Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-11-07
Limited lncomes suner.

The greatly Increased cost Of living
under the trust protecting tariff system
weighs most heavily on those least
able to bear it. Those with incomes
that do not increase as prices advance
In fact have less income. because their
dollars worth will not purchase as
much MS they formerly would. On July
i, 1896, the wholesale cost Of all ne
cessities per capita to the American
people was $72.45; this year on the
same date 1t was $105.21, an advance
Of 40 per cent. These figures are pur-
l'osely taken from the Republican cam
phign book, page 1873, so that no Re-
publican can question their accuracy.
1t therefore now takes $1.45 to buy
what 81 would purchase in 1896. If
the cost of living for the average fam
lily of five persons in 1896 was $500,
1t now is $725, but If the income has
been stationary and is still but $500,
1t will purchase As per cent less ne
cessitles, so that in fact the income
measured i'll necessities is but $275.
Those who have small incomes, that
have not increased with the cost Of
necessities, are therefore As per cent
poorer to-day than they were In 1906.
These calculations, which are based oil
Dun's Index Number, and are reliable
as showing prices in proportion to con-
sumption, indicate the growth of trusts
aud combinations protected by the
10, nh,
combines to advance the price of their
products to the point where foreign
goods can be imported and pay the
tariff duties.
II the tariff was revised and the du
ties on trust products reduced, those
combines would be forced to reduce
their prices In proportion to about the
percentage the tariff rates We're low
cred, or the foreign products would be
imported and the trusts would lose the
sale, to the amount of such imported
goods. The Republican claim that I'M
ports of the lower priced foreign goods
would ruin the trusts and throw their
employees out Of employment will only
fool those people who are anxious to
be deceived. The proof Of this is es-
tablished by the acknowledged fact that
many trusts are selling their products
cheaper abroad than here and there
fore can afford to reduce the price to
our own people, us well as they can to
the foreigners.
The Democratic plan of dealing with
the tariff and trust problem is to grad
ually reduce the tariff on trust prod
ucts, so as not to violently disturb the
business of those gigantic combines, but
give them chance to conform their
business to the changed conditions that
reduction of the tariff would entail.
For instance, tile duties on steel trust
products could be reduced so per cent,
which would make the duties average
nbout 25 per cent, instead of about 80
per cent as under the present law.
The tariff duty on other trust products
could be reduced in like proportion,
and in few years would be brought
down to the revenue basis, where just
enough foreign goods would he,rim--
ported to provide the necessary revenue
for the government, and thus through
competition keep the trust high prices
In check. Under the present system
we have these vast aggregations of cap
ital, such us the steel trust, making
enormous incomes on their watered
stock, which Is tax upon the people
of the United States and is robbery
of the man or woman with limited in
comes that do not Increase as trust
prices advance.
The Republican leaders having de-
cided that no tarifr revision shall be
attempted, If they control the next
Congress, 1t remains for those indie
pendent Republican voters who believe
In tariff revision to control trust prices,
to join with the Democrats in electing
Congressman pledged to reform the
tariff and members Of the legislature
who will only vote for United States
Senators also so pledged.