The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-08-21
SURELY TIME TO REFORM.
Cut Down the Amount Of Taxes Paid
the TariH.Protected Trusts.

The Republican politicians and tho
trusts have always, since their unholy
partnership began. tried to befog the
tariff issue. II must be said they have
succeeded In doing so to u great eX-
tent and are stil working faithfully
for the same end 1t is useless for
Candidate Taft to decide that tho
money OF the trusts and corporations
will not be received for Republican
campaign funds, for like President
Roosevelt. when the eXigences OF the
campaign may require a 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 II
they were not protected by the tariff
and there would he no Dingley law IL
the Republican politicians were not
receiving, directly and indirectly, part
OF the swag. The tarifi, therefore, Is
not for protection to the farmers and
workmen, but for the legal plundcrlng
Of all classes II is useless to demand
the enforcement OF criminal statute
AGAINST the trusts II the primary cause
Of the organization Of trusts-thc tar
IN law that fosters thcm-ls allowed
TO remain on the statute books
The worklngmen have been deluded
into voting the trust ticket, because
the trusts have been forced to In
crease wages TO meet the increased
cost OF living caused by trust high
priccs. But now the inevitable panic
and AuctuallnV 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 pro-
tcctiug the farmer, but by the foreign
demand for his surplus crops. or as
| with the price Of oats, by failure OF
tho crop here. The great fall in the
| pricc Of wool. which is the only farm
product that Is really protected by the
| tariff, shows that the farmers are
/ more At Tue Il'i - VI Nllt "Nbi 'AhoS
| than benefited by the tariff on wool.
| II Is estimated by the most eminent
statisticians that the average family
| paws a tax OF nearly $3.50 year on &C.
count OF the tariff law, Of which about
$50 is received by the government and
about $50 is received by the trusts
in increased profits.
II these two collectors stood at the
door of the stores and directly de-
mnndcd this tax, there would be some
grumbling at the government tax col
Iector, but what would be done to the
trust collector? There would be riot,
and II the government should send
troops TO enforce the trust collections
there would probably be revolt. But
the Republican politicians and the
trust managers have arranged the law
in a more diplomatic way so that you
nav your tariff and trust tax in the In
creased price of what you buy and the
storekeepcr pays II to the wholesalers
and through them the government re-
ceivcs its tax on the imported goods
YOU buy and the trusts receive the
lions share in high prices for THAR
products. This indirect way OF tax
ing you Ii quietly submitted 10 and
the Republican politicians and tho
trust managers smile at your docility
and unsuspecting credulity.
It 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
I eminent, and II the cut is deep enough
/. will entirely obhterate the trusts Ia,
| of which they now plumber you.
D The manufacturers will still live an,
: become more prosperous. but the trus
J. monopoly will die for lack OF specis
r privilege.