Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-02-28
FOR TARIFF Reform.
A Manufacturing Friend Of a Former
Resident Of Here Says Things.

our attention to an article written
for the Beloit wis., News, by a
friend Of his. an ardent and life
long Republican. in which this
friend makes some very pointed
remarks concerning the tariff
question Tue article is good
enough for reproduction, and is
as follows:
g Beloit, Wis. JAM, 6, 1908.
Editor Daily, News: - am asin
receipt of YOUR letter requesting
an article from me on the tariff
question fro1 the Republican
standpoint. and would say at the
outset that l am Glad that this
most important question is being
given prominence in your journal
and believe a campaign of educa-
tion can not be started too -.on.
| believe that the views of the
rank and file of our party on the
tariff question have undergone a
great change, and today the ser
) ment for prompt tar educ..Jn
in our party is very strong. |
also believe the active politicians
of both parties has been out of line
upon this question for at least six
year. | say both parties he cause.
notwithstanding the professions
of Democracy in their platforms
Of tariff reform, they have made
no effort in Congress for years
to this end. and at the present
time are Obstructing Republican
measure of tariff relief for the
Philippine Islands. With solitary
exception, | think we may con-
clude that, for some unaccountabIe
reason, our representatives of both
parties in Congress have shied a
discussion of the tariff
The American peoples may be
classified thus: 10 per cent politi-
clans; 10 per cent socialists. anar-
chists. and other reactiOnaries;
and 50 per cent, or great middle
class, who do not aspire to office
but are very willing to let the
politicians run the government so
long as thev do fairly we'll at it,
and they are left eree to attend
to their ordinary avocations. As
one of this last class wish psrti-
cularly to address nv remarks to
them.
Hitherto we have blindly fol-
lowed the directions of our lead
ers. 1t was always enough for me
that Spooner advised this or that;
I,assumed it was right and COVER
ned myself accordingly. When we
were told that the tariff was the
source of all our prosperity. |
accepted this view. marched in
professions. arranged bonGres hir-
ed bands of music and in common
with the rest of the boys perse-
cuted the tariff reformers. even to
strange cities. whooping her up
for protection. Several years ago
I',well remember participating in a
tariff argument in the crowded
smoking room Of sleeping car.
| contended that it made no diffe.
renee how high the tariff wall
was built. home competition would
bring the, price where it belonged,
Pc and illustrated my point by the
then price of iron and steel. ordi
nary bars one cents per pound,
nails 80 cents keg. steel rails
$1,000 to $500 a ton; and had
rather the best of the argument.
One gentleman. l noticed, said
nothing whatever. and when the
rest had left the room. said be
had something to tell me.
He said be was employed in
the statistical department in the
government service; and that a
combination in the steel industry
which would efectually throttle
all competition was already
formed. and that it depended for
its main prop upon the excessive
ly high tariff. He asked me if i