The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-05-16


less Billions Of Dollars.
For a newspaper which Is believed
TO have know edge of concrete bene-
hts accruing from a liberal distribu-
ton IN American literary circles OF
the leftover fund Of the Golden club
II is quite natural to infer as a mat
ter OF course that the concrete bene-
FITS Of protection In the United States
have been bought and paid for Argu-
ment by analogy leads the New York
Evening Post TO this conclusion. The
sum remaining In the treasury when
the Golden club went out OF business
some years ago-money contributed
by British manufacturers and ship
owners to aid IN extending the free
trade propaganda throughout the
worlds said 20 have been $500 900.
Much OF this money Is believed 90
have found is way 20 the bank ao-
counts of various and sundry Ameri-
can free trade newspapers aud writer's.
Some OF Il may have swelled the free
trade campaign fund Of 1892. We are
not permitted 90 know the exact facts
and details OF these disbursements.
but Il Is reasonable 20 Suppose that
when foreign interests were conserved
at the expense OF American interests.
foreign money was on tap 20 pay for
labor performed and benefits received.
so Il Is altogether natural for the
Evening Post to infer. along with Miss
Tarbell and other superior thinkers.
that when congress has adopted tariff
schedules designed 20 insure benefits
to American producing interests. those
interests have paid money 70 congress
for doing Il.
Here, again. precise facts and de
tails seem to be lacking; but II the
Golden fund contributors could AFFORD
to spend SS00.O00 TO smash protection
In the United States, certainly our
own producing interests could AFFORD
TO spend many times 100000 10 keep
protection. Estimated according 20
the ratio Of bepefts they could AFFORD
to pay congress $1,000. 0O0. 600. Grover
Cleveland's election in 1892 cost the
country more than double $4,000. 000
eco. and the election OF William Nc
Kinley In 1886 has been worth 20 the
country much more than sS,00O.0Oo.
eco.
The sum which American producing
interests. emulating the example OF
the Golden club. might have paid out
IN purchasing protective tarin legis-
latlon from congress. staggers the
Imagination. Then there remains TO
be considered the enormous addition
70 the corruption fund Of protection
ism which might have come from the
wage eaners OF the country. They.
too, have been the beneiciaries OF
tariff legislation 20 the extent Of sey.
eral billions of dollars In the past ten
years. Have they too. Clipped ing-'
No; we don't suppose the Evening
Post would 20 so far as 70 assert that.
The wage earners have contributed in
other ways They. together with their
co-benefciaries, the farmers Of the
United States. have contributed the
votes at the polls whereby the party
OF protection has been kept in control
OF national legislation for almost ali
Of 80 consecutive years.
Was this contribution OF votes By
wage earners and farmers also a cor
rupt.ng element in our politics. Many
OF our free trade purists think so.
They often tell rs that II Is immoral
for any citizen TO vote according 10
his own personal interest. but they
invariably spoil this beautiful doctrine
by asserting that everybody would be
much better OF with free trade. and
that everybody should. therefore. vote
for free trade. Higher criticism In
economics has many troubles