The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-29
PAPER TRUST IS
 SUPPORTING TAFT Paper Dealers Want The Tariff
 Kept On Wood Pulp  APPEAL TO DEFEAT BRYAN RoOseVelt's Wordy Tirades From the White House Call Down the Cen
 sure of All Men Regard
 less of Party.
APPEAL TO DEFEAT BRYAN

Chicago October 2s.-( Special)-The
 paper trust, probably the most daring of al lthe iniquitous combinations in this country, has taken up the cause of Taft and Sherman in a circular letter ad-
 dressed to patrons and friends.
 This is the combination which, accord
 ing to sworn testimony before congress
 sional committee in Washington this
 this year, has arbitrarily increased the
 price of common and print paper during the last two years from $1. S5' to $2.S0 per hundred pounds in carload shipments. It is. the same trust that received the at tention of representatives of "A news
 papers at a meeting in New York. where
 resolutions were adopted asking that Con- gross grant immediate relief from it's
 exactions.
 In it's appeal for support for the repub
 liean national ticket the paper trust lays bare it's case. It frankly .confesses that a democratic victory would result in the immediate removal of duty on print paper and wood pulp, thus reducing the price. and adds:
 MT Taft, in his speech of acceptance,
 
 favor of protection and in opposition to discrimination against any particular in
 dustry. MT. Sherman, candidate for Vice President, stands for the same prin-
 ciples.
 And, again, speaking of the action of
 the republican members of Congress, who last winter prevented the immediate re-
 moval of duty on wood pulp, the paper trust says:
 As the republicans were so fearless
 and resolute on the eve of a presidential
 election in the face of the demands of the
 press, it is therefore reasonable to ex-
 peet that if they are retained in power the paper industry will receive fair treat
 ment in the revision of the tariff.
 In other words. the paper trust ap-
 peals to voters to elect Taft and Sher-
 man, with the almost certain understand ing that the duty on pulp will not be re-
 moved. This conclusion is justified in the light of the record of the last republican
 Congress. A special committee was ap-
 pointed by Speaker Cannon to investigate
 the paper trust. This was carefully planned trick on the part of Uncle Joe Cannon and republican leaders who be-
 lieve in standpatism to sidetrack the demands of the American Newspaper Publishers association, which were voiced
 by Herman Ridder, president of the as-
 sociation. An indifferent committee which had little life in its work held few
 meetings and then adjourned without talk
 ing any action.
 Fearful of the defeat of Judge Taft, the paper trust now comes forward with an appeal for the defeat of MT. Bryan. In so doing it has disclosed the real req son which influenced a republican Con-
 gress to permit a continuation of its eS-
 actions of newspapers and the public
 This appeal in behalf of the paper trust is issued from No 309 Broadway, New York. by the American Paper and Pulp
 association and the West Virginia Pulp and Paper company. The letter which so strongly voices the position of the paper trust in this campaign, says:
 ''The democratic party believes in free trade or tariff for revenue only. Its plat form advocates the repeal of the duty on
 print paper and pulp MT Bryan, it's candidate for President, personally in- dorsed this plank, and MT. Kern, candi
 date for Vice President, in accepting the nomination, referred to paper manufact-
 urers as a few men engaged in public
 plunder' Last winter every democratic representative in Congress was eager to vote for the repeal of the duty without giving the paper industry hearing. The 1 two democratic members of the commit | tee, which was finally appointed to in- vestigate the subject, reported in favor of repeal.
 "It is thus a foregone conclusion that | if the democratic party has the power it will immediately take off the duty. "On the other hand the republican party | believes In protection of American indus | tries. It's platform pledges it to preserve | in the tariff the principle that duty shah | be equal to the difference in cost of pro- 1 duction at home and abroad, together
 with a reasonable profit. It's candidate for
 President, MT. Taft, in a speech in Ohio
 last year. and in his speech of accept ance of the nomination has unequivocal- 1 ly indorsed this principle, and has ex- l pressed himself as opposed to discrimina- l ton against any particular industry MT. l Sherman, candidate for Vice President l stands for the same principles. Last win 1 ter the republican members of Congress | staunchly withstood the clamor of a DOT l tion of the press for the immediate re- l moval of the duty on paper and pulp, and | insisted upon a fair preliminary inyesti- l gation before any action should be taken | All the republican members of the com mittee of investigation reported against | disturbing the tariff on paper and pulp | "As the republicans were so fearless and 1 resolute on the eve of presidential cleo | tion, in face of the demand of the press.
 it is, therefore. reasonable to expect that l If they are retained in power the paper