Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-09-06

protective rates and g. FAIR afrange-t
ment of schedules consistent with the
long estab lished policy of the leoun-|I
try under which our trade has been
developed and our INDUSTRIAL actiyi-
ties have attained their notable ex-
pansion, he insists on an overthrow
of the entire system OF protection,
thus threatening the dislocation of
trade and the most serious distur-l
bance of industry. He seeks not ta-
riff revision but tariff revolution. Mr..
Bryan appears to recognize the serisl
GUS consequences of such course !
and in announcing his position heI
hastens to assure us, that "the demo-
cratic plan does not contemplate an
immediate change from one system
to the other, it expressly declares that
the change shall be gradual and a.
gradual change is only possible where
the country is satisfied with the re-
suits of each step taken" This opens
a vista of indefinite tariff tinkeringl
to accomplish the desired object.
Revision there must be. It should
be prompt, thorough and fair. But
the policy Of protection will be main
tanned and American industry, involv-;
ing the interests ofsour wage earners,.
must be properly safeguarded.
An example of Mr.. Bryan's reason.
ing is found in his statement that
when a corporation controls so per
cent of the total product it supplies.
forty millions Of people with that
product, There are, of course, spe-
cialties which have a limited market
and are used by relatively small
number of the people of the United
States. More than so per cent, and
indeed even as much as 100 per cent.
lEof the trade in such articles may
I5be in the control of particular cor
poration. This may, in fact, be rela-
lively small corporation. It may
never have aspired to the unsavory
Erenown of trust" But by prose-
cutting its particular line with fdeli-
ty and meeting satisfactorily a limit.
led want; or by reason of some secret
processes or advantage of experience.
lit may control the trade in a given
article of commerce. Or, suppose
a concern controls the whole trade
in some useful by-product which II
has found 1T advantageous to make
lis the trade to be prohibited?
The democratic platform makes nc
exceptions to cover such cases; an6
we have learned that it is equally
binding as to what 1t omits. -
If we could imagine such a crude
j prohibition to be enacted into Law
land to be regarded as valid, wha
i would be- the effect !? Mr.. Bryan, will
his usual readiness, suggests that thu
concern may sell as much Of 1T
plants as are not needed to produces
the amount allowed by law. HI
j speaks as though every manufacture
: ing concern had as many fully equip
pedsunits Of production as would cor
J, respond to any given percentage o
trade which 1t, mi ht be required t,
!, lop off. Plants are not SO easily dis
Il membered Reduction in outpu
! means reduction in work reduction
4 In the number Of men employed, ant
II curtailment OF the efficiency Of a GO
J. ing concern. Let. us suppose a con
Icern which controls so per cent. o
a given product-thatS is to say
makes and sells So, 600. 600 in valu
Iout OF total trade in the produc
i amounting to $4,000. 900. Is it t,
be compelled to reduce its output t
100000 In value are made by 9th
ers? Then, If 1t could sell q part 0
). its plant on Mr.. Bryan's theory, wha
should It sell? Should it sell OF
enough to reduce its capacity to So
. 100000 and allow threeffths of IT
plant to remain idle until others de
Yeloped a capacity for handling tn,
other So, 000, 600. Should 1T ASSUME
4 that the total trade will increase an,
Is not always to remain at $4,000,
i 0o0Band hence retain larger portiol
Of its plant in idleness? Or suppos,
a concern controls 100 per cent. o
i the trade In some article. what plant
shall It retain? It can produce moth
ing until others produce; but ittma.
j produce an amount equal to the pro
| duction Of others. and hopes tn
trade wilt grow. What vision o
business uncertainty and confusion
Of idle and impaired plants; of tn
| ruin Of workingmen whose lives hav'
y clustered around particular indus
i tries and who depend upon their con
tinued efficiency, is presented by thi
!. fanciful remedy for the destructio,
i Of trusts.
A Apart from this, II the dissolution
!. were erected in the manner desired
!. and portions Of plants could be sol'
], and were sold as suggested, to whom