Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-04-17
Revising the Tariff.

the next Congress. will not need
the advice and assistance of a
Tariff Commission; for all they
need is to call in the experts
and attorneys of the Trusts. That
IS what they did in 1897 when the
present tariff law was fixed up.
What is the use of deceiving the
taxpayers, as Congressman Payne
does, BY declaring that tariffs
have always been made without
anything like adequate informa-
tion." Mr.. Payne and the other
members of the Ways the Means
Committee we're fully advised
when they were considering the
Dingley tariff law. that the high
rates demanded by Mr.. Carnegie
and the Steel Trust people would
breed monopoly. When they al
lowed the Standard Oil Trust at
torney to write the provision to
the oil schedule they knew they
we're protecting the trust and add
ing at leat 50 per cent'to the price
Of kerosene to the American peo-
ssaple and the poorest people at that.
When they accepted the Beef
Trust schedule on the hides they
pretended to be protecting the
American farmer. but they knew
they were helping lhe Leather and
Beef Trusts. When they accepted
the wool schedule of the Wool
Growers Association they knew
they were adding Is per cent. at
least. to the cost of wooden goods
to those people Of Northern States.
who from necessity have to buy
them and instead of helping the
farmers. it was the Aockmasters of
the great Western plains that were
mostly benefited. When thew
wrote the schedule that protects
the Paper Trust they must have
known the newspaper owners
would. have to pay the tariff d1ty
in increased profit to the trust.
Not a schedule. but was carefully
considered and all with the same
intent and purpose of adding to
the burdens Of the people for the
benefit of the Trusts.
The Trusts were we'll acquainted
with the facts and in return have
been most liberal contributors ~tt
the campaign fund Of not only the
Republican National Committees
but also to the committee who
manages the election of Congress
men. Millions have been paid by
the trusts and protected 'monopol
lists to secure the election of presi
dents and Conrgessmen. both o.
the Senate and House. who were
sound on the tariff"
And now the same old show il
to be played again with q differen
title and the excuse that ther,
must be added maximum schedule
rates to protect us from the pau
per labor of England whose work
ingmen are now in better circum
stances than our own workmel
. are because their cost of living il
so much less.
The English workingman ha
lower wages. but the world II
draw upon for bis necessities. fo
every country, including tb
United States. sells him its SUI
plus products in competition wit
each other. with no arif dutie
to speak Of to add to the price
Here everything imported that
-
manufactured is taxed and th
trusts profit by adding the tari
rate to their own natural prof
> The only difference being that tt
government collect the tariff ia
+, on the goods imported and Il
trusts collect the tariff tax on the
products produced here while Il
s'tariff protects them from foreis
competition. 1t is now propose
to promise the people to revi
the. tariff after election" b
whether the tariff is to be revis'
lower or higher is left to Il
simaoination of the voter. As q