Gilpin observer., 1909-09-23
Right Upon the scaffoId and Wrong
Upon the Throne.

1t is estimated that the cost of
living has increased AS per cent in
the past 10 years, and | believe that
conditions will justify the statement.
Naturally we question what is the
cause. There may be more than one.
there doubtful is, but the most power
full are the combinations which con.
troll the prices of the necessities OF
life. We hear from every quanter OF
our state Of abundant harveGts, Of
farm products, fruits, vegetables
and cattle upon a thousand hills"
and yet the e.smelts that maintain
soul of life are just as high priced
as Though there was but half crop.
understand that the word was pass
ed by the merchants of Denver, to
the fruit producers of the valley to
allow them to fix the prices ard to
maintain high schedule on all pro-
duce and they woull receive as much
fer half their crop as though they
sold it all, the other half they could
afford to let ret.
The children of the mountain towns
are deprived through the manipula-
ton of these men, of the things that
are necessary for their phy5ical well
fare. 1t is a crime against the Crea-
tor. They forbid those producers
from selling their products in any
other way except through them, by
the threat that they will not buy
anything from them in case they
need a market. A stock raiser is pre-
vented from selling cattle to cur To-
cal butchers for fear of being boy
cotted. If they sell a car of cattle
to Harvey or Quiller and they do not
need the next lot they wish to dis
pose of, the trust will refuse to buy
them because the previous lot had
not passed through their hands.
The Payne-Aldrich tariff bill has
passed and been signed by the presi-
dent who claims that it is the bes'5
bill of the kind that has ever been
given to the American PEOPLE. 1t is
travesty on Justice. The Repubi,-
cans as a party demanded down
ward revision, but despite their de-
mards it has been upward in a num-
Der of instances.
Such commodities as effected the
working classes were pushed up the
scale.
The tariff is no longer a political
issue but a moral and a.so local
one. Any dealing with it is controll-
ed absolutely by the Interests. Mich
igan demands tariff On lumber be-
cause they are growing lumber.
Texas demands a tax on hides be-
cause they are producing cattle.
Colorado must have a duty on sugar
because they are growing beets.
Now the question is, should we
legislate for the ten men who are
producing lumber, or the ten thous-
and men who need home. Shall we
make law to protect the ore huni-
red men who are raising cattle, or
tine one hundred thousand that are
wearing shoes. Shall we make q law
to benefit the few men who are rails
ing sugar beets, or tae millions who
are eating sugar. Shall we legislate
fer the masses or the classes. Hither-
to they have been forcing legislation
In their favor. The claim is made
that the object is revenue, but the
tariff cannot import and the result
is nothing fer Uncle Sam.
Articles are manufactured in this
country exported to Europe and sold
for less than they can be purchased
at home.
They wish duty on everything but
labor and that must be absolutely
free. and as cheap as it can be pur-
chased. Witness the conditions at
McKee's Rocks in the PAST few
weeks. How long is it going to last?
All that reasonable beings are ask
ing is that they may eat of the fruit
of the tree that should be their
heritage. No sooner is the desert
made green, than we see the signs
Keep off the grass.
We do not look for a revolution to
change conditions but believe with
Tennyson THAT the common sense
Of most, will hold fretful realm in
awe, and the kindly earth shall slum-
Der, rapt in universal law"
We are hoping against hope that
we may see the creation of a soul.
or the dawn of consciousness in cor
porations. Our strongest hope lies
in sending men of character to our
legislative halls, men who are abso-