Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-03-08
POLITICAL MILLENNIUM
Democratic Policies Endorsed
by Republicans.
PROTEOTIONIsTs DIsGRUNTLED.

Won and Will Have to BE Contin-
ued In the Next Congress-The
Trend Is Toward Democracy, the
Only Hope of the People.
1t Is a queer thing in the political af-
fairs Of today that the Republican par
ty has taken up what the protectionists
are pleased to term free trade by pass
ing the Philippine tariff bill in spite Of
the opposition Of f~fty-scven Republican
members Of the house of representa-
tives aided by the desperate efforts of
the Protective Tariff league to defeat
the bill. This action has indeed so
aroused the anger Of the Economist, the
organ of the protectionists, that it re-
viles Congressman Payne, the chair
man Of the ways and means committee
and the Republican floor leader, by say
ing:
LAS matters turned out, the senile
chairman Of the committee on ways
and means was made to look more
than usually u and inane. In
the debate the day before the vote was
taken he was asked by Champ Clark if
he did not expect that the votes Of the
minority would be needed to pass the
bill. His reply was that he considered
this an impertinent question. 1t proved
to be a very pertinent question. The
votes Of the free trade minority were
absolutely needed"
The Economist and it's protection
supporters must be forgiven for calling
any reform or revision of the tariff as
"free trade" That is of the stock
in trade arguments Of this protection
organ, which is supported by the an
nual donations Of the trusts and those
who directly benefit by protection.
Even the Philippine tariff bill, which
should provide for free trade between
our subjects and ourselves, exacts Is
per cent of existing rates on sugar, to-
bacco, cigars and rice until 1909, after
which date there will be free trade
with the Philippines. This provision
for free trade in 1909 is an admission
by the Republicans who supported the
bill that the position Of the Democrats
on that issue is the correct n and
the United States and the Philippines
just as it exists today between us and
Hawaii and Porto Rico. Outside of
free trade with our colonies a tariff Is
a necessity until our system of indirect
taxation is changed, the only question
being the present high tariff or a lower
tariff which would prevent the trusts
plundering the people. That is the
question today, and there is no free
trade in it.
Then again the house of representa-
tives passed the bill to regulate rail-
road rates, and we see the Republicans
deferring to the Democrats by taking
the exact position and using the actual
words of the platform of the Demo-
cratic national convention in the Sec
ton Of the bill that gives power to the
interstate commerce commission to reg
ulate rates. Surely the political mil
lennium Is not so far off when a major
ity of both parties are agreed on these
important issues. 1t is a great tri-
umph for the Democracy that it has
forced it's opponents to acknowledge
that it's policies on these matters are
for the best interest of the whole coun-
try.
1t is a singular fact, however, that
most Of the Republican members who
voted for these bills did so under stress
Of circumstances and because their con-
stituents demanded the legislation and
not because they really believed in the
Democratic platforms and principles.
1t indicates, however, that the great
majority of the voters have taken the
Democratic side Of the great issues of
fair play with the Philippines. for re-
vising the tariff and controlling the
trusts and railroads.
1t is fair to assume, therefore, that
the people will elect Democrats in
many congressional districts at the
elections next fall, who will perfect the
legislation already undertaken and take
up other reforms that are Of supreme
necessity for the public welfare. Nor
must the efforts of the people for their
own salvation stop at electing repre-
sentatives in congress who are true re-
formers, but to make reform possible
the representatives Of the states-the
United States senators must be chang
ed In many instances. This can only he
done by the people electing members
Of the legislature who are pledged to
vote for senators who are publicly
pledged to reform and known to be in
sympathy with the demands of the
great majority Of the people.
In this battle Of the people against
their present masters, the trusts and
corporations, all the vast accumulation
Of wealth will be tithed, if necessary,
to prevent the people obtaining their
freedom from their plunderers. The
Democracy neither Graves nor expects
campaign funds from such sources, but
it demands and expects the help and
assistance Of those 1t representative
common people. For the past ten years
the Republicans have been gorged with
corruption funds from tainted sources