Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-07-22
VICIOUS SECTIONALISM.

The vicious sectonalism OF the
Payne-Aldrich tariff bill il ably
shown up by the Lynchburg News.
which does not mince words in char
dctcrizing its iniquities as they SO
justly deserve:
Asks the Daily Bulletin OF the
Manufacturers Record: "lf we are to
have any tariff, why should It dis
criminate against the lumber, and
the iron ore and the coal and the
other products OF the South which
are used by other sections?"
Aye, why, indeed? Our contempor-
ary's question touches the core of
the present tariff situation so far as
it affects the South. 1t is a question
which this newspaper mas been insist
emtly pressing ever since the PAYNE
tariff bill was introduced I'm the
House OF Representatives. And it
is question which no Southern adj
vocate Of free raw material has salts
iactorily answered. We make the
prediction, we mako it in all conf
dence, that as soon as the present
tariff fight is ended.-as soon as the
people see and understand the real
motive which has guided the Repub-
lican leaders in framing the measure.
the Southern Senators and Ropresen-
.tatives ia Congress who have persis-
tently and cuurageously opposed
what appears to be craftily plan
ned and utterly vicious Republican
conspiracy to discriminate against
the South's industrfalism. will re-
ceive the earnest approval of the
great body of the Southern people
their earnest approval and grateful
appreciation.
The entire scheme OF Taft-Aldrnh-
Payne program has now unfoIded to
a point that it is only the wilfully
blind who cannot recognize it's infa-
nous sectional bearings. To make
the South industrially indus
trially weak and defenseless so that
the North may the more comfortably
stand at the crib OF special govern
me1t favors and wax the fatter. the
greedier the stronger-th that's what
your free coal means-that's what
your free iron ore and your free .Iun-
Der schedules mean; and that's what
the soul OF pending Republican tariff
legislation represents. They mean
more favorable conditions for the
they do no mean
cheaper things for the consumer.
The New York American puts it
well when 1t says:
The people want tariff reductions
they viii feel when they pay their
bills"
That the point Tire great bulk
of the people who are clamoring for
taun reform are feeling the pres
sure Of steadily increasing cost of
living They want conditions provid-
Ell that viii reduce the price they
hav" 10 pay for existence. They are
demanding full dinner pain one
within their reach one that tnsfr
earnings viii enable them 10 purch-
tH". They are demanding lower
prices for tine clothing which goes
upon the backs OF the mel. the wo-
men. the children or America. Th SO
end like 'hings. they want. And Re-
WuDlIcans 600 Congress are answering
'hn demand by q policy which will
e1Dlo the manufactured 20 buy his
raw products cheaper and leave
3d." consume. TO- still bend beneath
OH" burden which they now bear as
result OF high prices for the articles
~ American manufacture. They are
ewing the utefests" the plums that
grow on thn tree OF arbitrary govern
m.nt privilege They are answer
q h.prayoro' .ho people for bread
H giving them stone.
p'al irs altogether plain
attitude " the Republican party
no" and tho fac. fully justihes
i.e Doure pursued by auu-froe raw
material Democrats both Ira the
lousn and tbe Senate. They have
been true TO their people true to-
'h'ir manifest duty true 20 that bod
rpr1 principle OF the Democratic
PARTY ~nics s as old az the yary