The Democratic advocate., 1907-07-26
Tariff Revision AS a '"Ttrustbuster." "

Tariff Revision AS a ''Ttrustbuster."
A special dispatch to The Sun from Wash
ington, published July %, argues that "the
'trustbusting' policy of the Roosevelt admin
istration is merely policy for the preserva
ton of the trustmaking system" That is to |
say, there is spectacular and perhaps sham |
assault upon the trusts to occupy the public
attention and distract it from the most prac-
tical method of breaking up monopoly, name
ly, to let in competition. The people may
we'll doubt the political sincerity of man
who declares that he purposes to break up the
monopoies and then declares upon top OF 1t
that there must be no tampering with the laws
that protect these monopolies from competi-
ton. The President, it has been announced,
declares that there must be no tariff revision
until after the next Presidential election. The
first Congress after the Presidential election
will assemble in December, 1908. If the
Presidents. suggestion is adopted-and no
one doubts that it will be-then the earliest
possible tariff revision would occur two years
from this time, and no one believes that there
is any serious intention that it will occur then,
or until the Republican party shall have been
driven from power. The benefciarles OF the
protective tariff are too influential in the
party in power and too essential to its success
at the polls for a Congress controlled by it to
venture upon any legislation which might re-
duce their profits and impair their enthusiasm
to make campaign contributions. The Steel
Trust sells rails and other products of its fur
naces cheaper in Canada and in Mexico than
in the United States, and the President says
that the laws which enable them to demand
the higher prices at home must not be changed.
The President has been ''trustbusting' FOR
seven years, and if any private citizen in this
whole broad land has received any benefit
from his exertions-if the price of any one
trust made article has been reduced by the
''trustbusting' which has so delighted the
country-then the market reports do not dis
close the fact. Naaman, the Syrian, rejected
the prophets receipt for curing his leprosy
because it was too simple. 1t was only to
wash and be clean. He demanded something
spectacular. He wanted Elisha to come out
to him and stand and call upon the name OF
the Lord and strike his hand over the place.
And so the real cure of the monopoly that is
affecting the country is too simple TO impress
the public. What is monopoly? 1t is the
absence of competition. Then why not, in
the name of reason and common sense. take
down the bars and let competition enter? A
E,o no ;,npoca1 tho Stand r1
Oil Company. But what will that avail 1t
will simply result in higher price for oil, and
so the people will lose instead offinding relief
in that kind of 'trustbusting." If the Sugar
Trust is exacting an unfair price for sugar,
why not let the German refneries compete
with them? If the Tobacco Trust maintains
high prices, why not let Cuba compete with
it? This is not only too simple but it would
be too effective. The people who are stand
ing pat on the tariff do not want the trusts
ourbed.
The New York Press, an ultra Republican
and high protection paper, has the candor
to say that latter many years of opportunity
to destroy the private monopolies, will the
lttpuDilCiH ptily htt'C thS iiSH' " '''A ava
four years more if the conspiracies in restraint
of trade are even more powerful than when it
was commissioned to abolish them? Roose-
vet's effort having been frutless, although
the Roosevelt administration seemingly has
exerted itself for seven years, will not the
question be asked by the opposition whether
a remedy may be found in free trade p
That is the question that is being asked
through the length and breadth of the land
The tariff reformers, however, do not ask for
revenue which shall be large enough to equal
the difference in the cost of production here
and abroad. The tariff reformers have never
asked for any rate that will injure American
industries or impair their power to pay good
wages. What they ask for is that the manu-
featuring interests, when they undertake to
form monopolies and exact unfair prices, shall
be confronted with foreign competition. The
Press contends that absolute security for the
protective tariff principle and the success of
the Republican party next year depend very
much on a conclusive demonstration that the
mastery of the American people by the COM
modify monopolies is unrelated to the pro-
tectve tariff The President and the other
leaders of the Republican party know perfectly
we'll that the mastery of the American people
by the commodity monopolies is related to the
protective tariff. And hence they are afraid
to apply the test. And hence the Presidents
decision that there must be no tariff revision
until Republican President is safely elected,
and then after he is safely elected there will
be further postponement.