The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-03-15
FREE TRADE RECOMMENDED
The Pet Aversion Of Gov. Folk, Of
Kansas, Is Prosperity Pro-
noting Protection.

]
At Democratic banquet In Kansas
Gov. Folk made bitter attack upon
the protective tariff principle. In his
remarks on grating he spoke OF the
tariff grafters. with their millions OF
ill-gottea wealth, wrung from the peo-
/ pie by means OF special privileges
given them by law" Mr.. Folk. says
the st. Louis Globe Democrat. has
harped on tariff robbers" In previous
speeches In Ohio and Massachusetts,
A protective tariff excites him to vitu-
perative anger. Mr. Folk Is a free
I trader In his attitude as public
man this is the most significant fact.
because 1, is the direction In which he
could work the greatest damage n he
had the power. He Is against all pro
/ lection. lie would not resort 20 Il 70
protect American wages. or for any
other purpose II the matter rested
with him. protection would be wiped
out az blow He calls II robbery and
I It's results the accumulations OF graft
. II Is the extreme free trade view. with
| the addition OF abusive rancor Pro
lection is Folks pet aversion. and he
bubbles over with epithets when ne
refers 10 e.
II Is matter OF consequence TO put
Ia distinct mark on politicians who
/ have this capacity for. mischlef to the
countrys industrial interests and pros
perity. In most cases, In these times
Democratic speakers are shy about
coming out iiat-footed for free trade.
/ They prefer TO talk about tariu revi-
sion OF reciprocity but MIR Folk was
born and raised In a southern state.
where the Democrats accept the South
Carolina view that protection Is some
thlng utterly depraved. Mr.. Folk de-
nounces II as criminal. as a robbery
conducted by grafters loaded with NJ
gotten wealth wrung from the people
by legalized special privileges. lie has
taken his stand for absolute free trade.
and II will count for more than any
trlng else In estimates OF his public
purposes. Missouri has a great stake
In protected Industries. Its manufac-
turing interests have increased i'm
mensely and keep on growing Sup
pose Mr.. Folk had his way. and ripped
them up with free trader Would Mis-
sourians gain CT lose by that cataolys-
mic actf Would every wheel continue
TO turn2 Would employment at the
best wages continue to be abundant
The answer Is seif-eviGent The soup
house era OF a dozen years ago would
return. Factories would again shut
down The dinner pail would be
empty. There would be two or three
men for every job. There would be
misery and ruin on every hand. as In
the free trade period between 1898 and
the defeat OF that prosperity killing
party
/ How would the zinc and lead miners
Of Missouri like 10 get another slice OF
free trade times7 Mr. Folk bcckons
tnem on. but would they follow such a
guide7 Would the great manufactur-
ing population OF Missouri take a bait
like that? Il would be a mad thing 10
do, a tossing away OF the highest
known prosperity for the opposite. as
fully demonstrated In the last Demo-
cratic administration. when. with ev-
cry department Of the government In
their hands. the free trade Democratic
party plunged the country into a mo-
rass OF idleness and want Il was
a return 10 protection that extricatod
II. Mr.. Folk proposes 10 take the
back track. but he will ind few in Mis-
souri,. outside OF the South Carolina
tarin school. 10 accept his Invitation
A serious threat OF free trade In this
country would eonvulse IL TO It's deep
est Industrial foundations