Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-07-10
TARIFF AND TRUSTS
ISSUES or oREAT MOMENT TO
THE VOTERS.
Democratic Party Stands squarsIy for
the Granting Of Relief to the
Piundsrsd PeopIs-Rspub-
lleans Plan Evasion.

II ;s impossible to say now what
will be the paramount issue in the
merit campaign. II Is, however, quite
probable that the Republicans win try
snd make some issue important on
purpose to prevent the voters from
thinking and voting on at least two Is
sues that give them much trouble to
comtat-namely, the trusts and the
ts1if. As far - the Democrats are
concerned, there can be no evasion Of
these two issues, which are really one
iEsne. for they have to be considered
tcsether. The tariff which protects
the trusts and allows them to plumber
the People is question Of dollars and
cents and expediency. The Repub-
Leans, having been forced to give up
their claim that the trusts do not
sell cheaper abroad than here, are
therefore now forced to admit that the
time will arrive after the next cleo
tion-that Is when the congress that
will be elected In the fall Of 1908
comes into power-when tariff revi-
sion must be considered. The Taft
Roosevelt faction Of the Republican
party are telling the voters that the
Republican platform will declare for
tariff revision. The organ Of the pro-
tective tariff league derides this pro-
posed tariff reform declaration and
calls the opposing faction free traders.
As Republican platform promises were,
as we were assured by that high Re-
publican authority, the late Senator
Hanna, made to be broken, It is i'm
possible to have much faith In future
promises, II 1t suits the party leaders
30 ignore them. Voters, therefore,
who feel the pinch Of high trust prices
and the enormous increase in the
cost Of living will be chary of elect
ing Republican to represent them in
congress, or Republican president,
who although pledged by the platform
TO favor tariff revision. at the same
time declares he stands for the doc
trine of protection. All the declara-
tons Of former Republican platforms
declare for protection as funda-
mental doctrine Of the party, and even
those Republican congressman and
others who now say they favor revis-
ing the tariff always qualify such re-
marks by declaring at the same time
they believe in protection.
Now, the fact is that protecting the
trusts, much or little. Is only a matter
Of measure. As high protection plum
ders the consumers Of a great deal Of
their incomes, 1t follows that to re-
duce the tariff will still plumber them
to the extent Of the rates provided in
the law. II we had a tariff for rev.
enus only as England has, the trusts
and combines could not exist and pay
interest on watered stocks. They
would be forced to reduce the price OF
their products to meet competition
from abroad and their profits would
be 30 decreased that they would only
be able to pay reasonable dividends on
the actual money invested.
The Republican talk of free trade 10
only to try to brighten fools, and SEN
sfbie men laugh at such vaporings.
Under our present system of taxation
we shall be compelled to pay tariff
taxes, as England does, for the pur-
pose Of raising revenue to support the
government.
The tariff question to be decided is
how much the present rates shall be
reduced and how much tariff taxes
can be produced by proposed reduced
schedules, and whether the tariff that
shelters trusts, which sell cheaper
abroad than here, shall be entirely
abolished or reduced to a revenue
basis? The voters cannot decide upon
all details. II they want real tariff
reform, they must vote for Democratic
congressman. II they want to stand
| nat they must elpct Ranuhlinane