The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-08-24
Special Interest Jubilsnt.

The tariff law just passed by Con-
gress, and which the Republican
leaders, who engineered it through
that body. declare redeems the
pledge made by their party to the
people last year. deceives 40 one.
Were every other evidence wanting
of it's being class legislation, the
resolutions of congratulation being
passed by special interests. in con-
vention all over the, country. would
be sufficient to put the people wise,
saws Crit. These resolutions. both
congratulatory and commendatory,
leave no doubt whatever that special
interests have obtained from Con-
gress the legislation demanded by
them, for further promoting their
exploitation of the consumer. II
special interests have secured what
they want, Republican pledges to
the people have not been redeem
ed.
The other day the cotton manufac-
turers met at Boston. critically en-
amined the cotton schedule of the
Aldrich law, and reached the con-
clusion that they were better off un-
der the new law than they were un-
der the Dingley lay. They celebrat-
ed the enactment of the Aldrich
law by a banquet at which cham
pagne flowed like water. A few
days later the manufacturers OF
woolens gathered about the festive
board to celebrate their victory in
securing the wool schedules of the
AIdrich law. There were not many
of them, for woolens for mems suit
ings are controlled by less than
twenty men, but they made up In
hilarity what they lacked in num-
hers. The iron and steel men. the
paper and lumber manufacturers,
and members of other special inter-
ests have held similar celebrations,
and all of them have expressed ex-
ceeding great pleasure concerning
the enactment Of the Aldrich law.
Under the Dingley law. 4 high pro-
lection measure, some New England
cotton mills have paid their stock
holders annual dividends as high as
40 per cent, reducing the wages OF
their operatives every time the mar
ket showed the slightest indication
Of becoming over-stocked. A promt-
nent manufacturer of mems woolens
admitted to the editor of Crit that
every cent Of protection under the
Dingley law was converted into
profit, and that wages of employees
remained practically what they were
before that law went into effect.
Every one knows that iron and steel
manufacturers have become multi
millionaires in very few years,
while labor conditions in those
trades have become so notorious that
the aame Congress that enacted the
Aldrich law was asked to authorize
an invstigation of those conditions.
Now, If special interests so pros
pered at the expense of the people
under the Dingley law with its high
protection, what will result from
the Aldrich law with it's still higher
protection? To this question there
can be but one answer-capital will
prosper more than it has IN the past,
and the people will suffer proper
tlonately. The great welfare of cap
ital may constitute prosperity" but
the country will not have genuine
prosperity until the condition Of
every man, woman and child is i'm
proved. The high protection that
the country most needs Is that which
will prevent special interests from
exploiting the people. by fixing the
highest prices that the people can
stand, while earning the lowest wage
chat can be forced upon them.