Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-07-31
ma11sata 9i1ut.
TUESDAY, JULY 81, 1906.
Published weekly and entered at the Post Office
at Waussu as second class matter.
Standing Pat.

1t is reported from Oyster Bay, after
the consultation of Roosevelt, Uncle
Joe" Cannon, and other republican
leaders, that the campaign cry in the
approaching congressional elections is
to be "Stand Pat" In other words,
that the outrageous and shameless tariff
extortions are to be defended and per-
petuated The Dingley tariff law
covers the most gigantic system of rob-
berry that the world has ever known.
The madieval robber barons were en-
gagged in petty larceny compared with
the American tariff barons. In less
than half a century our tariff legislation
and its natural accompaniment have
so transferred the wealth of the country
that eight-hundred persons now own or
control more wealth than eight-milllon
others, and these favored few have such
control over the productive processes
that they are able to take practically all
the profits of the rest of the people.
Moreover this predatory band has
brought representative government to
a standstill. 1t is all but impossible to
put any measure through the House
without the consent of the speaker, and
wholly impossible to put it through the
senate against the wish of the great cor
porate interests. Representative COVER
ment in the United States will soon be
a thing of the past if present tendencies
are not soon checked and changed.
With just and telling phrase does
Graham Phillips in the Cosmopolitan
denounce the treason of the senate.
But treason is not alone in the senate
The president is traitor to his training,
his intellect, and his conscience. He is
at heart a free trader, and once since
he became president started out on a
radical tariff reform campaign, but al
lowed himself to be called off by the
tariff barons. Several times since he
has been on the point of sounding the
tariff reform cry but he dare not defy
the men with whom he made his peace
before the last election.
The railway rate farce is an adroitly
conceived subterfuge to divert atten-
ton while the tariff does its destructive
work. At the 'psycologicaP' moment
the president bowed to the railroad
senators and the curtain fell on the first
act. The curtain will be run up again
at the next session for the introduction
of amendments and a few strenuous
stunts only will be shown, because this
is the "short session." Meanwhile, if
the call for reform seems urgent, the
tariff will be referred to commission
to investigate and delay action. 1t will
not do to be hasty. Corporation contri-
buttons to party committees are not
prohibited by law and the party has al
ways depended upon them for 'argu-
ments.' Odell says Roosevelt told the
committee in '04 where generous con-
tributions could be obtained.
1t is said the campaign will be retro
spective and that the presidents per-
sonality viii play great part. 1t is
not probable that this retrospect will
include the havoc wrought by the tariff
in the amazing inequality in the distri-
button of wealth, the appalling dishon-
esty and scandal disclosed, the great
leaders of the party disgraced or inn
prisoned, the paralysis of govern ment,