The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-08-16

In that comparison and analysis it was
shown that the weekly earnings of all
employees had increased 534 per cent
from 1884 to 1904, and that the retail
prices of food products had increased
in the same time only II per cent.
This, I believe, is the only careful and
scientific investigation that has been
made on the subject.
The Republican party has always
followed the maxim, the factory by the
farm, that there may be the closest
possible exchange between the two
great bodies of producers One of the
old complaints here in the west was
that the manufacturing was principal
ly in the east; but the continuation
of a settled policy of protection has
gradually extended the industrial de-
velopment to the west and SOUTH
bringing agriculture and manufacture
closer together. The new statistics Of
manufactures compiled by the United
States census office last year show
more clearly than any previous census
the general benefit of the protective
policy The prosperity that has come
to the country under the Dingley law
has not been spasmodic nor sectional,
except that it has produced greater ex-
tension of manufacturing into the CEN
trail, western and southern states. The
new census shows, first, that there has
been larger per cent of increase in
the capital put into manufacturing
plants in the last five years than there
has been in the products of these in
dustries The actual increase in ca p
ital invested was S3,70O,00O,000, or Al
per cent greater than the capital in
vested in 1900. The actual increase in
output was $3,364, 100000. or about
30 ner cent over that of 1900. Capital
has grown confident of its investment
and has turned back into the plants
larger share of its earnings, to increase
the demand for labor and ultimately
increase the output.
DingIey Law Is the Best.
tsAll legislation, and especially reve-
nue. legislation, is the result of com
promise It must inevitably be SO in
order to command. as of course, is
necessary, a majority vote in both
house and senate. 1t is. therefore. i'm
possible to secure perfection in each
schedule of a tariff bill; but have no
hesitation in saying that the present
revenue law, known as the Dingley
law, all things considered. is the most
perfect and just customs revenue law
ever enacted. The general dis
tress and industrial conditions prevail
ing throughout the country at the time
of its enactment helped to make it SO,
because it brought all the people to-
gether In times of prosperity when It
is attempted to enact tariff legislation,
the selfishness of the people is ap-
pealed to. but when there is industrial
depression, different interests are more
inclined to get together for the general
good. The Dingley bill was substan-
tally the first legislation under the ad-
nainistration of William Mckinley. It
was enacted at a time when the reve-
nues of the government were short;
when all our people, on farm in mines
and in factory. were unable to realize
reasonable profits upon their respective
products. and when consumption was
at q minimum for the want of steady
employment by our people at fair
wages. In Its operations that law has
spread more evenly and justly over all
production in the United States than
any tariff law previously enacted. I'm
der its workings there came hope, con-
fdence, employment, profitable pro-
duction and universal prosperity,
which has grown and increased from
year to year up to the present time
Under it the peoDle 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 a tariff for
revenue only. This has been the posi-