Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-01-02
HAS AIDED TRUSTS
REAL EFFECT OF REPUBLICAN
PARTYs POLICY.
Planks In National Platforms conelu-
sively Prove That the Democrats
Are the Real Friends Of the
Taxpayers.

The two sides Of the tariff issue
must be considered in deciding wheth-
er the Democratic position, or the Re
publican, is for the best interest of
the majority of the people. The Re-
publican national convention declared
in 1888: I'VE are uncompromisingly in
favor of the American system of pro.
lection" In 1892, it said: "We re-af-
firm the American doctrine of pro-
lection" In 1896, it said: I'VE renew
and emphasize our allegiance to the
policy of protection as the bulwark of
American industrial independence and
the foundation of American develop
ment and prosperity" In 1900 it said:
I'VE renew u faith in the policy
Of protection to American labor; in
that policy u industries have been
established, diversified and main
tanned. By protecting the home mar
ket competition has been stimulated
and production cheapened." In 1904,
1t said: Protection which guards and
develops our industries is a cardinal
policy of the Republican party. The
measure Of protection should always
at least equal the difference in the
cost OF production at home and
abroad. We insist upon the mainten-
ance of the principle of protection,
and, therefore, rates of duty should be
readjusted only when conditions have
so changed that the public interest de-
mands their alteration" The same
platform also said: "A Democratic tar
if has always been followed by bust
ness adversely; a Republican tariff
by business prosperity" The present
panic, which is producing business
adversely, shows that Republican plat
forms are not to be relied on when at
tempting to forecast the future, and
the history Of the panics since the war
shows that the panic of 1872 was
under a Republican administration,
and a Republican tariff for protec-
ton. The panic of 1928 was in full
blast before Mr.. Cleveland was
elected, and the United States treas
ury was left by the Harrison admin
~istration practically bankrupt. The
semi-panic of 1901, when prices Of
commodities and of stocks and bonds
rapidly declined and factories were
closed or reduced their output, was
under Republican auspices and the
present high protective tariff. The
present panic, perhaps the most dis
astrous in its consequences that ever
occurred, has followed the boast that
a Republican tariff has always been
followed b. business prosperity"
The Democratic position on the tar
If in 1876 was: I'VE demand that all
custom house taxation shall be only
for revenue" In 1880: "a tariff for
revenue only" In 1884: "The Democ-
racy pledges itself to reduce taxation
to the lowest limit consistent with
due regard to the preservation of the
faith of the nation to its creditors and
pensioners" In 1888, the platform of
1884 was reaffirmed and further de-
clared: ut is repugnant to the creed
of Democracy that by such taxation
the cost of the ne~cessaries of life
should be unjustiflably increased to
all our people. Judged by Democratic
principles tho interests of the people
are betrayed when by unnecessary
taxation, trusts and combinations are
permitted to exist, which, while I'M
duly enriching the few that combine,
rob the body of our citizens by depriv-
ing them of the benefits of natural
competition. Every Democratic rule of
governmental action Is violated when
through unnecessary taxation a vast
sum of money, far beyond the needs
of an economical administration, is
drawn from the people and the chan
nels Of trade, and accumulated as a
~demoralizing surplus in the national
treasury" In 1892: "We denounce the
Republican protection as a fraud, a
robbery of the great majority of the
American people for the benefit Of the
few. We declare 1t to be a fundament-
al principle of the Democratic party
that the federal government has no
constitutional power to impose and
collect tariff duties, except for the pur-
pose of revenue only, and we demand
that the collection of such taxes shall
be limited to the necessities of the
government when honestly and eco
nomically administered" In 1896:
I'VE hold that tariff duties should be
levied for purposes of revenue, such
duties to be so adjusted as to operate
equally throughout the country, and
not discriminate between class or Sec
ton, and that taxation should be linn
tied by the needs Of the government,
honestly and economically admin
istered. We denounce as disturbing
to business the Republican threat to
restore the Mckinley law, which has
twice been condemned by the people
In national elections, and which, en-
acted under the false plea of protec.
ton to home industry, proved a pro-
life breeder of trusts and m~onopolies,
enriched the few at the expense of
the many, restricted trade and de-
prived the producers of the great
American staples of access to their
natural markets"
FaIIacies Of the President.