Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-22


kept close to the hunger line, while
many of the employers have become
the possejsors Of the swollen for
tunes which now menace the nations
morals as well as its business
And yet the republican party was
not willing that single item on the
steel schedule should be touched, and
the republican campaign committee
will not dare to publish. before the
election. the contributions that have
been made or will be made to the re-
publican campaign fund by the men
most largely interested in the steel
trust.
How II Operates shown.
Let me show you how the tariff
made by II. E. Miles, chairman of the
tariff committee of the National AS
ISOLATION of Manufacturers and head
of the agricultural implement trust.
The statement appears in the Ameri-
can Industries of Nov. Is, 1907, a paper
| which is now supporting the republi
can ticket and making a special fight
| against the labor plank of the demo
cratic platform. Here is what Mr..
Miles says:
Il have made money every year out
of the tariff graft Not much. but
sill little
The tariff barons raised their price
| $4,000 TO me. made charge
against the jobber of 100000 and
know that he charged more than $40
| 900 for the $4,000 he paid me. Before
| reaching the consumer the $4,000
charge became about 100000 to be
paid by the agricultural consumer.
| THE manufacturer who would pros
per must make q double profit, one
by the shrewd management of his
business and another by still shrewd-
er manipulation in Washington.
| 1--WE have no great difficulty in
| shopping abroad for we could get as
high prices as at home. We are so
held up, however, by our supply PEG
pie that to most of us there is very
scant profit in foreign business:
when congress gave us 40 per cent,
we needing only 90 per cent, they
gave us a congressional permit. if not
an invitation. 10 consolidate, form one
Igreat trust and advance our prices %
per cent. being the difference between
the 20 per cent needed and the As per
Icent given"
| Mr.. Miles shows how the tariff
lraises prices to those who, in manu-
featuring, have 10 buy other manufac
itured products. This expense is trans
lferred to the next purchaser. The job
Der charges a profit on the tariff as
well as on the cost of the article, and
each person who handles the product
collects a profit, SO that, according tC
Mr. Miles, the first charge of $4,000
becomes 100000 by the time it reach
es the consumer. Mr.. Miles in another
article estimates the total loss to tbs
people at $500 100000 annually. The
statement of Mr. Miles also shows tina
the tariff law is an invitation to con
solidate, and that having been giver
: the tariff on the theory that it is need
led, the manufacturers naturally as
sumo that it is intended that they shall
take advantage of it, even if they have
to combine to do so.
|, How will Mr. Taft explain to the av
erage man the benefits of protection
He can easily convince trust that i
, profits by the tariff, but what abou
the victim of the trust?
D All Agree on Reduction.
? No republican leader will now den.
t that reduction ought to be made, bu
| who is to make the reductions? Thu
| only answer given by the republican,
is that the tariff ought to be REFORMED
4 by its friends; that is, that those VIII,
+ made the last tariff law should be en-
n trusted with the making of a new tai
f if law. But suppose the people adop
t the republican idea and entrust tn
V making of the tariff law to republican
e congressman; what will be the metho
: of procedure? Fortunately for the vot
s Ter, Mr.. Miles explains this also. Il
t the April, 1908. number of American
n Industries, Mr.. Miles says: 1.-THE Fec
s pie instruct and trust congress t
# grant just, equitable and ample protec
9 ton
It Is not that just what the republica
d leaders claim to favor? They wan
S you to instruct and trust congress t
t grant just, equitable and ample pre-
: lection" And what does that mean
o Mr. Miles says that congress trust
l. the ways and means committee" An
i a republican leader will tell you tina
this is also proper Then what? NJ
Miles says that this committee trust
- such persons as Mr.. DalZell," and tina
= ''they-they trust the trusts
q The method of procedure is simple
= 1t is a case of confidence. The voter
4 have confidence in republican leaders
;. the leaders have confidence in repul
, lican congress; republican congress
). has confidence in the ways and mean
committee; the ways and means con
r. mittee has confidence in the men VIII
= represent the trusts, and the trust
/. write the tariff law and thus secure
q | themselves the right to levy tribut
O upon the public. So accustomed hav
>. republican leaders become to allowin
: the protected interests to write til