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

for the direct benefit of the employ
ees, these same employees have as
a rule, been kept close to the hung
er line, while many of the employers
have become the possessors Of the
swollen fortunes" which now menace
the nations morals az well as 10
business.
/ And yet the Republican party was
not willing that single item on the
steel schedule should be touched,
and the Republican campaign COM
mittee will not dare to. publish, be-
fore the election, the contributions
that have been made or will be made
to the republican campaign fund BY
/! the men most largely interested in
the steel trust.
Let me show you how the tariff
operates. l have here a statement
made BY Mr.. H. E. Miles, Chairman
Of the Tariff Committee of the Va
tional Association of Manufacturers
and head Of the Agricultural Imple.
ment Trust. The statement appears
In the American Industries Of No
vember 18th. 1907, a paper which 10
now supporting the Republican tick.
ct and making a special fight against
the labor plank Of the Democratic
platform. Here is what Mr.. Miles
says
Il have made money every year ou,
OF the Tariff Graft. Not much, but
still little.
The tariff barons raised their
price $5O,OOO to me. | made a charge
against the jobber Of $4,000 and I
know that he charged more than ;7Or
900 for the $4,000 he paid me. BE-
fore reaching the consumer the $780,.
oOO charge became about 100000 to
be paid by the agricultural consumer.
The manufacturer who would pros
per must make a double profit, one
by the shrewd management Of his
business and another by still shrewd.
er manipulation In Washington.
I'VE have no great difficulty in shop
ping abroad for we could get as high
prices as at home. We are so
held up, however. by our supply peo-
pie that to most Of Us there is very
scant profit in foreign business. q.
when Congress ssve us forty-fve
per cent, We needing only twenty
per cent, they gave US a congression-
al permit, II not an invitation, To
consolidate, form one great trust and
advance our prices twenty-five Der
cent, being the difference between
The twenty per cent needed and the
fortyfive per cent given"
Mr.. Miles shows how the tariff rails
es prices to those who, in manufac-
turing, have to buy other manufac.
tured products. This expense Is
transferred to the next purchaser.
The jobber charges a profit on the
tariff as well as on the cost OF the
article, and each person who handles
the product collects a profit, so that,
according to Mr.. Miles. the first
charge Of $4,000 becomes 100000 By
the time it reaches the consumer.
Mr. Miles In another article estimates
the total loss to the people at $780,.
100000 annually. The statement of
Mr.. Miles also shows that the tariff
law is an invitation to consolidate.
and that having been given the tar.
III on the theory that It is need.
ed, the manufacturers naturally as,
sumo that 1t Is intended that they
shall take advantage OF It, even II
they have to combine to do so.
How will Mr.. Taft explain to the
average man the benefits of protec.
uon! He can easily convince a trust
that 1t profits by the tariff, but
what about the victim Of the trust,
No Republican leader will now de-.
ny that reductions ought to be made
out who is to make the reductions,
Inc only answer given by the. re.
puolicans Is that the tariff ought to
oe reformed by Its friends; that is,
mat those who made the last tariff
Ia" should be entrusted with the max
ing OF new tariff law. But sun
pose the people adopt the Republi.
can Idea and entrust the making Of
INC tariff law to Republican congress.
men; what will be the method II uro.
, cedure' Fortunately for the voter,
Mr. Miles explains this also. In the
April, 1908. number Of American In.
oustries, Mr.. Miles says: "The peo
pie instruct and trust Congress to
. grant just, equitable and ample pro
lection"
q not that Just what the Repub.
!, mean leaders claim to favori They
|, want you to -instruct and trust Con
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