The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-04-10
LICENSED TO ROB
WHAT TARIFF DUTY MEANS TO
STANDARD OIL TRUST.
Congressman kustermann One OF
Those Who Seem to Have Seen
the Connection - Democratic
Attempt to End Monopoly.

Attempt TO End Monopoly.
Hon. Gustav Fisherman, who rep
resents the Green Bay district of Wis
consIn. has endeavored to enlighten
the public in a speech In congress
about the amount Of the tarlT protec'
ton the Standard Oil trust has been
grated By the benevolent Republt.
cans. Like many other novices WHO
seek TO discover the intricacies of pro
tectionsm, he jumps at erroneous
conclusions and then tries to force his
errors upon the public. II 1t was not
that he appears to have imposed on
our good and great statesman Theo-
dore Roosevelt, instead of combining
himself to the Republicans in con.
gross and those Of his Republican con
stltuents who perhaps are easily de.
celved, 1t would hardly be worth
while to set him straight on the tar.
IN question.
In his speech he admits that him
self and other Republican congress
men and speakers have declared
that the Standard OIL Company, the
greatest and grecdiest trust in the
world. had no protection" lie gives
! the reason for this rs ignorance OF
the tariff, but says: at came In handy
when We wished proof that there
was no connection between tariff and
trusts II served its purpose and al
| fenced those who were constantly at
lacking the tariff Finding that the
voters were no longer to be fooled by
these cyaslons Of the connection be
tween the tariff and the trusts, he now
! admits, what has always been claimed
| by the Democrats, that the standard
oil trust is protected by tariT duty
| If in some cases 100 to even 200 per
cent as Mr. Fisherman declares,
under the proviso in paragraph b2t,
although included In the free list
As a means Of escape from this pro
longed attempt unintentionnlly to de
ccivc the people, as Mr.. kustcrmann
declares, he now charges that the
same paragraph was In the Dcmocrat.
ic tariff IN 1894 and our people over.
! looked H." II Our people overlooked
H." why did they increase the duty so
enormously? lie must know, however,
for he saws he has made "a thorough
study Of the tariff. that instead Of the
Standard Oh trust being protected by
from 100 10 200 per cent, the
Democratic tariff expressly provided
that there shall be levied, paid and
collected upon said crude petroleum or
It's products so imported, 40 percen.
mm ad valorcm" As refined petro.
lcum was then worth In Russia about
six cents gallon the al valOrem rate
would he but ~ cents n gallon, in
stead Of lin some cases 100 and even
2n0 per cent" as Mr. Kustcrmann now
declares the tariff duty to be. Con.
gresham Raincy of Illinois, in a
supcch I'm congress on February II,
gave official and statistical proof OF
the Democratic contention, which can
be found In the Congressional Record
n that date on page 205G In justice
to Mr. Kustormann it must be said
that he has introduced bill 10 re.
peal this tariT protection to the
Standard Oil trust. but no evidently
should know that our Republican con.
grcss will give # no consideration.
nut after ali Kustcrmdnn Is blind
man leading the bIind-President
Roosevelt as we'll AS other Republicans
for # is reported in Washington
newspaper that the president has he
come much interested in the question
" the tariff on petroleum. and has
secured a copy of Mr.. kustermann'a
address.
What the president needs is not the
Kustermann speech but Congressman
Ralney's speech. for the former tells
but half the truth, while the latter
aXposes he whole infamous transac
lion which has allowed the STANDARD
Dil trust to plumber the American PEG
ole. while at the same time selling
It's oil to- other countries for much
| lnan than q chorpac here