Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-04-15


imposed upon given article of mer-
chandise, it was assumed that those
engaged in the production of the ar
ticle would contribute literally to
keep up the tariff. 1t was also as
sumed that the employees would vote
with their employers to keep from
having their wages reduced, and it
was expected that the business men
of the town would also vote for the
tariff because of the business brought
to the community by the protected
industry. Those who are acquainted
with the tariff fight know to what
an extent the pecuniary argument
has been used. The recent republic
can platform is bugle call to every
beneficiary of special privilege to en-
list again under the republican ban
ner, and when the election is over
and the republican committee pub
fishes the list of contributors-toO
late to make the information valu-
albeit will be found that the re-
publican party has again so obligated
itself to the protected interests as to
interests of the consumers.
with president, who, toward the
close of his term, admitted the ne
cessity for tariff revision, with a two
thirds majority in the senate and
nearly 60 majority in the house, the
republican party has refused to per-
nit any revision whatever. Mr.. Will
liams, the leader of the minority in
the house, introduced bill provid-
ing for reduction of the tariff to
100 per cent, wherever it is now more
than 100 per cent. 1t would look like
the republican party might have TAX
en- this step toward tariff revision,
had it been deeply in earnest; but no,
the bill was not even reported from
the committee. Whenever attention
was called to an indefensible sched-
ule, the answer was that they could
not afford to open the subject for
debate just before a campaign, but
there is no force in this objection be-
cause the house rules are so framed
that the majority can cut off debate,
prevent amendment and silence oppo-
sition.
The administration has claimed
credit for the fine against the Stan
dard Oil company in the case which
was lately reversed, but no effort has
been made to relieve the people from
the fine which is imposed upon them
every day by the Standard Oil COM
pany through the operation of the
tariff law which gives that company
more than 100 per cent protection
against its chief rival, Russia. What
faith can real tariff reformer,
whether he be a republican or a dem
ocrat. repose in the republican lead
ers, when they deliberately put off
all reduction until after election, and
then call for contributions, with the
| understanding that the public shall
not know the names of the contri-
| butors until after the polls are
| closed?
THE republican platform says that
the tariff is intended for the Ameri-
can manufacturers. farmers and pro-
| ducers, and especially for the wage
earnerS. If the farmer and the wage
Garner are really the chief benefici-
aries of the protective system, will
the republican candidate explain why
| the farmer and the wage Garner have
| contributed so little to the republi-
| can campaign fund? is he willing
20 publish a list of contributors on
| the 18th day of next October and al
| low the relative advantage of pro-
| lection to the manufacturer, the far
mer and the wage Garner to be meas
ured by the contributions received
from each class? Why is it that the
manufacturers are expected to fur
nish so large proportion of the
money to run the campaign. if as the
republicans claim, the farmers and
| the laborers enjoy so large Il pro-
portion in the benefits of the system
Is it not a significant fact that the
farmers and wage earners who are
always put in the foreground wher
the blessings of a high tariff are be
ing enumerated are in the back
ground when the collections are be
ing made? Is it not significant tina
the manufacturers, who furnish The
funds, are so little advertised as
beneficiaries? Is it not Significan
also that the wage earners, instead
of the manufacturers, are always de
scribed as the most direct benefic
iaries of the protective system?
Ia
Are the present leaders more hon
est than the ones who framed the
lexisting tariff? Are they not in fact
the same men who are responsible
for tariff extortion during the las
decade? d. If this newborn zeal fO
revision were hundred times great
er than his notification speech indi
Gates, what chance would the repub
lican candidate have of securing an.
real tariff reform at the hands o
! such republicans as now represen
that party in the senate and house
the very men who represented it il
: the recent national convention
Speaker Cannon, who has suppresset
tariff legislation in the present con
gress, was dominating factor in thu
J convention and, If the republican
\ l. I.