Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-08-24
THE TARIFF QUESTION
edasery Speech of William Bryan at Des Mores, o4ua Last
Mgh-Democratic and Republican Platforms
Quoted and Contrasted
Continued from Saturday,


the execution OF this important
work to n party which is so deeply
obligated to the highly protected in
terests as is the Republican party? ;
The fat frying" process has he
come familiar TO the American peo-
pie. Pressure has been brought to
bear upon the protected interests
every four years and To less ex-
tent In the congressional campaigns
between presidential elections-to
compel contributions to the cam
paign fund In return for former ia
vors and in anticipation OF favors
yet to come. II is difficult TO over
estimate the corrupt influences in
troduced into the political life of
the nation by this partnership be-
tween the government ani the IA
vored industries. The literature cir
culated in support OF n protective
tariff has stuiiously cultivated the
idea that suffrage made by the Re
publican leaders has come to be
more and more a selfish one. Ev-
cry man engaged in a protected in
dustry has been approached with
the proposition that It is dollars in
his pocket to maintain tn system
while those who could not possibly
trace any tangible benefits to them
selves have been beguilcl with the
assurance that II was all matter
OF public spirit and that they ought
TO support the system out OF patri-
otic love of country. If attention
was called to the fact that the far
mer was taxed for the benefit OF the
manufactures. the triple answer was
that IL would come back to him in
directly; that It did not amount TO
much for each farmer anyhow: and
that a man was small minded who
would begrudge so insignificant
contribution to the nations pros
perity. The plan has been to- keep
the taxpayers quiet by keeping them
in the dark as to the influence OF
the tax-eaters in favor OF contin-
uation of high tariff legislation. TX
a tarlff OF fifty per cent was impos-
ed upon n given article OF merchan-
disc. Il was assumed that those en-
gagged in the production OF that ar
ticle would contribute literally to
keep up the tariff. IL was also as
sumei that the employees would
vote with their employers to keep
from having their wages reduced,
and IL was expected that the bus
mess men OF their town would also
vote for the tariff because Of the
business brought to the community
by the protected industry. Those
who are acquainted with the tariff
fight know to what extent the pc
cun!ary argument has been used.
THE recent Republican platform Is
n bugle call TO every beneficiary OF
special privileges, to enlst again
under the Republican banner. AMI
when the election Is over and the
Republican committee publishes the
list OF contributors-too late TO
make the Information valuable-it
will be found that the Republican
party has again SO obligated itself
to the protected interests as TO De
unable TO make a revision in the
interest OF the consumers.
With a president who, toward the
close Of his term. admitted the ne
cessity for tariff revision, with
two-thirds majority in the senate
and nearly sixty majority In the
bouse the Republican party has re-
fused to permit any revision what
ever. Mr.. Williams, the leader OF
tho minority in the house, lhtIo-
duced bill providing for a reduc-
tion of the tariff TO 100 per cent
wherever it is now more than loo
per cent. It would look ike the
Republican party might Lave 'aN
on this step toward tarif revision
hal t been deely in earnest; put
no the bill was not even rcporOon
from the committee. WheneVo' ~
tention was called to an ind'IenS'-
bic schedule. the answer was 'h''
thew could not AFFORD to open the
subiect for debate Just before cam
paieu but there was no force in TINS
obiection because the house rules
are so framed that the majority can
cut off debate. prevent amendmen'
and silence opposition
The administration has claimed
credit for the fine against the
Standard OIL company in the case
which was lately reversed but no
effort has been made to relieve the
people from the fine which is i'm
posed upon them every day oy th'
standard Oil company through the
operatlon OF the tarin law whlch
gives that company more than 100
per cent protection against It's chlet
rival. Russia. what faith can real
tariff reformer. whether he be
Republican or Democrat repose
in the Republican leaders. when
49,, dc1thoratelv nut off al reduc-