Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1908-07-16

in America, / dc not admit that the
growth would not have been substanti-
ally as great, as 1t would certainly have
been far more healthful, If it had been
based on sounder and more enlightened
economic principles. The advocates of
the existing system give undue
credit to the prevailing policy
as me cause Oh our inguStriaI
fully, not because of an excessive tariff,
superinducing unnatural trade condi-
tions, but in spite of it. The evil Incl
dent to the concentration of industrial
enterprise and of the nations wealth in
a few hands, and the corresponding and
resultant evil of industrial monopoly
brought about through the crushing out
of competition and the enforced surren-
der to the trusts of weaker rivals, are
things easily traceable to our tariff
laws. These laws ought to be radically
revised in the interest of common
justice, common honesty and a square
deal. The revision of course should be
made wisely, carefully and conservative
ly so as to do justice alike to manufact-
urers, wage-earners and consumers. The
rights of all should be conserved as far
as possible, but laws which operate as
a shield to monopoly must be wiped
from the statute books.
Again ] ask, when can the country
reasonably expect a reasonable revision
under republican auspices? In fact, can
it ever be expected? For twelve years
that party has been in ~undisputed power,
and clamorous demands have been mace
from every quSrter for a revision; and
from no quarter have these demand
come in greater volume or with more
vigorous insistence than from republican
sources in the great agricultural states
of the west. But year after year, and
Congress after Congress, these demand
have been ignored. Men like Cannon,
Payne, DalZell and other leaders or the
House, and men like Aldrich, Gallnger,
T 49, IAaI aaI IF fhh SnnnfA
have turned a deaf ear to all appeals
There AVE been republican representa-
tives in both houses from the mddle
| states, who, knowing the sentiment OF
their constituencies, have urged a revls-
ion upon their party colleagues, but to
no avail. Not long ago, the Globe,
| Democrat, one of Speaker Cannon's most
admiring friends, whose Washington cor
| respondent had interviewed the Speaker
on the subject, declared that:
The speaker gives no encourage
ment to tariff revision agitation
Neither does he assent to a sugges
ton put forward recently that tn
next Congress commit itself to future
revision by resolution
That is a fair statement of Mr.. Can
mons ~well-known attitude. If the mex
house should be republican, Cannon will
be the Speaker again. He would agall
name the committees, organize the nous
and conduct its business by the same
arbitrary methods which have distin
guished him in the past. Congressman
Dalzell of Pittsburg, one of the aDleS
members of the House, n Mr.. Cannon
chief lieutenant, recently declared II
substance against tariff agitation as tn
height of folly, n proceeded to sa;
that If a revision should be a at al
the work would be done by those WIN
believed in protective policies and alon,
protective lines, n added that the re
vision would more likely be upward thal
downward. | could quote perhaps
hundred similar expressions from almos
as many men potent in republican coun
ellis. With such influences dominant Il
the House, and like influences domlnan
in the Senate, what sort of gray matte
has a tariff revisionist in his head ,Wh'
votes the republican ticket in the mop
that these men nave in some mysterlou!
Way become inoculated with the splrl
of reform? OF course, I am consciou
that even with a democratic presiden
and house of representatives, any tarlf
act possible of passage would. becaus
of the republican senate, be in the natur
of a compromise. But one thing Is sure
if the presidency and the House shoui
be given to the Democrats, a tar1ft Dill
drawn with the greatest possible car
and framed on just lines, would pc sen
to the Senate, and public sentimen
would compel some measure of publ
relief. The only lone of an homes
tariff revision is through the Democrati
party.