Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-08-18
Trusts and Tari6.


The Republican politicians aud the
trusts have always. since their unholy
partnership began, tried to befog the
tariff issue. 1t must be said they
have succeeded in doing so to a great
extent and are still working faith
for candidate Taft to decide that the
money of the trusts and corporations
will not be received for Republican
campaign funds. for like President
Roosevelt when the exigencies of the
campaign may require large amount
of money to save the day. he too
will probably initiate the Roosevelt
policy and call upon a Hartman to
make the collection.
There would be but few trusts If
they were not protected by the tariff,
and there would be no Dingley law
if the Republican politicians were not
receiving directly and indirectly part
of the swag. The tariff, therefore, Is
not for protection to the farmers and
workmen, but for the legal plundering
of all classes. 1t is useless to demand
the enforcement of criminal statute
against the trusts if the primary cause
Of the organization of trusts-the tariff
law that fosters them-is allowed to
remain on the statute books.
The workingmen have been deluded
into voting the trust ticket, because
the trusts have been forced to increase
wages to meet the increased cost of
living caused by trust high prices. But
now the inevitable panic and fiuctu-
ating prices have come and wages are
falling. are the laboring men as well
off as they would have been with stable
prices and steady wages?
The high price of farm products has
not been caused by the tariff protect
ing the farmer, but by the foreign
demand for his surplus crops. or as
with the price of oats by failure of
the crop here. The great fall In the
price of wool, which is the only farm
product that is really protected by the
tariff, shows that the farmers are more
at the mercy of the wool trust than
benefited by the tariff on wool.
1t is estimated by the most eminent
statisticians that the average family
pays tax Of nearly 500 year on
account the tariff law of which about
$50 is received by the government and
about $50 is received by the trusts in
increased profits.
g -
door of the stores and directly de-
manded this tax, there would be some
grumbling at the government tax col
lector, but what would be done TO the
trust collector? There would be
riot and if the government should
send troops to enforce the trust col
lections there would probably be a re-
volt But the Republican politicians
and the trust managers have arranged
the law in a more diplomatic way, 50
that you pay your tariff and trust tax
in the increased price of what you
buy and the storekeeper pays it to the
wholesaler and through them the gov
eminent receives its tax on the import
ed goods you buy and the trusts. re-
ceive the lions share in high prices
for their products. This indirect way
of taxing you is quietly submitted to
and the Republican politicians and the
trust managers smile at your docility
and unsuspecting credulity.
1t would certainly seem that the
time has arrived for retrenchment and
reform. The Republican tariff has be-
got extravaganza; to reform it as the
Democrats propose will cut down the
amount of the tax you pay the gov
eminent, and If the cut Is deep enough
will entirely o5literate the trusts tax
of which they now plumber you.
The manufacturers will still live and
become more prosperous, but the trust
monopoly will die for lack of special
privilege