Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-02-13
TERSE TARIFF TALK.

Former Governor w. L. Douglas
has strong grasp on the tariff ques-
ton, and his terse utterances in ex-
pressing his sound views are decided
ly refreshing, especially when COM
pared with the words of those numer-
Gus statesmen who repeat the high tax
creed as if by rote A late press dis
patch says:
Because high protection is the parent
of trusts and is responsible for graft
and corruption in public and private
life, ex-Gov. William L. Douglas de-
lares that tariff reform is the prime
issue.
When asked, "What must the
Democratic party do to VIM" Mr..
Douglas answered:
"First, the Democratic party must
make tariff reform the foremost issue.
Second, it must oppose the in
crease of federal power and revert to
the old doctrine Of state rights.
Third, it must fight special privilege
In every form.
Fourth, it's leaders must get togeth-
er on common ground with the funda-
mental principles of Democracy as a
a basis, casting aside extreme radical
doctrines on the one hand and ultra
conservatism on the other"
Mr.. Douglas says that tariff reform
must come at once, because the pres
ent system is the source of special
privilege.
with high tariff wall you pro-
hibit foreign competition, you invite
the competitors in any industry inside
that wall to get together to sustain
prices and bleed the penned-up con-
sumers," he says. 1--WE should not
be surprised that we have so many
trusts and that they put the prices up
so high. 1t is not surprising that we
have graft and corruption in public
and private life. 1t would be strange
If our present tariff system did not
result in trusts and graft. 1t is equi-
valent to license to form combina-
attons and trusts to graft off the
public.
"Trust-busting that leaves the
trusts intrenched as strongly as ever
and permits constant increase in the
cost of living is an.utter and absolute
failure. This whole trust-busting
business as conducted at WASHINGTON
is farcicaI. The real remedy lies in u.
the removal of the duties that shelter
and protect the trusts.
"AIl other gratis combined do not
equa' the annual graft of the tariff
the continuous robbery of the people
under the cover of protective tariff
law, which permits the taking unnec-
essarlly of an average of not less than
S0O year a family from their pockets
and turns the proceeds over to trusts,
Every article of food, clothing ard
shelter is taritf-taxed. If An article is
not taxed directly it is Indirectly 1t
Is shipped over taritf-taxed railroads
or stored in tariff taxed buildings.
II am not believer in this modern
tendency to centralize more and great
err power in the federal government.
have ch! ldren and grandchildren. l !
want to feel that they shall enjoy in |
the future the blessings of free demo- |
cratic government. | want them pro- |
tected from the dangers of monarchical |
government and all that tends toward |
autocracy. | believe in the rights of |
states to control their own affairs.
Neither the policies nor the meth |
obs OF President Roosevelt are right |
and intended TO accomplish results in
the interests of all people. Let the |
powers OF government-state power |
Wherever poSstble-regulate corpora !
lions, but let them go straight to the
svil-doer, pick him out, specify his |
fault and then send him to Jail That
Is the way to punish corporate crime. ("