Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

0Oho SAaus
Other nations besides the United
States can stand pat" but in the end
there must come showdown and
some one will win and others lose. In
playing the tariff game of freeze-out
between nations the people of all coun-
tries suffer and the combines and cor
porations grow fat That Is the case
in the United States and Germany. to-
day, for both countries are standing
pat with poor hands. Even the event
ual winner at this tariff game, which
the Republican leaders here and the
land monopolists in Germany are play
ing with the stakes that the people of
both countries furnish, will be poorer
in the end.
In the United States we boast of
our large exports, which are mostly
agricultural products and raw materi-
ais and which must be sold to those
countries that will buy them and the
price for the surplus we have to sell,
after supplying our own people, is fix
ed In the foreign markets, where other
countries which have surplus OF SIM
liar products, are also seeking buyers.
Germany, France and other protection
countries that do not raise enough
wheat, beef, pork and other products,
set the price they will pay according to
the amount that is offered for sale.
The price they offer for the surplus
fixes the price also in the countries
that sell. If tariff tax is imposed
on any or all Of these agricultural
products, that and the freight and ex-
penses and profits must be added and
the consumers In Germany and else
where pay the total cost.
If our people want to buy German
or French products, the tariff tax that
the United States imposes Is added to
the price these foreign countries
charge, and the cost Is increased from
30 to 100 per cent, the average being
about "a per cent, besides the freight
and profits. But that is not the worst
Of 1t by any means for the trusts and
combines knowing that foreign goods
cannot be sold here, except with the
tariff tax added, put up the price Of
their products in proportion and thus
virtually collect the tariff tax on nearly
all our people buy. The trusts get the
tax and nothing goes to the govern
ment. That is why the cost Of living
has increased here so greatly since the
Republican tariff law was enacted in
1897 and why the trusts and combines
have been so fostered and have so
prospered.
In Germany n similar condition ex-
lists and the price of the necessities of
life have so vastly increased that great
distress prevails.
On March l the German tariff will
be SO increased that her markets will
be absolutely, closed to most Of our
agricultural products.
Meanwhile the trust-controlled
statesmen of both countries are
standing pat" and declaring they will
make no concessions. The protection
majority in Congress are even declar-
ing for retaliation upon the Germans
by increasing our tariff rates % per
cent on German products.
Thus is protection gone mad in both
countries and the people are paying
exorbitant prices to protect the trusts
and combines. When the election of
Senators and Congressman takes place
next fall will the voters re-elect these
stand patters" or turn to the Demo-
Gratis, who are pledged to tariff revi-
sion that will eliminate trust protec-
ton.