The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-11-27

II
ter the Presidential election. These
every 'standpatter" can cite as having
been directly inspired from the White
House IL he thus wishes to Offset
whatever the message may contain.
But 1t Is not only the approach of the
election which will block the way to
this desirable legislation; the repre-
sentatives OF the publishers will
speedily learn that to make single
change In the tariffs now would en-
danger the entire structure. This
happens to be the year when this
argument is used by the tariffs de-
tenders. Senator Burrows, for in
stance. lamented with all solemnity
the other day about the inability Of
his party to alter certain schedules
obviously too high until 1t could 60
over the whole tariff. Two years hence.
when the general overhauling will be
In order. dozens of statesmen will rise
to urge that tariff readjustment. If
any. be made by changing only one
schedule at time. Thus has the
public been tricked over and over
again.
| IL the Republican party really
wanted to end a fragrant wrong this
would be It's opportunity. Gladstone
tackled the same problem In England
In 1850. In the face of great opposi-
ton. Conservatives the country over
rose In arms at the suggestion Of free
paper. 1t would food the country
with cheap and pernicious news
papers: II meant the establishment Of
q daily propaganda of socialism. COM
munism. red republicanism, BIAS
phemy. bad spelling and general i'm
morality" The House Of Lords voted
down the bill abolishing the tax-but
to Its cost. Within q year Mr.. Glad
stone had retaliated in q way which
has ever since tied the hands Of the
Lords In matters OF finance and taxa
tion. He adopted the simple exped4
lent of sending to the Lords in one
bill all measures affecting supply and
revenue. which" as Mr.. Gladstone
said. 1--WE knew the Lords would not
dare to throw out" The Republican
party could find the way quickly
enough to repeal our own "tax on in
telligence." as Mr.. Gladstone termed
It. did It's masters only permit But
those protected interests which cowed
the brave Roosevelt into suppressing
his tarif reform message are the ones
who have the say-not their puppets
In congress.
So far as the Paper Trust Is con-
cerned, we believe that the Depart
ment Of Justice. II II coducts It's inves-
tisation with care. will find much Of
Interest besides recent disregard OF a
Federal courts orders. The trust as g..
sorts that II owns only two Canadian
mills. but reputable Boston publish
er who tried recently 20 obtain his
supply from Canada suddenly found
that. after he had made all arrange
ments the mill was unable to do the
work. Subsequently an agent OF the
trust appeared In his Office and re-
counted to him every step In hts ne
gotiations with the Canadian mill and
then laughed at his failure to break
away from the trust. SO far as the
International Paper Company is con-
cerned. 1t insists that the raising Of
prices Is due to the growing scarcity
Of material. Its net earnings have
steadily decreased from $2,138,11731
In 1905 TO $1.es5.54O.oS in 1906 and
$1,623.s1S.4s In 1907. Furthermore,
II has been forced to sell $4,000, 900
worth of bonds during the last four
years to provide for new timber lands,
pay for alterations. renewals, etc.
From the stockholders point Of view
II cannot therefore be said that they
are profiting by the increased price of
the product.
But the fact seems to be that the
trust Is dumping paper abroad at q
lower figure than II obtains for 1t
here. After the trust was. organized
our exports Of paper were doubled
within three years. The value Of ex-
ports in 1906 was ss,536,O65, and the
paper was sold In England at less
than 2 cents a pound. as compared
with something less than 8 cents In
ihis country. II the scarcity of wood
pulp Is the real reason for the rise i'm
price, the trust ought to be the first
to ask fol- a lowering Of the duty, for
there is wood pulp in abundance in
Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. And,
quite aside from the question Of pa.
per. the senseless deforestation OF
much OF this country has made all