Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-22

In the ways and means hearings, and
he has been one man who did not
turn tail and run away from his true
democracy when some tariff bene-
ficiary from his home state-Missouri-
appeared before that committee in the
past weeks.
AS to the other-the New York chair
MAXWELL. he has been more puzzling
than a Chinese puzzle, for at least
some Cinnamon may solve Chinese
puzzle, and none may solve this New
Workers. tariff puzzle. Hence, arguing
by elimination or selection, it is neces-
| mental and economic trend and then.
by knowing that Mr.. Payne will be
the opposite, learn somewhat of his
trend
Clark's conception of the proper So
luton Of the tariff problem is that
| the ultimate consumer should be the
| primary consideration. He believes
that to be the direct method of tariff
| reasoning and that 1t promises to
bring the greatest good TO the greatest
number. and surely that be the ethical
and patriotic manner Of making rev.
enue laws.
| When Missouri miners came before
his committee asking that all be for
got but their own interests. Clark
promptly asked questions as though he
| lived In Kansas or New Jersey or Ore
gon. That Missouri has lead and zinc
deposits was not sufficient to force
him to swerve from his fundamental
concept-the right Of the ultimate con.
sumer
"Will this asked for tariff Of IL
cents a pound on zinc make for the
good of the whole people?" was Mr.
Clark's persistent query.
But opine that In the brave leader
ship of the broader than his own state
minority leader the Democratic party
has found q Moses who shall cut q
way through the wilderness and head
the party into the desired lands be-
yond.
In an age of utilitarianisnl, Of base
kotowing before the god Dollar
/ when business Is business" and "Yor
know my constituents are vitality inter
ested in this schedule" are dominant
with most officeholders, 1t is refresh
ing indeed to watch that large framed
benevolent countenanced, honest mind
ed Democrat of such lionlilSe courage
as he has manifested during the pas
two months.
! Let Democrats take heart Let then
"perk up" and look the future SQUARED.
l tn, f1a hoc
who fears not any man who walks Of
talks or argues tariff retention whel
tariff revision is the sacred pledge t,
a whole nation.
This is not to say that Democrats ar,
free traders or that they want all du
ties lowered, but it is to remind TIN
electorate that when duties should b.
lowered there will be a man on guar,
to see ,that those who oppose such low
ering must give reason for. the allege,
faith that is in them, else win he brini
. 1t to the attention Of the people eth
court of last resort in this country.
spooner Of Wisconsin.
president Elect Taft is considerin
John G. Spooner for secretary of state,
fs the substance of dispatch whic
appeared in daily papers recently.
Who is John c. Spooner? Some year
ago, when this former Wisconsin ma
sat in the federal senate, railrca
land grant of several million acres wa
safely guaranteed to railroad whic
none denied had failed to earn th
grant according to the terms of th
act Of congress which granted th
lands. 1t was secured to the derelic
railroad through the legal ingenuity 9
John G. Spooner, who invoked that oil
law of the realm in England that onl
the crown could revoke crown gran
a rule which he twisted so that it wa
possible to find excuse for permittin
the railroads to keep the lands it ha
not earned.
Every one knew 1t was steal froI
the public domain. The other guart
ians of the peoples property said t
Spooner:
III this corporation retain thes
lands, You must give the people an e,
cuse',
WELL" quoth Spooner, "you kno
that corporation is local to my hon