Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-22

dollars TO manufacturers whom he has
never seen, and trusts them to be just In
the distribution of the trust fund among
their employees. And what has been the
result? Just what might have been eX-
pected: the manufacturers have appropri-
ated the trust fund to their own use and
have paid their employees only such wages
as trade conditions compelled.
We would not expect a jury to do justice
to the defendant If it was composed en-
tirely of the relatives of the plaintiff;
neither can we expect a congress to do jus
tice to the masses if 1t is composed of men
who are in sympathy with, and obligated
to, the corporations which have for a gem
GRAFTON been enjoying special privileges.
There is no prospect of relief from a re-
publican president and congress Inc
democratic party, If entrusted with power,
can and will reduce the tariff.
of Democrats.
The democratic platform not only de-
mands a reduction of the tariff, but it
plainly outlines the course to be pursued
in securing the reduction. 1t begins by
proposing tnat articles which come into
competition with articles controlled by a
trust be placed on the free list. What
better place to begin?
What would be the effect of the remedy
proposed by the democratic platform?
Simply this: A law goes into effect at
some fixed date in the future, and II the
democrats pass a law, putting upon the
free list articles coming into competition
with those controlled by a trust, the trust
will have until that date to dissolve. If
the trust considers the law too drastic, II
can dNOlu II Dg BlNitik up It's MONOPOLY
Secretary Taft calls this remedy utterly
destructive and in his anxiety to prevent
II overlooks the fact that the democratic
party has other remedies for the trusts.
II we can succeed I'm dissolving existing
trusts, and in preventing the organization
of new ones, there Will be no trusts against
which to use the remedy of which he com
plains. There is now a law against trusts.
but Il has not been sufficiently enforced
to prevent trusts. The democrats demand
its enforcement; If its enforcement rids
the country OF trusts, then this policy
which Mr.. Taft so much fears will become
perfectly harmless. If the democrats Sc
cure control of both the house and the
senate, they are pledged to legislation
which will make a private monopoly inn
of part OF the legislative machinery Of the
government and refuse to join I'm the ef-
fort to make a private monopoly impos-
sible. they are not in a position to COM
plain of tariff legislation aimed at trusts.
II they refuse to assist us In exterminating
the principle of private monopoly, they can
not well object to legislation necessary to
protect the people from trust eNtprtion.
The second step In the reduction of the
tariff is a material reduction upon the
necessities Of life. especially upon goods
competing with such American manufac-
turers as are sold abroad more cheaply
than al home Al present the articles
valorem, than the articles used by the
rich. This statement can be verified by
an examination OF any OF the schedules;
A tax upon consumption. even when laid
with absolute impartiality. bears heaviest
upon the poor, because our necessities are
much more uniform than our possessions.
People do not eat In proportion 10 their
income: they do not wear clothing In pro-
portion Ia their income; they do not use
taxed goods in proportion to their Income.
AS an taxes must come out Of ones In
come. no matter through what system
levied or collected, they are, In effect. in
come taxes. and taxes on consumption are
really graduated income taxes, the largest
per cent being collected from those with
the smallest income and the smallest per
II Is only fair, therefore, that in an at
tempt to relieve the people from the in
EQUITIES Of a high tariff. the poor, who are
over-burdened, should be given first con-
sideration. Then, too, a reduction in the
TARIFF on the necessities Of life brings a
benefit tot all the people, while a reduction