Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-11-08
REPUBLICAN
Defeated by Political and
Money of Trusts.

p"SS vi AiuStS
There are some lively Republicans
tariff reformers in Massachusetts,
among whom Henry A. Blackwell, who
is known Whereabouts as the odd man
eloquent" in his speeches advocating
the nomination of Eugene N. Foss to
defeat his stand pat opponent told
some truths that sound as if blown by
a Democratic bugle. He explained to
the Republican voters that
Our coal tax is felt in every house
hold. Our lumber tax means higher
rents and poorer accommodations. 1t
Is harder to live than ever before, al
though our imports and exports are
greater, n we are told that the coun-
try is prosperous and that we should
let well enough alone. But his pros
perlty Is more apparent than real, be-
cause the proceeds of our Industries are
not fairly distributed. A few thousand
stockholders in overprotected corpora
tons get the lions share. Let me ask
you gentlemen who are present a sim
pie question. How many of you are
richer than you were last year? How
many Of you have been able to lay by
anything for your old age? How many
OF you see before you any prospect of
improved condition? Not one in fifty.
Why? Because we are all subject to
great monopolies which by trade agree
ments have eliminated domestic COM
petition, and by a As per cent tariff
these monopolies are enabled to charge
consumers an advance of so per cent
upon almost everything that we con-
sumo.
"Our coal duty adds a dollar a ton to
our fuel bill. Our lumber tax raises
OF rents. Our tariff on textile fabrics
increases the cost of our clothing. Our
tax on sugar doubles it's cost Of impor-
tation.
"1n order to keep up these excessive
rates of duty our government spends
lavishly, so that it's OUTLAWS now
amount to $1,000, 900, 900 annually. The
Diapers and Whitman have patents
and protection on their products ap-
proximating and exceeding 100 per
cent. The iron and steel trust gets a
profit Of from 100 to $50 per cent.
Steel rails, which Mr.. Schwab says he
can make without loss at $12 a ton,
were sold recently to the Panama COM
mission for $29.50 f. o. b.. at Baltimore
equivalent to $49.50 at the isthmus),
foreign customer for 1924 a ton deliver
ed at Tampico. No wonder the cost of
living has advanced 42h per cent! 1t
will go higher. All depends on the
tariff. Raise it 20 per cent and prices
will go up 20 per cent. Lower it 20
per cent and prices will fall 20 per cent.
The exactions made by the trusts are
all paid by the labor Of the country.
In the interests of the consumer we
call for tariff revision. In the inter-
ests Of manufacturer and operator and
consumer alike we need free importa-
lions Of raw materials. Many Of our
raw materials come free already. Let
III add to them coal, iron ore, lumber,
hides and wood pulp. Let us reduce
u tariff on Canadian products 20 per
cent and thereby enable our neighbors
to buy more Of our manufactured
goods"
But the Republican machine in Mas
sachusetts managed by Senator Lodge,
the personal and political friend Of
President Roosevelt, defeated Mr.. Foss,
the tariff reformer, and nominated a
partner Of the trust and corporation
combine. The money Of the trusts and
corporations was more powerful with
the majority of the Republican voters
than reform, and those that were not
Influenced by money were swayed by
their partisan training to vote the trust
fostering tariff shackles more firmly on
their limbs. All Of which shows there
Is no vestige of hope for tariff revision
within the Republican party, and those
who earnestly desire reform must join
with the Democrats to obtain it.
! AS long as the Republican machine
managers can obtain campaign funds
from the protected trusts and monopo-
lists they can control the caucuses and
conventions Of their party and very
naturally will not smite the hand that
feeds them and keeps them in power.