The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1908-05-08
VOTERS MUST ACT
IN THEIR HANDS is POWER TO
CHECK TRUST ExToRTIoNs.
Arrogant Refusals OF Monopoly 70 Re
duce Prices 20 the Home Ccn-
sumer Should Lead TO Action
at Coming Election.

The steel trust officials refuse 20
reduce the high prices for steel prod
ucts because It's few small competi-
tors have combined with IL TO main
tain prices. Judge Gary. chairman
OF the street trust. declares that:
The mere fact that the demand is
greater than the supply, that the nee
essities OF the purchaser are great.
does not Justify an increase In price,
nor does the fact that the demand is
less than the supply furnish an argu-
ment for lowering the price. In
neither case would the quantity
bought or sold be more or less"
At the present time the demand Is
much less than the supply. and only
about 80 per cent. OF the capacity oil
production is being operated. Yet this
steel monopolist tries to make us be
lieve that If the price OF steel products
was reduced there would be no great
err quantity sold. thus overthrowine
all the experience OF business, that
the cheaper products OF general util-
ity can be produced and sold. the
greater the consumption. II the price
OF steel products were reduced % per
cent. which II would be with open
competition the world over, those
who are now waiting for q reasonable
reduction in the price OF steel would
at once begin to manufacture and
build. All the numerous things that
steel enters into would thus be 20
per cent. or more cheaper than they
now are. and that would undoubtedly
lead those who have money to invest
TO take advantage OF the low prices.
The railroads would be able to buy
more rails and engines. steel bridges
would replace wooden ones; steel
buildings would be ordered by those
who have capital to invest in them
because a demand would be created
by the reduced rents that could be
charged. The farmers would bu,
more agricultural implements. wire
for fencing and tools, If the price was
cheaper: new stoves and household
utensils would be bought because
they would be offered as bargains
whereas now nothing is bought a
present high prices that is not abso
lutely needed.
Why should this gigantic trust 81
protected by the tariff from competi
: ton when IL refuses TO reduce price
under the spur of no demand? WI.
should wire for fencing be taxed 4l.9
per cent. 10 help the trust keep u
+ prosperity prices? Why should wir
I netting be taxed 41.70 per cent. Z
prevent competition 10 the trust? VIII
should wire rope be taxed $3.50 pc
cent: why should chains be take
! 1921 per cent; why should cutler
2 be taxed 1923 per cent. and razor
$3.50 per cent. and scissors 52.66 pc
g cent, and common table and carvin
/ knives 69.43 per cent? Why shoul
r files be taxed 74.69 per cent. and fire
arms 1850 per cent. and boiler tube
e 1882 per cent. unless it is TO protec
the steel trust and allied manufactui
Q ers from competition?
!. Yet when the panic comes, OF whic
y this protective tariff is one OF u
S causes, and business is depressed an
/. prices OF everything not controlle
DIV Trusts duu nut llOACNAtA " ~
h tariff are declining; when wages al
8 being reduced and thousands OF worl
E. men hunting jobs, this monopolisti
A. trust declines TO reduce prices becaus
its manager declares IL would sell
! more at lower prices than at its pre-
!, ent exorbitant prices.
In the meantime. while the amer
. can people are paying protectio
= prices. the trust is selling abroad
!, much less prices; because the X
publican congress has been standir
pat for years and continues to folio
the injunction OF Mark Hanna 10 GO
tinue to stand pat.
y VIII you continue 10 vote Tor
& party who by law allows the trusts
~ sell cheaper abroad than here. or W
you vote TO change the tariff that pr
1T tects the steel and other trusts.
10 that you can participate at q
IN trusts bargain-counters as the foreig
ar ers do7