Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-18

ployment, and the republican party as
servant Of the people, stands today
in this campaign squarely on its rec
ord.
while this unprecedented prosperity
has come in less than a decade Of re-
publican administration ana the Ding
ley tariff law has demonstrated that 1t
is a revenue producer both for the
people and the government, we occa-
sionally hear the old wall that the tar
iff is the mother of trusts and the shell
ter of monopoly. The tariff revision
lists are, however, answering their own
complaints. / find in the New York
Times, one Of the ablest and most I'M
compromising organs of tariff revision,
an editorial showing that the giant
steel trust is no longer looked upon by
free traders as monopoly end that it
has steadily declined in it's proportion
of the steel since it's organization. The
Times says:
"stee Trade"
""The widest interest in the steel cor
poration report attaches to what is
least discussed-that is, the conditions
in the trade as reflected by the first
hand facts now available. 1t is true
that the steel corporation is not the
steel trade. Big as it Is, it is neither
the majority interest, not even the
controlling interest. In fact, its pro-
portion Of the trade is relatively de-
clining, while concurrently it is
breaking it's own records Of produc-
ton and earnings. It's production of
pig has fluctuated since its organiza-
ton within narrow range and with
out decided trend. standing now at A
per cent of the country's total. Its
production of open hearth and Bes-
semer castings has fallen by about 3
per cent to Al per cent. It's dominance
is greatest in the wire nail product
which, although declining, remains at
&C per cent. In short, the trust IS
not by any means monopoly, and yet
it is impossible that the trust should
prosper and the trade anguish
Cali legislation, and especially reve-
nue. legislation, is the result of COM
promise. 1t must inevitably be so in
order to command, as, of course, is
necessary, majority vote in both
house and senate. 1t is therefore, i'm
possible to secure perfection in each
schedule of a tariff bill; but l have no
hesitation in saying that the present
revenue law, known as the Dingley
law, all things considered, is the most
perfect and just customs revenue law
ever enacted. The general distress
and industrial conditions. prevailing
throughout the country at the time of
its enactment helped to make it so,
because it brought all the people to.
gether. In times Of prosperity when
it is attempted to enact tariff legisla.
ton, the selfislation of the people is
i appealed to, but when there is indus
trial depression, different interests
are more inclined to get together for
the general good. The Dingley bill
was substantially the first legislation
under the administration of William
when the revenues of the government
we're short; when all our people, or
farm, in mine, and in factory, were
unable to realize reasonable profits up
on their respective products, and wher
consumption was at minimum fol
the want of steady employment by oul
people at fair wages. In its operations
that law has spread more evenly ant
justly over all production in the Uni
TED States than any tariff law previous
ly enacted. Under it's workings there
came hope, confidence, employment
: profitable production, and universe
prosperity, which has grown and in
5 creased from year to year up to thu
, present time. Under it the peopl,
: worked out their own salvation.
nipnIev avn HRohherv
EFT did not, and does not, please tn
democratic party. That party de
nounces the policy of protection a
robbery and declares for a tariff 70
: revenue only. This has been the pos
, tion of the democratic party for man
2 years; it is its position today and tn
: position of all it's leaders, including
William j. Bryan and John Shar
2 Williams, the leader OF the minorit
J, in the house of representatives, VIII
time and again during the late sessio
; of congress proclaimed the policy c
l his party to be, if clothed with power
y not to destroy protection absolutely a
one fell swoop over night, as he e1
: pressed it, but to journey towards
4 tariff for revenue only. He would nc
! kill the patient outright, but woul
q gradually starve it to death.
"Such policy means less wages TO
labor, both skilled and unskilled, i
every avenue of production; and, wit
n decrease Of wages and the slack en-
4 ployment, the great mass of the pee
y pie would become less valuable custt
e mers to all other producers. Such
t policy would act and react upon all GU
l. people who are customers for eac
= others and we would have the nigh
It mare of 1898 and 1897 reueated.
e Tariff revision in time of prosperit
it always has, and always will, halt bus
ness activity. production and con
It merce The manufacturer will Jesse
: his output, for he fears to pile up hi
product upless there is reasonabl
cert a intv of realizing it's cost and fat