Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-03-06
Republicans Protest.

The Republican governor Of Wiscon-
Sin adds his voice to the chorus for
a revision of the tariff. He says: 1.-THE
people demand action. The business of
the country demands revision. The
only ones who appear to be deaf and
blind in the matter are the men hold
Ing office at the National Capitol"
Senator Spooner and Senator LaFol-
lette have also declared for tariff revi-
sion and other states have been heard
from. In spite of this Republican re-
volt against 1.-THE men holding office at
the National capitol" there is undoubt-
eddy an agreement between the speaker
and the President that no tariff legis-
lation shall be considered.
1t is perhaps unklnd to rub the sore
spots on the grand old protectionist
party, but as such good Republicans
as those above quoted believe that
dose of tariff revision must be at once
taken for the sake Of its future health,
1t is very natural for Democrats in
neighborly way to call in and give their
advice also. The trouble is that the
two factions of Republicans can't get
together for tariff revision. for, like
oil and water, they won't mix. There
Is even such difference of opinion
about the Philippine tariff bill that it is
very doubtful il it will come to vote,
and yet that modest measure only pro-
vides for a reduction of the Dingley
tariff rates OH imports from the Philip
pines to % per cent instead of IS per
cent as ut present. The compromise
offered by Secretary Taft, to split the
difference, and make the rate 30 per
cent of the Dingley tariff rates, is con-
sidered rank heresy by the standpat
faction. 1t would interfere with their
friends of the tobacco and sugar trusts,
and, of course, the general prosperity
of the American and Filipino people is
nothing when such great trust inter
ests are at stake. Thus the deaf and
tlind men at the National capitol play
with the interests OF one hundred mill
lions of people.
But leaving the poor Filipino to the
callous mercy of his Republican mas
tiers, it behooves us Anglo-Saxon free
men to register our protest against
continuing to pay eXorbitant profits to
the trusts by reason of trust products
being protected from competition.
There are over fifty articles Of COM
mon use that cost the consumers nearly
so per cent more than necessary be-
cause they are so highly taxed in the
tariff. On some of these articles the
rate is 100 per cent and over, and none
are taxed less than 80 per cent, and as
the result shows, these rates are vir-
tually prohibitiye, for but little or any
of these products are imported. The
trusts and combines, so carefully
nursed by this tariff protection, are
thus enabled to add to the price their
goods should be sold for the still great
er profit that similar goods would have
to pay as tariff tax if imported.
The Republican majority in Congress
refuses to revise these glazing lnequal-
tiles of the tariff law, although it
would not disturb the amount of reve-
nue. produced, and il a 5 or 40 per cent
tariff tax was retained on these arti-
cles, it would greatly add to the reve-
nue., for some would be imported,
whereas now there is virtually none
Imported. Such imports would compel
the trusts to reduce their prices or lose
the sale of their products to their COM
petitors. 1t Is certain that the present
Congress will do nothing to relieve this
trust plundering, and as the protected
Industries We're lavish contributors to
the Republican campaign fund at the
last election, there is no doubt that a
compact was made that those Repub-
lican Congressman who We're furnished
campaign funds, either directly or
through their committees. are in honor
bound to stand by the protected inter-
ests who furnished the money. To
show their good faith they will all vote
for Cannon for Speaker of the next
Congress- for he is their standpat lord
and master.