Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-09-23
REPUBLICAN STEWARDSHIP

REPUBLICAN STEWARDSHIP
The measure of the stewardship of
a political party lies in the moral and
industrial welfare of the nation. The
measure of the success of free gov
eminent is likewise in the morals,
health and prosperity of it's people.
When we come to weigh the admin
istration of a political party in the
balances we must weigh it with re-
spect to the whole country, having
in mind the greatest good to the
greatest number. We cannot weigh
it with respect to isolated minority,
whose criticisms tainted with the
flavor of natural political opposition
and are political more than ceonom-
ical.
Measuring up the republican party
and its achievements by these STAN
dards the whole country will hardly
complain of its stewardship. It is
true there have been criticisms of
the tariff by sections of the nation.
But these criticisms are with respect
to the "other fellows" tariff and not
with respect to the protective feat
ures of the tariff that affect our
selves. Some criticisms have come
out Of this state. But they are with
respect to tariffs affecting industries
that thrive in other parts of the
country. And having gained pro-
lection for our own interests, it is
all very well for critics to say we
could have gotten along with free
trade in agricultural products. If the
tariff critics of this state want to
find what the farming classes of this
state think of free trade in agricul-
tural products, let them put forth
candidates to stand for. the removal
OF the tariff from wheat, barley, eggs,
hay, live stock and other agricultur-
al products. We shall then have a
tSOAy SAO@A Ao6N0, e2Au OAO OPOA " AASA
q state campaign may readily be
waged.
The trouble is that our tariff crit
les are not disposed to be fair in
their criticisms. They will not admit
what is true, that a tariff bill must
be framed by agreement and COM
promises and cannot be framed with
sole reference to theory. Men are
not so constituted. Communities
are not so constituted. Nor would
it be economically wise to bring
about the condition of greatest
eheapness in the price Of products
IN this country, If that meant the sub
stantia1 injury of our established in
stitutions. There are better condi-
tons in this state when prices of
farm products are reasonably high
and firm, than when prices are weak
and low, even though the low prices
might mean cheaper foodstuffs to the
consumer. For the consumer gains
his livelihood through the prosperity
Of other classes, and thus all circles
Of business and trade are interde-
pendent.
The st. Louis Globe Democrat in
speaking of this subject and the re-
IAtion of Industrial conditions to the
stewardship of political party, has
this to say:
p "On one point at least the entire
country is in agreement with MIR.
Taft, In Chicago yesterday, as in
Boston two days earlier, the presi-
dent referred to the signs of ap-
preaching prosperity which were in
sight. And everybody, Democrats
4 and Republicans, Westerners and
Easterners. concur in, this review.
I Secretary OF Agriculture Wilson,
who has Just gone to Washington
after a five weeks tour OF the west,
says the crop situation was never
better than 1t is now. He is con-
WINGED that the $1,000, 000, 900 mark,
IN the value OF farm products, will
be left far behind id 1868. This is
marvellous exciaims Alfred Benzon,
the amnaging director OF the Credit
Lyonnaise, the largest banking in
stftution LII France, when he visited
I the mills OF the United States Steel
corporation ut Pittsburg two days
sago and took look at the business
acffyity in the suburbs OF that city.
All this looks like a thing we would
read about in a fairy tale. The
railways are on the eve OF an era OF