Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-10-20

rcrlmlnJi prosecutor, Out cOuueuINS
the Democratic plan of putting trust
produced articles on the free list ard
thus removing the tariff wall which
permits many trusts to charge mo-
nopoly prices. Mr.. Taft seems to have
forgotten the statement quoted above
from his speech of acceptance that too
high duties tempt trusts-"those who
would mOnopoliZe production and sale"
He now reverts to the old stand pat
theory that an ounce of cure is worth
pound of prevention. He would con-
tinue the temptation of high duties
and then enjoin and prosecute those
who yield to the temptation. This is
the more popular theory among the
trusts, for if they are continually put
through high duties they will gladly
risk "injunctions" and prosecutions"
They care as much about them as n
dog cares about mosquitoes when he is
devouring an ample roast.
In the canned speech" Mr.. Taft
say EeISTElliS u the VI
products on the free list:
eff such course would be utterly
destructive of their business, as is in
tended, it would destroy not only the
trusts, but all their smaller competi-
tors" He deprecates the enormous
loss to capital and the lack of employ
ment for labor which would follow the
destruction of trusts and tie elimina-
ton of the wealth they represent from
the productive capital of the country.
! If Mr.. Taft will turn to his accept
ance speech he will find authority for
| the conclusion that removing excess
! I've rates. of duty will not destroy any
| industry, but will only destroy it's
| trust" or monopolfstic character and
make it q legitimate business. His
I statement that the Democratic plan
| "is intended to be utterly destruc-
| tive of the business of the trusts is
| entirely without warrant. The putting
of trust product ON the free list
could have no destructive tendency SO
! far as honest. not monopoliStic, industry
I Is concerned unless it is true that the
| trusts business cannot be reasonably
successful without the aid of n tariff
duty. Can Mr.. Taft mention a single
trust which would have to go out of
| business if its product were on the
free list? Is it not notorious that their
protection IS pure graft? Would 1t be
| concern like the steel trust. the OIL
| trust or the borax trust, which are
known to sell their products abroad in
large quantities at much lower prices
than they force Americans to pay:
| Which one of the scores of trusts that
export their products and compete sue
cessfully with foreigners in foreign
markets will be named as unable to
compete against the goods of the same
foreigners sent freely to the United
States? Until it is shown that such q
case would arise 1t is idle to talk of
the elimination of capital from indus.
try or the throwing of workmen out OF
employment.
The putting of trust products on the
free list would reduce the monopoly
prices of sugar, salt. lumber, steel
iron, machinery, clothing. shoes, coal
glassware, paints, paper. cutlery. tin
ware and many other articles to q
more reasonable figure without injury
to any interest except monopoly. Tc
remove the temptation to monopoly
is more effective than to enjoin mer
from yielding or to prosecute them
after they have yielded.
JESSE F. ORION.