time congress meets. The
president hopes, however, that enough
will be bought to serve as an object
lesson to the country on the subject in
hand.''
One Of the amusing incidents of,the
controversy is that while the tariff
benefciaries are raising such a howl
less than fifty miles of double tracking
on the isthmus, the general manager
Of one Of our largest steel companies
announces that the Russian govern
ment, likewise purchasing in the cheap
est market, has placed In this country
an order for 10000 tons OF rails for it's
Siberian road and Is considering the
purchase here Of rails for double track
ing the whole 5000 miles Of that rail-
way. The Washington correspondent
says that the president expects many
a protest from protected maenates. One
called on Taft the other day with the
suggestive lament that he feared he
was coming to the funeral Of the Sec
retarys presidential prospects, and the
genial war secretary jovially asked him
why he did not bring flowers upon
such an occasion. AT best it would
seem that the president has caught the
spirit Of the cartoonists and, while
willing that the trust hogs shall grow
fat, he intends to insist that they shall
keep their feet out Of tho trough, even
If he has to hit them over the shouts
with swill pail.
A Creeping Death.