The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-17

and Board of Aldermen of Bessemer (whatever the lawmaking body of that thriving industrial city be called), ac- cording to my understanding and belief being subscribers to and believers in this democratic tenet-that a protective tariff is @ robber-the only one, by the way, which has withstood the ravages of time and the assaults of the populists who took possession and control of the democratic party in 1S96-the recent ac- ton of the lawmaking body of the city ot Bessemer in shutting out and stifing competition in certain line of business and putting a highly protective tariff yes, a prohibitive tariff-upon one of the principal ''necessaries of life" is one that surely passeth understanding.
 Can the recent action of the lawmak- ing body of Bessemer mean that the Denver platform does not represent the true democratic doctrine or dogma of what a tariff should not do? Does 1t mean that the old lifetime declaration of democracy that a protective tariff Is an unjust burden upon the consumer is false and absurd? Does it mean that
  spellbinders, leaders and even presiden- tial candidates, that a protective tariff creates, fosters and upbuilds trusts, was and is nothing but wind or hot air :? Does it mean that the Bessemer law makers are getting ready to join the g. O. D. standpatters?
 Or does it mean that Hancock was right when he declared that the tariff question was local issue?
 Or does 1t mean that the Bessemer lawmakers believe that your own par ticular industry should be protected, and the tariff be imposed on the other fel- lows?
 1t must be the latter, otherwise it hardly seems possible that any body of lawmakers, claiming to be democrats, would pass a law the result of which increases the cost of one of the prin- cipal "necessaries of life" to the poor consumers. The most ardent and ram pant republican standpatter has never been any more guilty of wronging and expressing the consumer, and. as a dem ocrat feel that I have a right to pro- test.
 It is evident that when the lawmakers of Bessemer passed the bread-peddling license or privilege tax law, a result of which the consumer is compelled to
 
 ! being allowed to get 16 ounces of bread for his nickel, they had forgotten that marvellous exhibition of elocution at Chi cago in 1S96-that Gross of Gold and Crown of Thorns" recitation.
 THOMAS w. ROGERS. Tip To Candidates.
 To the Editor of The Age-Herald: Dear Sr-Ever since the first of Janu- ary last we have been without the open saloon, and whatever his position to- ward prohibition before 1t became the established policy of our city by popular vote, no candidate will contend that it has hurt any legitimate business, and he must admit, as evidenced by our police courts, that its influence upon the morals of the community has been most salutary. This being true, 1t behooves us to see i that no backward step be taken in this regard, and to that end I submit that the citizens of Birmingham are entitled to and should demand a clear and un- 1 equivocal declaration through the press as to their attitude concerning the en- l forcement of the law from all aspirants 1 for municipal office, and especially the 1 candidates for Mayor and chief of police. i If we can have in the future as faith ! ful and vigorous enforcement of the law ized the present administration there will be no retrograde movement and we shall l have a clean and orderly city, of which everyone may feel justly proud. Respect ! fully, J. w. MCCONNELL.