Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-11-19

rich bill. The great middle west
the wealth producing territory
of this nation, chafes under the
additional burden of increased
cost Of commodities, that go In
to the daily consumption Of every
family. The west was already de-
handing and expected relief from
an unjust taxation that had IN
creased the cost of living almost
beyond the limit of endurance ant
when the majority party declared
for a revision of the tariff it felt
that assurance dOubly sure The
democrats have always been a.
tariff for revenue only, par
ty For the moment that direct
issue may have occupied a lessor
conspicuous place in the party
platform but the deep seated con-
victions of conservative democrat
gave tariff revision their first
consideration. A seeming exped
iency may have given minor ques-
tons a mOmentary first place in
national democratic declarations
Int the partv gave other issues
and support.
The Denver convention declar-
ed for a revision that meant
downward until a revenue on
" basis was reached, putting
those commodities on the free
list which in the aggregate 60 to
make up tho burden on the cost
Of living; imposing a tariff on
those articles generally defin
ed as luxuries! The Chicago con-
vention declared fofa revision Of
the tariff at a special session
and the imposition Of such dn
ties as will equal the difference
in the cost Of manufacturing at
home and abroad, together with
q reasonable profit to- the Ameri-
b can manufacturers. They gave
b to the manufacturers the sole
right to determine what cOnSti-
tutes a reasonable profit on his
own gOOds-a privilege he was
not slow to enjoy. The republi-
can platform did not declare for
a revision downward, but Mr..
Taft with a keener appreciation
of the temperament of the west
supplemented the platform with
an emphatic declaration that
there would be a substantial re-
vision downward.
Our party has not been in ac'
cord on minor questions, but tar
Tiff for revenue has linked tn
democrats together. 1t is the
political soul of the party which
is arrayed against the trusts, the
interests and unlawful cOmmer
cial combinations.
We heard of no inSiStent de-
mandS by the sugar, steel, cotton
wooden or lumber trusts for q
revision of the tariff. This com
munity of interests was opposed
to any change in the Dingley
law. They raised prices, clos
ed factories and ruled the mar
. ket as they whiled; living in
creased 40 per cent in ten years
merchants were forced to advanc
the price Of truSt-made goods il
the face Of protesting consumers
Working men are deprived of til,
comforts Of life by reason of tn.
tribute "Xacting, intOlerable gree,
Of the criminal combine whicl
controls the induStriaIS pursuit
OF this nation. The HarveSte
trust dictated the retail price O
its machinery dndreds of 9th
er protected industries gave no
tlce to the retail merchant tina
a violation of its agreement t,
sell at price dictated by tn,
manufacturer terminated its con
tract. Under the provisions 0
the DIngley law the trusts ha,
grown bold, arrogant, grasping-
multiplied wealth was added t,
their bank account by their uues
tiOnable business methods. TIL
demand for a tariff revision di(
not come from them, it came fro,
the great middle west, from thos
who could no longer be fooled b!
the cry of protecting home labor
a protection that had brOugh
cOarser food, clothing and dim
inishing comforts of life. TIL
demand came from the homes o
the middle class who had RICH
to believe revision meant cheap
er clOthing-fOOd and the neces
sites of life-better schooling fo