The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-04-14

All eHOTCS Vi leaueTS OF the republican party TO
keep the question of tariff reform in the background
are unavaing. Sidetracking the issue by the rail-
way rate bill, and the campaign of the Administra.
ton against the trusts have failed to turn the public
eye from the tariff, or to remove the desire of the
people that Congress take steps to relieve the burden
PIT upon the masses under the mask of protection.
Noteworthy, too, is the fact that the rank and
file of the Republican party are becoming aroused
over the matter, and are not inclined to longer
blindly accept the doctrine that high tariff is a
benefit. significant token of such feeling is ex.
hibited when Congressman Grosvenor of Ohio is
moved to state that he will investigate the charge
that American products be purchased abroad for
less than is paid in the United States.
Democratic newspapers not alone in discus
sion of the necessity for tariff reform. Republican
journals in response to public sentiment, becom
ing more outspoken in favor of such legislation.
The feeling in Pennsylvania is defined by the
Phoenixville Republican in Che following language:
''The protected industries of this country alb
normally profitable and at the expense of the whole
body of consumers. When great corporations are
forced to double up their stocks in order to hide the
enormous size of their dividends, it is an evidence
that the consumers are not getting a square deaf,
and inquiry is bound to be made and with unpleas-
ant results"
On the Pacific Coast similar expression is found
A Republican paper of California declares that: "The
country demands revision of the tariff. Tho
American consumer sees no good reason why he
should be compelled to pay more for American-madc
goods in the markets at home than the Englishman
Cne German ana Cne Russian pay Cne Salne BooUs
three thousand miles away"
The New York Times, independent and conserva
tive, renders the following summary: 1.-The present
movement hinges on three general facts First that
our manufacturers are hampered by needless tax
Materials second, that American buyers are paw
ing a good deal more for protected goods than for
eign buyers third, that the profits of these Oppres
sive conditions 60 to practical monopoes See what
this means. 1t means that the manufacturers them
selves the natural supporters because the benecarits
of the tariff, divided; it means that numbers OF
the people are becoming convinced that foreigners
are really favored by the tariff and not Americans,
and it that the present intense and logical ami
mostly toward the mOnopolies is being directed
toward monopoes buttressed if not created, by the
protective tariff These facts wholly in conflict
with the patriotic pretensons OF the Protectionst'
The American people will stand good deal for what
they believe to be patriotic; they are liable to KICK
like Texas steers at patriotism discovered to be but
cloak for selfish greed"
The Philadelphia Record declares that "the tariff
is the underlying base upon which is built the whole
superstructure of corrupt monopostic combinations
which now menace the peace OF the country through
the Indictment of class jealousies and hatreds."
In maintaining high protective tariff the plea of
aiding the interests of the country has gradually been
shifted from its real meaning The interests as now
represented are of the few and not of the masses
The effort to remove the tax on grain ALCOHOL
and the fight that is being made in Congress TO re-
sist the public demand is an instance OF private IN
terests attempting 10 continue lts caeer VI mooPoy
and extortion. ~
Free grain alcohol would mean that manufactur-
of the poisonous wood alcohol would DC put out
of business. Gasoline fuel for motors wou QUIZ,
be superseded by alcohol therefore the Standard oii
Company is foe of the measure; turpentine oper-
ators protest. ,o..o.,
Secretary Wilson, in report on the production
of alcohol and its value to the farmer, estimates
that on an acre of land that produces ffV bushels
of corn there be made from its corn l40 ana from
its cornstalks ITO gallons of commercial alcohol AZ
the rate of so cents a gallon that would be $loS
worth He calculated that from an acre OF such
potatoes as are grown abroad for cattle feed there
might be made 500 gallons of alcohol or, at the rate
of so cents $3.50 worth.
Tn commenting on these figures the Philadelphia
Record saws: "These figures indicate how largely,
II bv the removal of the tax the market for alcohol
were allowed to grow the profits of agriculture might
he increased The farmers would also find untaxed
alcohol both cheaper than and marked improvement
over kerosene for lighting purposes and over gasoline
as motor fuel for the internal combustion engines
which in recent years, have come into wide use on
American farms German manufacturers, uncrip.
Med by a tax on alcohol make $4,000 900 worth OF
art;6c;al dves annunliy and are enabled TO export