Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1906-08-20

most perfect and just customs-reve-
nue. law ever enacted. The general
distress and industrial conditions pre-
vailing throughout the country at the
time Of Its enactment helped to make
it SO. because 1t brought all the peo-
pie together. In times OF prosperity,
when 1t is attempted to enact tariff
Legislation, the selfshness of the peo7
pie is appealed to, but when there is
industrial depression different inter
ests are more inclined to get together
for the general good.
The Dingley bill was substantially
the first legislation under the admin
istration of william Mckinley. 1t
was enacted at time when the reye-
nues of the government we're short
when all our people, on farm, In
mine, and in factory were unable to
realize reasonable profits upon their
respective productk4 and when con-
sumption was at minimum for the
want of steady employment by our
people at fair wages. In Its opera
tons that law has spread more even
ly and Justly over all production In
the United States than any tariff law
previously enacted. Under its work
ings there came hope. confidence,
employment. profitable production,
and universal prosperity, which has
grown and increased from year to
year up to the present time. Under
it the people worked out their own
salvation.
1t did not, and does not, please the
Democratic party. That party de-
nounces the policy of protection as
robbery and declares for tariff for
revenue only. This has been the po-
sition of the Democratic party for
many years; 1t is its position today
and the position OF all its leaders, In
Guiding William j. Bryan and John
Sharp Williams, the leader OF the
minority In the house of representa-
tives, who time and again during the
late session of congress proclaimed
the policy of his party to be. If cloth
ed with power, not to destroy protec-
ton absolutely at one full sweep
over night as he expressed it-but to
journey towards a tariff for revenue
only. He would not kill the patient
fri fxhf ut gtr l.,xt
gradually starve 1t to death.
Such policy means less wages for
labor, both skilled and unskilled, in
every avenue Of production; and
with decrease of wages and slack EN-.
ployment, the great mass of the PEG
pie would become less valuable Gus
toners to all other producers. Such
a policy would act and react upon all
our people who are customers for
each other. and we would have the
nightmare" of 1893 to 1897 repeated
When to Revise the Tariff.
Tariff revision in time Of prosper.
ity always has halted, and always will
halt, business activity. production
and commerce. The manufacturer
will lessen his output, for he fears
to pile up his product unless there ls
reasonable certainty OF realizing its
cost and fair profit. The farmer
halts in making Improvements and
consumes less, because there is a
shortened demand for mis- products
The decrease in the wages of labor
alone pending revision would amount
to many hundred million dollars
Where there is confidence and pros
lberlty without precedent, there would
be doubt and destruction OF conf.
dence.
l heartily endorse the platform
lately adopted by the Republicans OF
Indiana, which, in substance, says
that the Republican party will revise
the tariff when 1t will do more good
than harm to the great mass of the
people.
1t is vital that the Republican
party should remain In power for
the coming two years In order that
the legislative and executive depart
ments of the government should con-
tinue in harmony. II our friends, the
enemy. should be successful In elect
Ing house of representatives in No
vember next, that body in the Six
tieth congress, would not be In har-
mony with the senate or with the
president. There would be "tie-up'
so to speak, in legislation. Further
more, their success would be claimed
by our Democratic friends to be an
evidence of dissatisfaction upon the
part of the people with the legislation
enacted by the Republican congress,
as well as an evidence of dissatisfac-
ton with the president, and an as
surance of complete power to be CIV
en- to them in 1908 to enable them to
carry out their policies. Their sue
cess. conservatively speaking, would
halt production and consumption,
and necessarily. business and COM
merce, at least one-tenth Instead of