The Washington herald., 1909-05-20
The Consumers Should Speak Out.

The Consumers Should Speak Out.
We have been moved to earnest specu-
lation more. than once Of late concerning
the so-caIled consumers. the common peO-
PIE. the maSses-whatever you designate
that somewhat indefinite and vague ag-
gregatiOn Of individuals supposedly fated
80 pay the price Of high protective
tariff and the many doubtful blessings
that travel in its train
The consumers hear from Congress
that IS. Il they are there. wherever there
IS But does Congress ever hear from the
consumers Rarely. and certainly with
scant attention 10 detail when it does
The great business interests have their
attorneys and Representatives 20 speak
for them: pamphlets, statistics. argu-
ments. briefs. and 50 on pour into the
Congressional committees and come 10
congTeszmea person Senators and
Representatives are beset on ell sides 70
consider the lot Of the mighty tariff bene-
fciaries- But who speaks for the con-
sumsrse Nobody in particular: they do
not even speak for themselves. It seems.
One Senator even says. The consumer is
a myth"
Hon Thomas E. Watson, through his
Weekly JeHersonian, is trying his level
best TO get something from the consumers
before Congress in tangible form. We
hope he viii succeed. II these silent, suf-
fering citizens have anything 70 say why
the tariff grab should not be made even
more fruitful than ever before. let them
speak now, or forever and hereafter hold
their peace If they have words 10 utter
or tears 10 shed. LET them utter the for
nsz where Congress may hear. and shed
the latter where the powers that be may
see. Mr.. Watson has long championed
the cause Of the masses against the
classes He is close 10 the common peo-
pie, If any man is His following is sure
ly made Up Of consumers We never
heard OF a capitalist having a very kind
word for Tom Watson: but we never
heard Of a plow hand who had not II
anybody within the sphere Of 8Ir. Wat
sons influence can make the consumers
speak out, Mr.. Watson IS the man.
Here is a sample plea from the dis
tinsuished Georgian:
-COlEes las ben At work zzins up a new
tsria BIZ Have YU1 been watching II
TIE new lzE. Ike the old VII tax sbost 600
Hrtic.ss hat you sre compelled 70 bs1y and TIE
TAI vi be paid by -o1 in The prios of TIE gods.
'Lunbsr Of al kinds Is une q the necessities of
hss TIE Denozz,ie platform Of 800 osuan6s
that l1nbI Be Tlt On TIE tree ES-
They Eot yCzr votes On the strength q TIA: p-0-n-
iss $50
Did you h-1Ig any pressure 70 bear? DID you
dsop e-5 20 ypsT Senator o. Rerrsssnrztfvg7
''i not do Il nov. Il isn't too late. Do 4s-ss-
Gods sake % il. ard maks them feel yozr u-e-
sre- Tel then IN good strouE EuEish thst voa
VII remember II against then slzsyS Il they roes
with TIE trast Ire lumber kiHss are letting 10
g-sss gToE under her feet
seuztT D. Z F1e,che-. oF Florida. {, 90. ~ n.
Champions u the tust In irs fight n ths ve-le
zhO must buy lumber. Fletcher recsi-s l,nbsz
t-ss teiegams, asking for tsrif duties On fo-girn
iEnbG md Fletcher has these tsierznas --sstss
n the Ccng-ssSonal Record"
Now that sounds busiresslike. sDa
ought TO get results. II anything viii ger
them. Senator Fletcher stands in no
class by himself. IN so far as his hearing
from the lumber interests IS concerned
we imagine # Senators and Representa-
tives il Congress assembled are appealed
10 generally only on one side OF a public
question. they may incline 20 that side.
and not unnatUraIly. True, platforms say
this. that and the other. but # alleged
plutocratie citizens proceed 10 stir them
selves TO convince Congress that plat
forms really mean something else. then
everyday citizens should see that their
Representatives are reminded OF few
forgotten things. as Mr.. Watson suggests.
Eternal vigilance Is the price OF liberty.
We are told
But Il that IS the only way for the pso-
~ ~ So f-AoN AAArg NdA4Ls anu EeL IL
right now. II is worth while
!; would be interesting 10 know how
many letters, kilograms. and so forth
reach Congress az result Of Mr. Wat
sons appeal. and what effect those let
lters have. Il any. on the Congressional
delegation from BIr. Watson's own State
Georgia There are some Senator's and
Representatives in Congress from down
sIhat way who have apparently run coun-
Ter 10 the Democratic platform enun-
-iztsd az Denver, and 10 that specific per-
tion Mr.. Watson refers. Does the
Georgia consumer approve or disapprove
5 bf that? Il would be Interesting 70 know.
actually and in absolute truth. Let's get
At this consumer party. Il we possibly
nay. II his say were poured into the
cas- CT the Congressional delegation. the
effect OF that pouring would go far