Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-09-04

bill which he (Mr. Dingley) reported
from the committee on ways and
means he did put duties up for the
express purpose Of having them trad
ed down." Mr.. Dolliver insisted thai
the reciprocity provision in the Ding
ley act was as distinctly a part Of
the tariff policy as the coal sched
ule and complained that mot one
line Of the wisdom OF James G.
Blaine remained on the statute
books" and that mot a step had been
taken to fulfill the purpose of the
last Buffalo address of President Nc
Kinley." And yet the very men who
present this new plan prevented the
carrying out Of he old plan.
The schemes resorted to by the
men who have grown rich by laying
tariff burdens upon the country are
more numerous than novel. Tar
iff meausres which embody the prin
ciples Of protection are not drawn
by legislators, although as a matter
Of courtesy they generally bear the
names Of legislators; they are really
drawn by the representatives of the
interests which demand protection
These representatives claim to be
the guardians Of the laboring men
and yet they carefully avoid writing
into the law anything that will
require the guardians to execute the
trust. 1t is strange that so many
voters have been 80 long deceived
as to the object and the operation
Of the laws which are ostensibly de.
signed for the protection Of the wage
earners; It can only be accounted for
On the theory that the voters have
not understood either the theory Of
protection or the facts that are re.
lied upon to support It.
In ordinary affairs there is nc
difference between a tariff reformer
and a protectionist. They meet to
gether in business, in society, in
the lodge room and In the church
In their daily life they apply the
same rules and are guided by the
same business rules. This similarity
manifests itself all through life and
up to the very hour of death. II a
protectionist makes a will, he makes
1t upon the same plan that the tar
If reformer follows. AS death ap
proaches, he estimates the value OF
his property, leaves to his wife and
children what he wishes them to hay,
and then makes such bequests as he
likes to public institutions and tc
those outside Of the family; and such
part as he leaves to his wife and
children, he carefully divides among
them, giving to each a definite share
He does not give all his prop
erty to one child and say that he
trusts the child to deal fairly with
the rest Of the family. Why? Be
cause he knows his children anC
would not put a child in a position
where selfishness might lead him tC
do injustice to other members o.
The family. No, he would not trus
MS own flesh and blood to deal fair
ly with those reared at the sam,
flreside with him; and he is wis,
In not placing this temptation be
fore one of his own family. But whe
protectionist comes to make
tariff law. he acts on an entirel,
different plan; he votes millions. YES
hundreds Of millions Of dollars {,
manufacturers whom he has neye
seen, and trusts them to be lust II
the distribution Of the trust fun,
among their employees. And wha
mas been the result? Just wha
might have been expected-the man
ufacturers have appropriated the trus
rund to their own use and hay,
paid their employees only such wae
es as trade conditions compelled.
The Homestead strike occurred al
ter the Republican convention of 1ss
but before the Republican candidat
wrote his letter Of acceptance. H
could not ignore the strike, for
presented an object lesson which e,
en- hightariff Republican coul
not fail to see. SO Mr.. Harrison. tn
candidate. referring to the strik,
said:-
Il regret that all employers Of lat
Or are not just and considerate an
that capital sometimes takes to
large a share Of the profits "To
large a share Of the profitsT Yes
more than that. The protected maj
ufacturers have secured, In man
cases, q tariff Of more than twic
the percentage paid to workmen
} wages. The net profits Of the ste'
trust last year were Just about eQu1