Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-29
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wages palu ABROAD anl sInRrace a rea-
sonable profit to the Americaiis pro-
Queer. 4 system Of protection thus
adopted and put in force has led to
the establishment of rate of wages
here that has greatly enhanced the
standard of living of the laboring man
1t is the policy Of the Republican par
ty permanently to continue that stand
ard Of living. In 1897 the Dingley Tar
if Bill was passed, under which we
have had, as already said, a period Of
enormous prosperity.
Necessity for Revision of Tariff.
The consequent material develop
ment has greatly changed the condi-
tions under which many articles de-
scribed by the schedules of the tariff
are now produced. The tariff in "A
nl.m'.cr Is the schedules cx-
cceds the difference between the
cost of production Of such articles
abroad and at home including a rea-
sonablc profit to the American pro-
Queer The excess over ;hat difference
serves no useful purpose, but offers Il
temptation to those who would mo-
nopolize the production and the sale of
such articles in this country, to profit
by the excessive rate. On the other
hand there are some few other sched-
ules in which the tariff is not sutfi-
GENTLY high TO give the measure Of
protection which they should receive
upon Republican principles, and as to
those the tariff should be raised. A
revision of the tariff undertaken upon
this principle. which is at the basis of
our present business system, begun
promptly upon the incoming of the
new administration, and considered at
a special session with the preliminary
Investigations already begun by the
appropriate committees of the House
and Senate. will make the disturbance
of business incident to such a change
as little as possible.
Democratic Tariff Plan and Its Bad
Effect on Business Conditions.
The Democratic party in its plat
form has not had the courage of its
previous convictions on the subject of
the tariff denounced by it in 1904 as
system of the robbery of the many
for the benefit of the few. but it does
declare its intention to change the
tariff with a view to reaching rovc-
nue. basis and thus to depart from the
protective system. The introduction
into power of a party with this av"wed
purpose cannot but halt the gradual
recovery from our recent financial de-
precision and produce business disaster
compared with which our recent panic
| and depression will seem small indeed.
| The Farmer and the Republican Party.
AS the Republican platform says,
| the welfare of the farmer is vital to
that of the whole country. One of the
| strongest hopes of returning prosperity
| is based on the business which his
| crops are to afford. He is vitality in
| terested in The restraining of eXccssiv"
and unduly discriminating railroad
rates, in the enforcement of the pure
| food laws, in the promotion of scien-
| tific agriculture. and in increasing the
| comforts of country life, as by the
extension of free Rural Delivery. The
policies of the present administration.
which have most industriously pro-
| NOTED all these objects, cannot fail to
| commend themselves to his approval;
and it is difficult to see how with his
| intelligent appreciation of the threat
| to business prosperity involved in
Democratic success at the polls he can
do otherwise than give his full and
hearty support to the continu-
alton of the policies of the present Ad-
ministration under Republican auspi-
| ceS.
Labor and What the Republican Party
Has Done for 1t.
| We come now to the question of Ia
| Dor. One important phase of the poll
| ces of the present Administration has
been an anxiety to secure for the wage
| Garner an equality of opportunity and
| 4, ft,t,r .,f
| shall place him on a level in dealing
| With his employer. The Republican par
| ty has passed an employers liability
| act for Interstate railroads. and has
| established an eight hour law for
government employees and on govern
ment construction. The essence of the
| reform effected by the former is the
| abolition of the fellow-servant rule.
and the introduction of the compare
| tive negligence theory by which an
employee injured in the service of his
| employer does not lose all his right t"
| recover because of slight neGliGenc"
| on his part. Then there is the act pro-
viding for compensation for injury to
| government employees, together with
| the various statutes requiring safety
| appliances upon Interstate commerce
| railroads for the protection of their
| employees, and limiting the hours OF
their employment. These are all in
stances Of the desire of the Republican
party to do justice to the wage-carner'
| Doubtless a more comprehensive meas
IRE for compensation Of government
| employees will be adopted in the fu-
| ture; the principle in such cases has
been recognized. and in the necossarl-
| ly somewhat slow course of legislation
will be more fully embodied in definite
| statutes.
Interest Of Employer and Employee
Only Differ in Respect to Terms OF
| Employment.
The interests of the employer ana
the employee never differ except when
| it comes to Il division of the joint proHt
of labor ar d capital into dividends ana
| wages This must be a constant
| source of periodical discussion between
| the employer and the cmpl'vee. as III
/ II Ia