The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-07-08

some of our aristocrats is more of
fad than necessity, such as French
automobiles, Partisan costumes, foreign
wines, tODaccos and lot Of other lux
uries, Notwithstanding the. fact that
the American automobiles Lave time
aud again demonstrated their superior
ity in contests open to the world Chi
ca 20 aud New YORK have Paris beaten
mile when it comes to creating femi-
nine costumes. No article of lady's
wardrobe ever came from Paris that q
decent man would tolerate, not except
ing the merry widow and the sheath
gown. And if you ever become SO un-
fortunate AS to be obliged to pay the
bill for any of these Partisan dreams
you will readily agree that the duty on
these gewgaws was never misplaced.
This tariff wall has played havoc with
the American merchant marine. 1t Is
true United States stands second in
merchant marine tonnage but that Is
due mainly to inland traffic, especially
on the Great Lakes where there is no
competition. Jim uill recently built
two of the largest freight vessels afioat
but they failed to be profitable invest
ment In fact they failed to net him
enough to pay the crew. On account
of the numerous restrictions by the
United States government they were
abandoned. One of them was ground
in the Pacific ocean and was given to
the Japs if they could save it.
Why do people of the rural districts
send to the mail order houses Whec
they make some of their purchaser Z
Because they can get them cheaper
even after they pay freight ana other
incidental charges. And believe the
American public is justified in going
| where it pleases for its necessities re-
gardless of United S ates Steel and
Standard Oil. Again, our friend the
skeptlc says, sit would cause decrease
! in wages" American labor is pretty
we'll organized. The true strength OF
| organized labor has never been tested
in unison but let the necessity arise and
cause it to enforce its rights and our
corporations and captains of industry
will conclude that they have found
their master. But even admitting the
possibility of reduction of wages
which would necessarily cause cor
responding decrease in the price OF the
necessities of life. the law OF supply
and demand is the ruling factor in the
commercial world and it is a very
handy weapon in the hands of an un.
scrupuious corporation and to my nina
this should be controlled by the people,
not by set of individuals-especlaily
4 the fOrmer-as the latter make the
former possible.
This paper was not written to agitate
political discussion and for that reason
I have avoided any direct allusion to
any of the political bodies. The tarln
question Of today is too broad subject
to be discussed in conjunction with
political campaign but as long as II ie
it will be club held over the heads OF
the American people by the greedy
,, politicians. There seems to be deeper
! thought in the tariff reduction, namely
the preservation Of the country's natu
!, raj resources. Coal and lumber are De
! coming scarcer every year and the DC
, struction of timber in the MISSISSIPPI
! VALLEY has caused vast floods, thus en-
2 failing damages to the extent OF mil
I lions Of dollars and something must o.
3 done and done quickly for without re
2 sources the United States as a natlo'
!, will speedily decline. Which SNAIL
= he protection or free trade? MAC