Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-04-02
DEMOCRATS SEE
BOW OF PROMISE
JUDGE HARMON POINTS TO RAY
OF HOPE IN REPUBLICAN
MISCHANCE.
TARIFF 8ENEFICIARlES HAVE
TOO 4 LONG CAPITALIZED
GOOD WILL.

has been a long time since the dem
ocrats have had cause to rejoice.
Boys who were only five years OLD
when the party elected its last pres
ident will vote this year States
once certain have become doubtful.
States doubtful have been cost. De
serters have Outnumbered recruits.
! Never before during the existence OF
more than one hundred years, eX-
Guiding the war period when many
states did not vote, has it met two
defeats in succession. 1t has just
had three. Only deep-seated beliefs
could have kept it from dissolution"
! So declared Judge Judson Harmon
III an address before the young mems
democratic club in this city last
night. The speaker said that the
last democratic administration had
to commence with a treasury left al
most empty and amid hard times
which had already begun under the
republicans.
4 always thought it mean and I'M
patriotic" said Judge Harmon, ito
make political capital out of public
misfortune. And I believe every
democrat in the country feels, as 1
do, that he would rather stand an
other defeat than see the poor null
! tiplying on the streets, cars standing
idle on side tracks, mills and factor
les closed or feebly going, commerce
paralyzed and the old and dependent
pinched in the provisions which in
dustry or affection has made for
them. But if all this had to come,
as it now has, I believe every fair
man will say, as l do, that it is the
justice of God, who hates all SANDER
ers and false boosters, that it struck
these while in full strut"
Mr.. Harmon said that the Ameri-
cans are a just people and they are
game. If there has been a fair chance
for all and no favors they will abide
the result, all those, and they are
the great majority, who have not
Ithrived as they feel they should
They cannot be stirred against those
who have done better Perhaps, aft
er all, wealth might not have proved
q t,essing to them or to their chill
dren. But let there be some unfair
ness, especially on the part of the
government which is maintained by
all for the common benefit but which
has increased the gains of some at
the cost o. the others, and then you
have a condition which drives the I'M
steady 10 socialism and spreads dis
content among the people creating
the risk of hasty and inConsiderate
action.
Ever since the civil war" said
IJudge Harmon, when the idea Of
high duties for the benefit of favored
Industries was first carried out
each republican tariff had swelled
these benefits. The last one made
them higher than ever, the highest
in the world.
The pretext at first was aid dur
ing infancy and then reduction and
withdrawal on establishment. But
the beneficiaries promptly capital
lied the good will of the government.
land kept demanding more and more
AS they always will so long as their
interests are the chief consideration
and not those of the people who are
taxed for their benefit"
Then it was promised that though
things produced at home might cost
more at first, by reason of the tariff
Itax, they would cost less as soon as
| the industries were established right
at our doors. Yet, in spite Of enOr-
nous reductions in the cost of pro
ductiOn by reason of machinery and
otherwise, the difference in prices at
home and abroad have steadily in
creased; and for years our people
have been compelled to pay more
for American goods than the makers
sell them for after the cost and risk
of shipment across the sea.
There was a hope that some reliet
might come to the people in their
homes when the president and Mr..
Tat met this imposition in ordering
supplies for the canal, but no, they
meekIy submitted, they have never
made it plain why, but we know.
Then there was the false pretense
| that the tariff charges were merely
| to cover differences in wages paid
American wOrkmen, but it has been
shown beyond dispute that the taxes
are in every instance many, often
very many, times more than these
differences. In some cases they are
more than the entire pay roll. If
this was the idea why were not some
| of the workmen invited when the law
was drawn as well as the prOpri-
etors? This was a pure sham like
| the tariff on wheat, etc, to fool the
| farmers"
In conclusion M. Harmon said
! that the history of the republican
party since slavery was abolished
and the interests which have always
controlled it belle the expectation OF
the real relief from it. Now is the
time to put the democrats in COM
mission he said. They alone can
and will, with fairness TO all, with
wisdom and care for the interests OF
the entire country, set right what is
wrong and afford the full measure
of relief. Let US not, by lack of har-
mony or wisdom, show ourselves I'M
equal to the opportunity or unworthy
of the confidence Of the people"
and No PIav"