The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-02-17

seemed impossible of fulfllment vi
has seemed TO me that since monop-
oily has been enabled in certain cases
TO destroy competition; to oversha-
dow all competitors; to dominate
congressional districts and lcgisla-
tive bodies, and even to send In sen
ators from states to congress, and
since there are obvious commercial
commissions which have been formed
in the way OF ecouomizing production
and distribution. standardizing of
wares and giving stable employ
ment to labor. that the evils Of mon
opoly might be abatcd. and that their
benefits might continue. utilizing the
advantages of great combinations
without allowing monopoly so es.
tabishcd to unduly tax the American
people by artificial and excessive
prices upon articles controlled by
them, which in many cases are nee.
cssarics Of life.
we say to the banker, You shall
not lend money az a usurious rate, or
az exceeding 10 per cent Why not.
say TO the Standard oil and the Unit.
ed States steel. and other interstate
or state monopolics. You shall not
| pay dividends In excess or 10 per
cent per anuum on your actual In
vestment, determined by a physical
| valuation and To- ubviatc any claim
/ that the original capital might be-
involved in jeopardy, to allow such
monopulies to accumulate surplus
equal to the original capital, which
/ shall always be- a safeguard and sc-
/ curily against the loss or impairment
of the original principal? This would
not discourage capital, for 10 per cent
on "a safe basis Is a good investment
These companies would under
such rule, have no occasion TO i'm.
pose upon the producer or OH, or the
consumer of oil, or of any given pro
duct whatever it We're. controlled by
the monopoly. Such companies seek.
ing monopoly behind high tariff
would have no occasion TO deceive
or mislead the committee on ways
and mcaps in the house, or the com
mittee on finance in the senate They
would have no occasion to hoodwink
the unlcarned congressman into a
high monopoly breeding tariff schcd
ule. The best way to keep a man
from an Objectionable line of conduct
90 is TO remove his motive.
THE most serious objection to the
, tariff law, and to tariff administration
is the numerous frauds it promote,
, and shelters. and the gross iniustic,
s by which one set of men, under tn,
prctcnse OF a revenue producing hill
-, manipulate the laws by eX-part'
Il statements and pleadings. in ordei
. that favored enterprises may tax IN,
:. consumers Of the nation wso are no
!. sufficiently represented before tn
committees iu control. \ committe,
% is placed in very difficult position
4 whore he is judge. and only ON
I side Is argued by the skilled adyo
- cate of special interest.
, Even the patriotism of the Amer
:. can citizen aud his love of party, nj
- loyalty to certain fancicd ideas i
Il taken advantage of. His loyalty &
# the political opinions of his father
p, or OF his environment is falsely al
- pealed to by those who have sir
- istcr selfish, merccnary motive i
s ultimately manipulating the fedora
- statutes.
o The adjustment Of our nationa
, revenues should not longer be col
., rolcd by merceuary lobby, or d
the protective tariff league, which
=, now vigorously opposing a tariff con
mission, and which is annually eI
y, gagged in uslructing every new vote
2, as he becomes of age, through a
g. expensive system that covers ever
If state in the union, and which put
into the hands of every new vote
4. crafty misleading appeals on tn
p question of protective tariff Tn
is higher ideals of the republic wi
Nc never be attained until our legisl;
4 tiou is comparatively free from sue
p, selfish merccuary manipulation.
u. In unjust tariff manipu .ated b
selfish interests, is necessarily a
II. unstable tariff, injurious 10 the grea
.s body OF the honest frugal, industr
10 Gus citizenship of America
.e| Let us pursue policy which wi
10 withdraw from political coutrovors
the management and adjustment {
a our great revenue producing tarii
law riyn stability ia national buS